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THE ATLANTIAN
a
Hlu> Atlantian
Box 118, Atlanta, Georgia
THE ATLANTIAN will give free space to all Secret Societies and Labor Or
ganizations.
On the other hand, we put everybody on notice when THE ATLANTIAN makes
a statement which we believe to be true, and such statement goes uncontrovcrted, we
shall insist that it is true
Published Monthly by The Atlantian Publishing Co.
VOL. 4 DECEMBER No. 48
Our Motto: “Pull for Atlanta, or Pull
Out
II
Editorial Etchings
H
Christmas
Nineteen centuries have been registered upon the tables of time.
The world lias gone through the usual cycles of slaughter, rapine,
of plagues on the one side, and sweetness and love, and charity on the
other side.
Out of it all has come, as the centuries have passed, a constantly
increasing army who follow the lead of the “wise men” and worship—
it may be feebly—the Infant whose advent heralded to the world a
new creed—a creed of boundless charity; a creed of love for fellow-
man; a creed for returning good for evil, and love thy neighbor as
thyself. Five hundred million of people today march under the ban
ners of Love. It would be too much to say that they all understand
the significance of that great and glorious banner. Love is the key
note of the Christmas season.
The greatest mystery of life is love. Who has not sought to
sound its unspeakable depths?
Who has not felt its all-compelling power? Who has not sur
rendered to its irrisistable power and forces? Romances arc built
about it. Wars have been fouglit for it, and religion based upon it.
Love is the dream of the poet, the puzzle of the philosopher, the theme
of the novelist and the song of the minstrel.
Love links all the human race. Its note of victory is heard in
the royal court and the peasant’s cottage. The song of love is on the
lips of the proudest queen and of her humblest subjects. It is the
stimulus of parental affection in the home and of patriotism in all
nations of the earth.
Brave men die for it, and noble women, perish that they may
bear sweet incense with them to the grave.
How sweet and tender is this splendid attribute of mankind!
In its smiling presence, anger, bitterness and strife melt away.
How much more has the world to hope for from love than from
envy, malice and hatred!
In this period of world-wide distrust, of resentment against
economic conditions, of protest against authority, human and divine,
and widespread defiance of law, can we not turn aside at this Christmas
season for a moment and learn anew the lesson of love?
When we have learned that lesson, we shall know the better and
fullest meaning of obedience, contentment and peace. And if we
find ourselves short in performance, we can go forth and endeavor
to retrieve the past by some service, remembering that in the final day
of account, we shall be judged by one standard, and by one standard
only, and that is Love.
An Extra Session
There should be an extra session of Congress for tariff legislation,
but the Democratic party—and the country—would lose nothing by
postponing it until fall.
In Mr. Taft’s administration there have been five sessions of
Congress, covering some eight hundred days, and largely devoted to
tariff debate. What we want now is not debate, but action. At the
last session four bills, covering the wool, cotton, metal and chemical
schedules, passed both the Democratic House and the Republican-
Progressive Senate. The metal and chemical bills might be amended
in certain particulars; but to the substance of these bills the Demo
cratic party is pledged. After March fourth it will be in a position
to enact them; and, as most, of the iniquities of the Paync-Aldrich
Law are in the four schedules mentioned, that will be a very substan
tial measure of immediate tariff reform. An announcement that the
party will put the substance of these four bills into law next fall would
give business a stable line to figure on and be satisfactory, we believe,
to the country.
An extra session in April—with a victory-flushed majority con
taining many new members—will be a much less certain quantity.
We would rather see all new—and old—members, whose systems are
still afflicted with rhetorical tommy-rot on the tariff question, spend
the spring and summer in a remote back lot somewhere, orating to
the breeze. We mean both Republican tommy-rot to the effect that
any lowering of duties will plunge the country into chaos, and Demo
cratic tommy-rot to the effect that protective tariff causes trusts, high
cost of living and infant mortality. Unless the Democratic party goes
to pieces at the first test, there is going to be tariff revision on the lines
of the Underwood bills. Announce that to the country, settle the pro
gram within the party, and act at a short extra session next fall!—Ex.
If You are Interested in the Cause
of Labor be a Real Knight
Organized labor is stronger today than it was twelve months ago.
It is standing on the same fundamental principle that it has always
stood upon, and that principle is equity and justice. This is a right
eous cause, and until this demand is met union labor is going to be
found standing at the helm, undismayed, guiding the craft through
the breakers until the haven of justice is reached and the toiler comes
into his own. Misguided members with anarchistic tendencies will be
left on the shoals, while the peace-loving members will receive the bene
fits of honest endeavor.
Union labor is not going to be caught off its guard, and it is not
going to go into hysterics and lose any of the benefits it has gained.
Napoleon often declared that the entire world is composed of senti
ment and history is full of pretty legends which, while we know that
they are void of truth, please us with the sentiment that they contain
and urge us to nobler deeds and better lives.
Many of these legends refer to the appearance of some worthy
knight or hero in a just, but apparently lost cause, which appearance
turned the tide of battle and saved the day for right and truth.
We all thrill with emotion when we read how the desponding
Crusaders were about to give up in despair the wresting of Jerusalem
from the hands of the infidels, when on the crest of Mount Calvary
appeared a brilliant knight upon a white horse, bearing aloft a ban
ner which was turned into a gonfalon of victory. It was St. George,
the patron saint of Great Britain, and so inspired were the Crusaders
at the vision that they renewed their energy, performed feats of
prodigious valor and courage, and captured the city.
Again, when the tide of battle was going against the Romans in
a worthy and patriotic contest, two youths suddenly rode among the
ranks mounted upon snow-white horses, and urged the men to further
deeds of prowess. Success perched upon the banners of the Roman
legions, and their eagles were born aloft to victory. After the conflict
two men covered with sweat and blood rode into the city of Rome
and bathed their battle-stained bodies at a public fountain. They were
upon white horses, were the same that had been ridden among the
ranks, and to the wondering rabble they imparted the fact that they
were Castor and Pollux, the twin gods, whose statues to this day adorn
the city and whose memories are revered still by the Romans.
Now, we want the workingmen of Atlanta to play the part of these