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J| ~ '' 1 —-I es —s^ 7 I THE STAT£> VOLUMI ONE NO. FIFTY-O NE. WHAT WE THINK OF W 'AT WE SEE A prominent Western editor, in speaking of the Jamaica earthquake, and the other disasters which preceded it in the recent past, referred to them as “the hitherto unexperienced innumerable multi plicity of prognosticators of catastrophes.” He feels so much better now. The divorce evil is spreading. People sue for divorce on very trivial grounds these days. An Ohio man has brought suit for divorce from his> wife, alleging, as ground therefor, that she drinks a gallon of rye whiskey every day. It’s not a divorce that this man is in such a hurry about, for if he waits just a little, the booze will divorce him. what he wants is to get himself cut loose from that thirst. It is expensive to quench a thirst of that kind every passing day. Every one has heard of the wish expressed by the little girl, who said that when she grew up she wanted to be “A Justice of the Supreme Court and”—(solemnly)—“beyond human control.” Grown-ups can appreciate this yearning. All of us want to be untrammeled, to soar, to push the horizon back a little. But the case in which the desire for more room, a lot more room, and unlim ited space is most imperative, is that of those who have something to say—or think they have, which is the same thing—and no opportunity to say it. To the active and massive brain, pregnant with de signs having to do with the fate of empires, a chance and a forum for talk is an absolute necessity. There must be some outlet or something will bust— to say nothing of the loss to mankind. It is to this fact that we owe the existence of the Ameri can Republic, a monthly magazine of Protest, pub lished in Atlanta, Georgia, and edited by the Hon. Sidney C. Tapp, author of “The Struggle”; the book in which was created Grace Shelton, the most beautiful heroine of fiction since Beatrix Esmond. In the February issue of the Republic, all the ar ticles are written by the editor. The lucubrations of one whole month are thus spread before the reader. A number of questions of paramount im portance to the citizens of this republic (Ameri can), are settled—finally and completely settled. And this is eminently fitting; for, with what should the Republic concern itself if not with the repub lic (American) ? But, mayhap, there are some who have not yet secured the Republic (Tapp’s), so we gladly devote this most valuable space to a mention, if no more, of some of the questions treat ed. First comes “Theodore Roosevelt—A JMst Es timate of the Man.” There have been occasional articles written for the magazines about Mr. Roose velt since he became an officeholder, but some en tirely new views are exploited in the article in question. We are impelled, irresistibly, to agree with the conclusion reached, to-wit: that Roosevelt, while he is honest and patriotic, is, also, vain, that he loves flattery; and, also, that he is: (1) no statesman; that he (2) does not understand our theory of government; and that (3) he does not ATLANTA, GA., FEBRUARY 7, 1907. understand what effect his official acts will have upon our form of government. We are indeed glad that there is no third term allowed in this country. Roosevelt is no longer a safe president. Then we find this question settled, and the tumult 'attaching thereto stilled forever: “Is the United States Senate, as an Organization, a Body of Pa triots or a Band of Criminals?” As sad as it is, as much as we regret to admit it, the latter is proved to be true. Let us draw the curtain on this point. There is “An Open Letter to the Editor of the New York Herald, Sun, Tribune, World, Times, et al.” We have only this to say, after reading that letter; if these gentlemen have anything to say in their own defense, they should say it through a medium that will carry their reply to the great body of the American people, and these columns are open to them. In an article entitled, “The Colorado Senatorial Shame,” Simon Guggenheim gets his, good and plenty. Why, he is called a “smelter”; and the statement is made that his “smeltering” concern represents forty million dol lars. We don’t see how any man can swelter under the charge of being a smelter. It is equal to being caled a sardine. There are other articles, all dealing with questions that are now throbbing and aching w’ith vital concern to the citizens of this republic (American). But the outlook in all of them is gloomy. If Roosevelt is what he is shown to be, and, besides, isn’t what he is shown not to be; if the Senate is as bad as it seems; if Guggen heim, soon to be a senator, is a “smelter”—then this country is going to the “demnition bow wows” in a hurry. But we await the next issue. Mayhap it will hold out some glimmer of hope to the peo ple. If it doesn’t;, if it keeps on this way, piling up trouble for us to reflect upon, directly the “deni’d total” will be more than human nature can bear. But even then, all is not lost. In a coun try where there lives a man who has the courage of such convictions, and, also, has the genius to secure a medium for their expression, anything may be accomplished. So let us trust, for we can feel that the worst is already past. A religious census of Elyria, Ohio, taken recent ly, revealed the fact that not more than six thou sand out of the population of fourteen thousand attend church. The ministers of the city preached about the conditions; whereupon some one sgning himself, “Non-attendant,” sent a communication to the newspapers in which he said that the churches pay so much attention to wealth that the middle class of people are driven away. He cited the recent re-election of Mr. John D. Rockefeller as superintendent of the 'Sunday school of a Cleve land church. This up the ministers, who hastened in their sermons next following the pub lication of the communication, to the defense of the church. Rev. W. C. Dawson, a Methodist min ister, declared that the church cares nothing for wealth, and that if Jesus should return to earth today He would find congenial companionship in ’son of Mr. Rockefeller and other multi-mil 1k Now that is one of the disadvantages of gx ’th. No matter what happens, or what argume. anywhere, from making a decision on the win jT in a baby show, to the digging of the Panama Canal, poor (a term of sympathy, only) Mr. Rockefeller has to be held up to criticism. Wa are out qualified to judge as to the congeniality of Mr. Rockefeller’s society in the event in question, but we are reminded of a remark made once by a most irreverent and wicked boy, who was the Hor rible Example of our childhood’s community. In our community was a deacon, of the cross-grained, gallows-faced variety, whose religion was curdled, who drove hard bargains and extorted usury during the week, and on Sunday was the chief ornament of the amen corner, rejoicing in the promises of wrath for the evil-doer and equipped with an in stantaneous sparker which never failed to explode “amens” at the proper places. The deacon, driv ing to town one day, saw the Horrible Example sitting astride a fence by the roadside eating ap ples. The Horrible Example requested the accom modation of a ride to town; the deacon refused it. “Why,” said the 11. E., “you are all alone.” “No, I’m not,” responded the deacon; “the Lord’s •with me.” “Then, He’s awful careless about His company!” said the IT. E., and skedaddled. • Mother Nation is in Atlanta. She is not using her hatchet. She is lecturing. She is the star at traction with the Ten Nights in a Barroom com pany. The company presents the play, and just be fore the last act Mother Nation comes out and talks. She says she is not a prohibitionist—that she is an annihilationist. Iler methods are origi nal, and in the beginning of her career she might be said to have been impulsive and eccentric; for when a particular saloon began to grow a burden upon her she at once went and knocked it galley west and crooked. She was critic’sed by some and the owners of the bar furniture which >he wiecked were almost hurt with her; but she is the most glo rious exemplification of the fact that America is a free and unlimited country that can be found to day. And we point to her with pride. She has been in jail, but she is now at large. There were people who suggested the foolish house for her, but their suggestions were not noticed. Now comes our time to express our opinion. We have talked with her and haxe watched her face as we listened. She is a good woman. She has suffered through the curse of drink, and she knows, absolutely knows, what intemperance means. She has a loose screw about her mechanism; but most people who have got there seemed, when viewed from certain angles, to have a misplacement! in their machinery. Mother Nation has proved her faith. She has given her all to the establishment of a home for the wives of drunkards and sh 4 is now giving her strength and her life to the cause. It is true that she lectures at a theater, but realty (whisper), there are worse places. TWO DOLLARS A YEAH. FIVE CENTS A COPY.