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6
’RiE&feTiTOTieS
CLAKK HOWELL Editor
W. A, 11 EH I'll ILL Business Hnnnger
Entered nt the Atlanta postofllce ns second-class
mail matter November 11, ICT."
The Weekly Constitution SI.OO Pe.' Annum.
< lul s of five. $1.(10 each; clubs of ten ?l.no each ana
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vance to tmikestire. It may not taken week In every
Instance; will get them on ns sooi ns possible.
The Price of Cotton.
Some time in August, when the price
of cotton was between 6 and 7 cents, 't he
urged the farmers to tiring
t heir cot ton to market. realize upon it,
pay their debts if they owed any and
have the math r over with. Wc based
tiiis advice upon tiie experience of the
past. I’or years the price of cotton has
been firmer and higher at the heels of
an old season and the beginning of a new
season than at any other period. \Ye have
urged the same course on the farmers
for several seasons. The figures show,
howevt r, tha t the adv ice of The < lonst i*
tut ion was not acted on to any great ex
tent. 'l'he receipts at the ports for Au
gust and September fell far below those
of previous years.
In the earl.’ days of September, a
prominent merchant of Atlanta, in talk
ing with a reporter of The Constitution,
predicted that the price of cotton would
fall to 5 cents before the season was
over, and this prediction, credited to the
gentleman who ni.de it. was printed tor
what, it was worth. A day or two af
t < rw a rds, The < ,’onst itution called atten
tion to the fact that the statistical posi
tion of cotton was almost identical with
that of wheat, that the world's supply
was at a lower ebb than a' any period
since 18X0, and that if there was any
thing in scarcity, the price of cotton
tead of do .vn. W
dwelt on and emphasiz'd this favorable
position of cotton in two or three edi
torial articles, pre-enting the figures
and showing w hy cotton should be fetch
ing from 8 to 9 cents instead of 6.
N’cvert heb'ss. w went mi to show that
the price of the staple was not likely to
i ise until the demand for cotton goods
became active enough to stimulate tin in
crease in production. Weshowed that the
lack of demand for goods was due to the
scarcity of money, this scarcity being
the result of the contraction brought
about by flic gold standard.
Now o ojip'is. or criticize the gold
standard is the .nine as treading on a
lip; ■tail. The small pack began
to a 'd yelp and howl that Th" Con
stitu'.on was trying to bear the price of
cotton, first, by advising the farmers to
get rid of their crops, so-ond. by pre
dicting 5-< ent cotton, and, third, by at
tacking tiie beautiful and beloved gold
standard.
Me.l i while Mr Henry M. Neill, who
represents ir. tb. s country the interests
of European ers. filed in the TJver
pool . •;< liange his guess that the present
crop would amount to 10,500,000 bales.
Immediately the price began to fall in
Liv<-‘pool, followed by a corresponding
det line in New J ork and elsewhere.
Now the lie that tiie whippets have
started is that The Constitution pre
dicted 5-cent cotton. This prediction
was made by a prominent business man
of Atlanta and was given for what it
was worth. The printing of that predic
tion had no more effect on the price of
cotton than the digging of a well has on
the gulf stream. On the other hand
while The Constitution did not predict
a fall in the prict of cotton, it did not
commit itself to any prediction of a rise.
I' said: I h;.t the present low price of
cotton i- unreasonable and >llllllOl con
tine is almost certain.” This was as
■ar as w" went: but even this was go
ing too far. though it was based on fig
ui. r that si nted to point unmistakably
to a r : se. About that time, Mr. Neill's
. stimaie was made public, and the price
has fallen st ill lower.
N V T: ■ 1 ' U- 1 s ion ;>ref. ;■ .to ? :>m
m< nr on facts rather than make predic
tions. and the fact is that those farmers
who followed The Constitution's advice
and sold 1 heir cot ton when the price was
ti cents or more, are more fortunate than
those who have been holding for a rise,
•
Mr. Carlisle sees grave defects in our
<5 : .in sy- ■ m. So far as the bop' t<
a u..1, : D syst.-m might as wtol
: .1 : > :•
—
Canada Looking Over the Line.
Th.- i si: of Sir Wilfrid Laurier to
Washington is one which may be
1 taught with great interest for tiie fu
ture of Canada.
Tin fact tiiat he bore such a promi
nent place in the assembly of colonial
1 :• tni'-rs on th.- occasion of the queen's
jubil ■■> has marked him out as a min
if destiny. A thorough I’reii'diman.
I ■< won lb.' premiership of the Dominion
Ci.ough the suffrages of the Anglo-Sax
on provinces. A free trader in the
with st...:<.ation of the term, his .sympa
thy ■ h:iv<- been natu.ally with the Unit'd
Suites, since the union of his country
with the great republic would bring
about the realization of his fondest poli-
•y. Happening to be the premier of
I ingland's greatest colony during I'he
.jubilee yeat'. his presence in London
gave him the importance to which his
representation of the Dominion entitled
him. He wa.s easily the lion of the oc
casion, next after the 105a 1 personag<■. ■
there assembled.
It did no; take Premier Laurier long
10 iliscove; that after th" brass banj,
had pti>s< <1 by and the heavy dinners
w'over, the L’Titish government hat l
more important matters to lay before
tiis visiting premiers. This scheme was
diviiii.ed through a speech of the duke
•if Devonshire, in Liverpool, in which he
spoke of a certain reciprocity between
the 1 rovinces and th" mother country, to
which 0111 side nations would not. be ad
m tied. Mt. Chamberlain then came
forward with pretty compliments for
loyalty of the great I’rench-Canadian
and vainly sought to entrap him into a
scheme which would build tip national
alUtigonism between the Canadas and
the Unit'd States. With the politeness
oi his race he received the compliment,
spoke evasively and returned home. Next
we find him in Washington, making ac
quaintances which may be valuable in
the future, and talking over policies
which will be of value to people who
have to live on the same continent. It
is no wonder, then, as we have seen
through the press dispatches, that the
British government is jealously watch
ing Hie whole proceeding. Under the
cover of talking about pure municipal
affairs connected with the Klondike.
Premier Laurier is certain to discuss
matters much more deep and grave.
—*.
It is now said that Mr. Hanna is to
he the victim of a. combine. Just think!
the great advocate of combines to Lie
downed by a political combine!
What Does This Mean.
That is a singular piece of news which
'Die Chicago Times-Herald gives to the
public through the Associated Press.
There is a strike among the coal min
ers in what is known as the .northern
Illinois district. 'These men. white men
and Americans at that, have been labor
ing for years under the depression
brought about by the infamous gold
standard. During that period they have,
twice combined to overthrow republi
canism in their state, although it was the
party which held their traditional al
legiance. When in 1X96 the issue be
tween tiie people and their masters was
clearly formed, the republicans went to
those old-time comrades, and with the
promise of international agreement in
om' hand and of immediate prosperity
in the other, they induced these men to
vote for the election of the republican
ticket. The appeal was successful. Mc-
Kinley was elected. He took his place
in the white'house. He has had a full
session of congress through which he
lias passed that much vaunted protection
bill. For one entire year republican
ism and gold standardism have been in
unqualified possession of the high places.
The country has passed from winter
into the vernal season, from that into
autumn and the harvest has been gath
cred, added to which the country hasi been
blessed with dollar wheat, owing to an
affliction of providence in the old world,
and no thanks to republicanism.
Yet after all this, what is the situa
tion? The editor of The Times-Her
ald is the close personal friend of Mc-
Kinley. He was one of those who car
ried on the incipient campaign prelim
inary to the national republican con
vention, and made possible the nomina
tion of his friend. He, of all men.
shogV !.’>' the firs’ to lie able to paint in
glowing colors the success of this re
publicanism which was to do so much
for the prosperity of the people. It is
from the pen of this editor that comes
this information:
t ■
f Chinese miners are to take the !
li J
s place of Americans in the north- “
s ern Illinois district. An attempt s
c
i will be made to break the strike a
B
J that exists, and the skilled celes- s
® tials have been picked up for the
« work. They will all bear arms, '
■ live inside a gatling- gun equip- b
> ped stockade and be body-guard- ’
1 ed by 100 former Chicago police, a
s An agent of the Chinese Six Com- J
E 1
g panies was in Chicago last week e
f and made a contract with the , B
g General Wilmington Coal Com- «
* pany to deliver 800 Chinamen at B
s the mines of the Wilmington- s
! Braidwood district. The first con-
I 5
i> signment of Chinamen will be i
s there on next Tuesday and others a
t soon as provision can be made s
* to take care of them. Arrange- J
t ments for an additional 1.300 u
* Chinese miners have been made a
i con- itional on the success of t
’ those engaged. Elaborate prepa- j
/ rations have been completed to ®
’ take care of the first 800 China- ’
t men and to give them ample pro- 2
s c
, tection. a
tti'n ew mr— •• w »c » vx
What a pretty picture this descrip
tion makes!
Thousands of Americans, with thoiis
sands of women and children dependent
upon them for support, are to be turned
out of employment, turned out of then
iionn-.s in tiie cold and pitiless winter, to
go starving or begging as they may.
while their places ar>? to be taken by
Chinese slaves, imported for the express
degradation of white labor! These slaves
are 10 be guarded by galling guns and
a regiment of police. Shot ami shell
and canister awaits the appearance of
the trembling Americans, if ihcy should
vcmure to come within sight for nego
tiation. Not onl.v this, but the informa
tion is given that another thousand of
these slavish laborers are to be import
<■(l upon the success of the present move
ment. Then we will be presented with,
a sight of white Americans, men, wo
men and < hildren, crying for bread, as
the pitiless winds of the great hike re
gion ruthlessly pelt their forms as they
wander through the valleys of northern
Illinois. The stars and stripes will be
run up over Hie worse than convict,
camps of slavish Chinese, working for
start ation prices ami protected by the
\mi rican uniform. while till around
them will be mounted the frowning gal
lings to mow down those very men who
\<it"d for Mr. McKinley last fall.
There is republicanism! Take it. size
it up. measure it and pass your judg
ment upon it!
Governor Bushnell, of Ohio, can be the
next .senator from Ohio if h.e > an get four
republicans to vote with the democrats.
Frightened.
The Now York Times sees a warning
in the results of the recent election to
the effect that the money question will
come up before the people again, and be
trays its fright in the following style:
Li is plain that the most powerful leaders
of Hi dcnioi-rnt e ;i ii :\ of he: y.-.ir now
nc in to inak the light again, and think
that they can win. Tin fight itself would
In a gn at mi: f>nti:ii' 1 and then- is only
one way in which it inn be prex eni.'i. Tlnit
is by a r> form of the eiirr. i:, y on t >■ basis
of the gold standard, securing a sound, sta
ble and elastic system that w'll m< ■ ' t■
r al needs of the whole eountry a ;.! of
till its Sections. To that "lid duty and S"lf
] i "S'rva lion r-quit'.- that the adrntnistr.i
lion shall have all its energies.
'l'he gold organs do not attempt to con
ceal rhe fact that the republican slump
in the recent cleetions has given them a
teriible scare. The oilier day Mr.
Chauncey Depew was (•ailing on the re-j
publicans to perform the impossible feat j
of settling the financial question beyond ,
ail chance of rec ic.ning it, and novi I
TTTE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, G A., AFONDAA , NOVEMBEB 15, 1807.
comes The New York Times pleading
with the republicans to do that which
they dare not attempt. A currency sys
tem that will meet the needs of the
whole country will not be tolerated for
a moment by the money power. Tiie
administration doesn’t dare to put itself
behind such proposition, but will content
itself with trying to solidify the republi
can party in behalf of the scheme to re
tire 1 lie greenbacks and treasury notes,
and thus add $500,000,000 to the interest
bearing debt.
\Ve do not know how the republican
congressmen will regard this proposition.
Many of them have announced that they
are opposed to it, but. they are men with
very flexible minds, and we have no
doubt that a majority can be “fixed,”
b”-‘ we do not think the silver men in
tiie senate can be "fixed,” consequently
Mr. McKinley and his friends will have
to modify their proposition or leave
the finances to settle themselves until a
democratic president is elected in 1900.
Meanwhile, a new congress is to be
elected next year, and we think the re
publicans will hear no uncertain sound
from the people on the proposition to re
tire the greenbacks, and on various other
propositions of more or less importance.
Mr. McKinley has promised the coun
try prosperity, and it lias not arrived.
He said the Dingley law would cure the
deficit, and it has increased it. The
republicans, in fine, are in a plight that
has no parallel in the history of par
ties. Its huge majorities have shriveled
though the party lias been in power onl.v
eight months, and its whole scheme of
relief is in the air. there to remain*
'There seems nothing left for Mr. Mc-
Kinley to do but to rush the country itro
a war with Spain, and that would not
help ilio financial schemes of the repub
lican party a bit. To a casual observer
the situation is very interesting.
Tlu' Cincinnati Enquirer cruelly re
marks that “the billbynum party of Ken
tucky is trying to crawl under the dem
ocratic canvas." Well. let. it come.
After it has had a Turkish bath and a
change of duds, it will make a fair ap
pearance.
As to Democracy.
Now Di,-it Henry Watterson is once
more timidly grazing within democratic
pastures, the spirit ol inquiry has seized
his mind.
What it is to be a democrat, ami what
it is not to be, are two questions' upon
which lie ha'- -petit much thought. On<“
thing lie knows, il is no entirely com
fortable to he a repnblic.in. and it does
not pay. especially in Kentucky. Be
sides. there arc certain attractions about,
democracy which chain the attention <>>
cv< n th" most wayward, ami il is no
wonder th.it a returned peniteir should
give mmh study to the p/im-ipb's which
have called him back within tiie lines
of paYty harmony. It is mu Lo be ex
pected that when a man surrenders he
does so “all in a heap." Some time
must be given for the softening of asper
ities and for the creation of a new home
feeling, such as will make him forg ■( the
troublous days which are over.
Therefore, when Mr. Wat:erson, hav
ing re-aligned himself with his party,
spends a little time in trying to extract
comfort from the recent elec: ions, ms
dalliance must be pardoned, cspecialls
since we know how little < omfo.-f there
is to be found in be special r-ie wb. h
he is just now following. The asser
tion that the democrats of Gr-’aio" N< w
York eliminated from their plan of < im
paigii all disturbing national issue* 10-ms
its force when they declared themselves
organized democrats, recognizing regu
lar party control. while in Maryland
t: straddle went down in d ■!'• al.
i he lesson to which he should pay most
attention is tlr. of Kentucky, where the
issue was fair y and squarely mad", and
where donioeiac.v has won a. comulete
and emphatic victory. In giving up the
militant part of his programme, Mr. Wat-
• on still feels inclined to keep up the
polemical .-ide, and makes a declaration
of principles. 'Die gist of his long edi
torial expression is contained in the fol
lowing paragraphs:
O 1 1' wbl" - < r:n Ir> I,r . pl . h j,-’, st , :!( g
be !■ (if party u .. , h
l 'l ''t ' t“ party I■ ihl- is. rem.iin ’ipen the
sc< pe .1 ucliial ami a- vital ;s 1!,. v ~■ r
W'T"; immortal: fur truth .an ui v"r .11 ■;
an t b"c, ai'" three simple propositions in
which good government most .-mi. m-h it
self. from which it mu h t euste
-1:11 " if w< ar. to I >ii n 1h" "ori. rof the
new century a repubii" in both tin sub
stam- I.ll’ th ■- j T ' wiii. h w. ‘ P" ,1
by tin niakcis n' the i-.nist it ut ion.
;■ iv i vr. m" n >u not ;■. ■ o. r
I'iuitat l ■ >r l"gai, to tax tin l peopi- >x
■ -I■ to raise mom j fi r its .
"Vi ry 1011, ir of taxation <1?. rt i fI. -11 lth s,
inu po-. is r.ibln ry, mal it is ■q i dly nt ■
portant ti nt the in hi. y h '.'.illv eolli . tcil
shall lie honestly ; pplied'.
Sei-oml, th. right of th p.-ipl ■ to 10. il
self-g'O’ernm. nt i an n.il c 'bl - r elit: to
10. al option in th. l oiint'es; to inmn- rule
in the cities, to ill ri h •- in tin- Slate not
i x press! j de he ati -I to t lie g in o'll g iv. rn
-111" it. ami that tn. !>>'• i". at hm of this
rh'lit o! Deal s 1. -'ovornrm t is .s-■ nt .1
to that Jo : . .11111>i’i11in h' tW""i: liberty
ami law. \s I i> h are tie c.inr .-"ones of
our syst'in of f'.leriil a.ii st.ii.- insti:u-
Third, tin- mqttev of the country must h
good mon< y: drciil.iting iv rywh' r.-: un
(|U"Stiuni "l and imque-d iotmjtl": r ''cz 1
at once and taken at its full v.ihi"; and.
that to attain this univ. rs.il i. < ogi.j on I
amt aci' ptaino il must consist of gold and
silver, and pap r. the win. l .. of inter
clmm Ad. \.ib> . .-ach ■ mx- ri .>h into tln
otber on demand amt fr.ely "iri iilating ■
sid. by side.
Th s ■ propositions are as true now as i
I'V-r tin y were. In a m r.il way they .
embrace th" political is.-ms of the day. '
If they be democracy, then we .ire a d' in- I
ocrat. If I’" not <1 mocracy. then we
ar- not a <!■ .no-rat.
As to the theories here advanced, there
can be little if any dispute. No dem
ocrat, so far as 'Die Constitution knows,
has ever thought to tax people except to
“raise motley for the support of tiie gov
ernment.” 'Die second declaration re- >
lating to local self-government may pass ■
equally unchallenged. it is with the
third declaration* that Mr. AVaiterscn
hopes to shake the red rag. A reading
of that declara ion will develop that
there is nothing in it to arcuse the op
position of even the most ultra free coin
age democrat. The democratic party,
as Mr. Watterson well knows, is not a'
free silver party any more than it could I
be a gold or paper party. In the lan- I
guage of Mr. Watterson it is “in favor of
good money,” gold, silver or paper, all ol
interchangeable value, ami Mr. Walter- \
son has stated it. no stronger than it lias
been stated hundreds of times in 'The
Constitution.
li will be seen, however, that Mr. Wat- i
terson carefully ignores the teal differ-;
enee, and that is his assumption that the .
free coinage of silver would change the t
condition of things called for in his third j
section N'otwithstahding the fact that
the bullion price of silver rules at one
half its coinage value, the silver dollars
now in circulation arc floated of equal
value with either gold or paper, so (bat
it will he seen that MT. Watterson's as
sumption is very far fetched. Why should
hundreds of millions of silver dollars,
without the promise of government re
demption, with nothing behind them
save the stamp on their face, pass as cur
rent with gold, which he claims to be
the unit of value, and paper which, un
der the policy of the government, is re
deemable in gold?
'Die fact is that the objection to silver
coinage does not come from a legitimate
zeal in behalf of the country, nor of its
finances, but out of a super-serviceable
interest in the affairs and the prosperity
of a government which is foreign to ours.
On this line might be quoted a few re
marks made by Mr. Marshall Field, of
'Die Chicago Times-Herald, who has re
turned from a trip to Europe. Speaking
of England, he says that the English
take no interest in the Cuban question.
“Great Britain.” says ho, “has enough
business of her own to attend to without
bothering with the affairs of this ■ oun
try. Besides,” he sttys in conclusion, “it
is characteristic of the English that
they .should mind their business at all
times.” There is a world of interest in
this observation, which it would bo as
well for all Anglo-maniacs in this coun
try to (:> <■ to heart. l.et us be con
cerned about American prosperity, and
leave English financiers to take care of
themselves. Our own affairs should be
sufficient to engross our attention, and
if we keep them well in hand, we will
have more prosperity, even though we
lose the taffy which is doled out to cer
tain American statesmen from the pur
lieus of Lombard street.
Where the Tr.i ikl ? Was.
'l’he Constitution has recently received
a very interesting letter from tiie ed
itor of a southern gold democratic news
paper. who has decided to drop all oppo
sition to his party, and to place himselt
in line with the regular organization.
One paragraph in that letter is of pub
lic int-'rest in that it. embodies the feel
ings that animate a great many gold
democrats who have been making war
on their party, bur who now. since the
collapse of the “national democracy." so
called. are preparing to act with the reg
ular organization. Our friend says:
My views on silver have not cbange.l,
lint I have lieen wilting to leav" it to time.
With ■ ai li passing x ar T have a growing
distrust of die princi]>les and th" practici s
of tin 1 republican party. The trouble with
our part} is its in> ipaelty ’n olli. ■ . In
opposition, it is magnificent, tint manly
m< a .should not be eontant with agitation.
D'l th' in striV" to build up as w> II .is to
lair down. 1 want to S"c th" <b‘moci"i'ic
par> v “do something” and do -onn 'liirg
w< ’ and do il in away that strengthens
p< <>!ar confidence.
It. is hardly necessary to say that the
wi'er of tiie foregoing wa.s an ardenl
Cleveland man. and yet till he says with
respect to incapacity in office raters to
the dreadful results of Mr. Clevelands
. pond t( rm. .I' makes no diffi .ence
whether tiles ' results were due to im a
p.iciry in office or to a deliberate con
spiracy to wreck the party; tiie etfect
wa.s the same. If Mr. Cleveland could
have won over to his views and plan.s
tiie leal leaders of the democracy, the
democratic party would have ceased
exist as a party.
Now we are not abusing or pursuing
Mr. Ch vland. On th>> .contra: y w.- think
it will be admitted I •:<>.liter by the im
purtial historian that he did tin- dem
ocratic party a gr< i ’ service by driving
i to a point where it was < impelled to
<ln ■ tself fnmi t.he trieksters anu
juggk -of the east, and return to the
p-j p]< . f .!• '! i mian detuo< racy.
L th howev. •, was unintentional.
Th" policy of those who wore responsi
ble :'"! '' " 1 ' ■ .■' u d a<lminist."?tion a
io kick d'.wn the ladder by which they
rose, and i: was no: their fault that the
party wa- immeasurably stronger in de
fea: in 1x96 than it was when Mr. Cleve
land was elected tour year.; before Ar
tin very beginning of his second term
Mr. Cleveland unfolded his plans to di
vide and dismembi r the party that had
honored him. 'There is not an import
ant pledge of the platform that he did
not repudiate.
It was supposed that no would b<‘e iger
to carry out the tariff reform pledge.
But in the very beginning he announced
that the declarations of a platform bore
no relations to th” practical workings
of an administration. It was. believed
that lie would insist on a tariff for rev
enue only. But the tariff that he did
insist on was for a deficit, and deliber
ately ptopared io picluce that, result,
and tacked to the tail of it was a free
list, every lino of which concealed a job
'Die party has had but one man in of
fice as president since the war. and all
ill-- damage that one man could do. I’e
did. <,■: tried to do. But. the real lend
ers of the party refused to follow him.
and his course brought them to the ne
cessity of reaffirming demccratic princi
ples with tin emphasis that had no paral
lel in forty years: and so i: happened
that the party which Mr. Cleveland
though be had do ,toyed was stronyer u
the defeat of 1x96 than it was in the
Cleveland victory of 1592. It '.' :s ns
if the hand of providence had been in
terpo:-< d to preserve the party of the peo
ple. and with it their liberties and in- i
leivsts.
Ncvertliele-s. wo want no more experi
ments with such men as Cleveland. ‘
'They do very '.'.('ll to adorn private' lif>'.
or to deliver ponderous addresses on va i
rious subjects that have been exhausted; I
but in public life wo not'd m-’ti who are j
itive to the rights and interests of ;
the common people, and who believe
with Jefferson that these same common
people arc capable of -ettling every ques
tion pertaining to their government.
The Geological Department.
'l'he action of the house finance com- i
mittee in resolving upon a reorganiza- |
tion of the geological department was on ;
the right line.
No community and no state can wish :
to remain in a primitive condition in an j
age when every other community and j
every other state is straining every nerve i
in the march of advancement. 'To be able i
to read the great book of nature, which !
go.ilogy opens, is a preliminary m'cesst- •
ly to any advancement which Georgia
can hope to makA. ’Die argument■ that i
in making the necessary geological stir- ;
vey individual- may happen to be bene- j
sited, is equally .'.’.ood against every othc:
.step which the i.tate might take, and to
pay attention to it would be simply to
bring on a condition of legislative pa-
But 'there are people who, granting
the benefit of geological surveys, insist
that the Georgia department has failed !
in its work and therefore call for its abo- I
lition. It is at this point that (he house I
finance committee rises to the dignity of j
statesmanship, and declares that recon- j
struction and not abolition is the true i
policy. Hitherto, the appointing power
of not only the geologist, but of all his I
subordinates, has been with a commis
sion composed of the statehouse officers.
’Tiie result was that every assistant felt
it lo be his duty to shoot over (he head
of his nominal chief, in order to win a
a little favor with the commission. As
might have been expected, there has
been a lack of discipline in the depart
ment, and the fault lay in the law itself.
Now, however, it is. proposed to change
all this, so that the state geologist shall
be a state officer in fact, with the full”
power of appointiittg and removing his
assistants. It will then become their
duty to aid the geologist, instead of play
ing for a position over him, and if they
refuse to give that aid, the responsibil
ity rests upon the geologist to get rid of
them and to fill their places with men
who will have a better understanding of
their duty.
*
On the Question of Straddling.
'The Springfield Republican is of the
opinion that, the only hope of the gold
democrats is to return to the democratic
party and attempt to seize the organi
zation from the inside, not by a bold and
courageous stroke, but by committing it.
to another series of straddles, dodges,
: hedges and evasions. It calls this pro
gramme of dishonesty “the new fight
against Bryanism,” and depends on “the
appetite of the democratic politicians for
spoils” to send honest, and truthful men
to the rear and give the party over
to the leadership of the impracticable
and unpatriotic men who have done their
utmost to destroy it.
We think our Springfield contempora
ry has forgotten what occurred at Chica
go in the summer of 1X96. For thirty
years, up to the assembling of the na
tional democratic convention of that,
year, the actual control of the party hau
i been given over to the straddlers, dotl
i gers, hypocrites and politieally dishonest
| mon. 'l'hey had made its platforms,
I filling them with evasions and strad
■ dies, and had named the candidates,
i They wont to Chicago in 1896 with the
l avowed purpose of carrying out their
[ old programme. They wore all there —
Whitney, Hill. Tom, Dick and Harrity.
i But they found themselves facing now
1 conditions. 'They found themselves face
to face with genuine democrats who had
I received instructions from the people in
the primaries. 'To all intents and pur
poses the Chicago platform was writ
ten by the people when they selected
their delegates to the state conventions.
Now. if those straddlers and dodgers
had no influence on the party in the
very flower of their popularity, as it
were, is it likely that they will have any
now that the nature of their scheme has
boon exposed? The Republican men
tions the name of Mr. Hill in the same
breath with Die recent victory in New
A'ork. Does our contemporary think
that Mr. Hill could command a nomin
ation from the democratic party in Now
A'ork. or, commanding it, receive the
indorsement of the people at the polls?
To put the matter in another shape,
how can the late bolters wield as much
influence as repentants as they wielded
before they announced their opposition
to the Chicago platform? Would dele
gates from New York bent on straddling
have any more, or as much, influence on
a future national convention as Whitney,
Flower and Hill had on the convention
of 1X96? It is to be borne in mind that
“tiie appetite for spoils" does not reach to
the masses of th" people. In order for a
politician to share in the spoils, he must,
fit.st receive the approval of the people.
(>;h rv.r>' his cake is all dough to begin
wit h.
On the main issues there will be no
straddling of any sort. As Mr. Bryan
says, these issues embrace the present
rci 'il'l'can programme, which is-
I'oreign control of our primary money.
Nation::! bank control of our paper
money.
Trust control of the taxing power.
We think that even the republicans
must admit that the democratic position
is considerably stronger today than it
was last year.
In the first place, republican prosperity
has proved to fie what is tormed a news
paper fake.
In the second place, the stimulating
effect of the higher price of wheat has
prov'd the truth of the democratic ar
gument in favor of better prices.
In the third place, th democratic
declaration for independent biimtall.sni
ha.-' Teen jtistifi'd by the total failure
of the repitbli';ia : to bring about inter
na: ional b!n’>’t.''.llisin.
In the fourth place, the republican
claim that the higher price of wheat
would scotch the silver movement in
the west has proved io be unfounded.
The result in Ohio, where the > ampaigit
was made on the Chicago platform, and
in Nebraska, who e the silver fusiouists
won a victory, .show that the free coin
age movement is stronger in tiie west to
day than ever.
It may be said, therefore, that if the
late bolters are returning lo the party
with any other idea than that which
promotes party fellowship, namely, the
yielding of the minority to the will of
th" majority forth" sake of the whole
democatic idea and system, they will
no: only he disappointed, but they will
have their feelings hurt besides.
i’or there is to be no backward step, i
no halting, no straddling, no tampering
with pur-' democratic principles. 'The
in Maryland didn’t help Mr 1 .
Gorman. The refusal to straddle in I
Ohio greatly strengthened the demo
cratic party in that state. Not even mo
tives of self-interest can prompt a dem
ocratic politician to straddle hereafter.
Tn view of these things, we d i not be- )
lieve that the errant one- are returning 1
with any hope of wrenching the party I
to their gold views. We prefer to be- '
liev" that they are willing to surrender j
their v'ew.s on the money question for
the sake of promoting the democratic
system of government.
Exports of American Cotton.
Mr. R. B. Handy, of the United States
department of agriculture, is contribut- :
ing to The 'Textile American a very in- [
teresting .cries of articles on the his
tory of American cotton. In the cur
rent issue of that industrial magazine
the writer deals with the steady growth
of foteign exports which has taken place
during the past one hundred years.
I’rom 1786 to 1790, according to Mr
liand?'. the exports of cotton from the
Utiited S'ates to Great Britain tiveaged
only l-636th of the total amount of cot
ton purchased by Great Britain in the
world's market. Sixty years later, how
ever, the United States supplied four
fifths of Great Britain’s demand for cot
ton. Giving exact figures, the writer
states that from 1786 to 1790 the average
amount of cotton imported by Great
Britain from the United States was only
100 bales. From IXI6 to 1820 it aver
aged 166,310 bales, from 1846 to 1850,
1.297,230 bales; from i 876 to 1880, 2,589,-
070 bales. The following table, com
piled by Mr. Handy, shows the extent
of our foreign exports of cotton, in bales,
since 1878. including exports to Great
Britain and to the European continent
and Mexico:
is
s 5= §
I 18W49 _ j 2J15.T000* I 1,413,000
I ICTIi-M) | :.'..'Z.I,iHJO | 1,3W.W)0 I 3.XIAT I
| IV-.0-SI I 2(CXI 1.733,1KK! I ■l,.>‘i'>.'t , l'
ISSI-S 2 ' 2. (HHt 1,256,1100 I 3.551.0()<l
ISX2-X3 ‘ 2.5M1.1)00 I.XtIX.OOO 4.721.000
IXSS-XI I 2 4X5 IKK) I 1.432.1KK) 1 3.'.'17." IHI
ISS4-X5 ' 2J2..AU I 1.4!»5JKi0 I 3,(<20.00
ISXS-SH 2,tCS,iK:O I 1.771.000 I 4."00
I,sm;-s7 7'U " " I.7II."" 1 it ’
ISS7-XX I r’.xi'.'X'O l.xitt.oeo ; 1,627.iMt
IS'SS-S!> 2.510.000 ' 1,026.O"O ■l." l ‘'.O"')
1.'51.'.111 2.'■51,un0 i 2,052.000 I 4.'_iiii;.iiOO
IM,O-91 I iITuOOO | 2.4'16.000 I 5.71'1.'”
i'isl-t’ 3 317 iH<O 2,511,000 ' ' "' s “ ”
• . •• uoi’noo 2.< : muio(i i i.:::i'i."ii' 1
l.| T'Ml.iinO 2,371,000 l 5'2">2.000
: ;'. , ::.27'(.i'00 1
’l'|,,. figures show to what extent the
I American cotton crop affects the world s
' market. Since 187. x the amount of cot
i toil exported to foreign countries has
i increased from 3,466.000 bales to 6,726,-
000 bales.
What the Farmers Need.
In the current number of The South
ern States Farm Magazine Dr. Charles
, W. Dabney, Jr., discusses some of the
i needs of agriculture in this section. On
account of the timeliness of this article
| The Constitution feels warranted in call-
I ing the attention of its readers to some
I of the salient points therein discus.-.ed.
As Dr. Dabney puts it. the great pron
: lem of southern agriculture is to make
I farming in this section pay. Ip to th"
I present time the farmers of the soutn
have not derived from the soil that
measure of recompense which its unsur
passed fertility is calculated to yield,
and the reason which Dr. Dabney gives
for this unsatisfactory experience is that
our farmers, like those the world over,
are disposed to move along in certain
ruts. He contends that for twenty years
or more the farmers of the south have
1 devoted themselves almost exclusively
to the raising of cotton ami tobacco, and
that present conditions in the south are
largely the result, of this restriction.
“The high prices of cotton and tobacco
which prevailed twenty years ago," says
Dr. Dabney, “naturally betray* <1 our
farmers into raising these ere;;.- ami
simply because they know how to
grow them easily they continue to
raise cotton and tobacco, in spite
of th" fact that prices have fallen almost
■ to the cost of production. This tenden
cy exists the world over. It is far easier
‘ to keep in th'' <>!<! rut than to pull out
of it.” a remedy for present evils
Dr. Utibnei urm's our southern farmers
to study th" resources of their farms
for tiie purpose of raising supplies nced
! ed to support the workers employed
l thereon, and also, at the same time, to
: study the demands of the market. He
argues that our farmers are too prone
to raise money crops without giving any
I attention to those needed supplies tor
■ which large sums have to be paid out
1 during the year. In this connection Dr.
i Dabney says:
; On,- sp"' !,i! med us south' in agrieultur"
■ is to matte still more meat ,in<l m lt> With
i th" increased production of forage in th ■
: s 'iith th' production of nu ai. milk an I
I butter lias greatly iin-n i a-.j during th"
I last ten years. The increased . ru;,i ~,f
I corn mean more bugs, and larger crops of
: hay and oats (m an more < attic and stock
I of every kin). * * * iiairy products will
i always bo in great ■! ni.i’ul an ong > i\ liz .1
i people. Tii mor" highly civilized they :ir<
i th. more of this.- pradm-m they < insiniie.
j It is ■ st'mat'd by the L'liued St ite.s depart
; iib'ii’ of agrh'iiltur, tbit til- milk fr >ni
I 5.000,(100 cows :: annually ccnsiuned as miiu
' in the t’nii' d States, th,' iv- rage b ing.
i about (w iity-fiV" and a hai:' gallons p> r
i year for ■ :,,•>) p. rson. * * * Butter is be
coming more and more .' necessity to al:
wcll-eon<i ■ I ' • i r> cen t
year- ere.im his besom" n important ar
ticle of l oinm- r. ■■. The >1 injii'l for <■>:>-
; di iisi .l milk is said to !>■■ leidily gi ,w ng.
, ' ■ d.-' i ■. more ami more
: fn this country .is an article of fo-.a!.
To show how little the south hits con
tributed toward supplying the demand
for dairy products, point'd cut in the
foregoing paragraph, Dr. Dabney con
tinues:
Tiie facts show that the sniithern fartm rs
ha\" many fewer cows than the farmers
of any oth' i S'ction of lb- country. T,e
pop id it ions of G< orgi.i and M:• liiga na re p
pi ox ima t-It the same, and so ar" t!,.- num
ber of improved acres in farms, i.nu Geor
gia had in ts>'.> less than 360.000 inilcii cows,
ag.iinsi aiiii.orti tl tie - tat'- of Al;. iig "i;
V1 rginia md VViseonsin li \ ■ :■ >pn ■ m . ■ ly
i;■ -■ ilat ind lie .sain,
numb rof improv,icres in f irm :. Many
portions of Virgini.'i are jus: as Wi il nd lut
ed for dairying is is Wi-consin. while Vir
ginia has every advantage in the way of
'■limite and i I'i’i' y to niark":s. Itu;
Virginia, had in ISS9 onl.v 275.01.0 mil' ll • >v..s,
as against SuO.OiKi in Wisconsin.
Os cour.'-e anything lilt, a thorough
review of Dr. Dabney’s article cannot be
nti'nipted in this connection, but fiom
the fea'iif'S touch'd upon, it is evident
that our southern farmers, in addition
to raising diversified crops for the mar
ket, need also to produce such farm sup
plies as will enable them to live at
home.
Comprehensive and Povzerful.
l-’roin Tin- Itoni. , Ga, Tribune.
Tin- Atlanta. <’■ ns:l'.ui ion's comprehi'iislve
and powerful editor A on the election re
sults is worthy of that paper in tb< i r,-
niendous tight il lias made for il;,. eiuse
of silver. The Constitution can Weil glory
in tiie triumph, for a.-suredlj the dr ft is
all absolutely toward democracy.
♦
A Stamp Trust.
From The Washington Star.
il costs till go\einnient now jus: 5 cents
for l,v"l stamps delivered anywhere in
the United States. One thousand 2-cent
stamps are s"!d for S2O. It will (tins 1,,
seen Dial Uncle Sain has u trust worth
having, ami that liis pro Ats m,. >:<>t p e
despis' d, even by a bloated uo’.dhold, r.
In fact, Uncle Sam is envied so much l>y
other capitalists (hat i'requen’iv c lu r par
ties start into tiie biisin.-ss of ] riming
stamps, without first securing a license
or evrn trying to get one.
Sometimes Div -• ciet s rvlce oflic,. catch
es Hie guilty parties, but in ease liie discre
tion is exercised die counterfeiting of
stamps is not very difficult, as little close
at cntlon is bestowed upon them in the
mails. But tile v.xpinse is >o great and
tiie returns so sniad that, the counterfeiters
do not linger long at a stamp job. During
a singiv y< ar tin bureau of pr nting inn ;
engraving prints about SSU.OW),O(JO Wvi'lli
stamps. Tins is over an iver igo , f ( , Cl .
1 e.ul for ,\.:y .nhabitam of die Uniied
States, and indicates that we are a gm.-t
r ire of letter writers, assuming tn.-it |,
person writes one letter a week. All pe.iple
who write letters. however, are .
thoughtful enough to prepay them. Sonic
id. a of the number of delinquent corre
spondents who like to send their litters
postage due may be ibtaiucd from .tv.,
fact, that during tiie last fiscal year t | lt ,
valut of postage due stamps attix. d to let
ters without sufficient postage aggregated
$150,658, mostly in l-ehnt and 2-cent stamps.
“Songs of the Soil”
By FRANK L. STANTON.
A Face.
The lovely twilight lingers like a spirit
round the place;
The sweetheart ro es at the gate are
memories of her face;
Tiie lili's lean and listen—the ghosts of lost
delight—
Tiie suntlower like golden star signa.s . i»i
silent night.
This is lb" place I met hcr-therc, in the
Whence’was all of hope and all its ws.r.
tuu .hwv< t for i • •
■J his is the place I met lu r-thts is the
dear, sweet place.
I And all the world is wondrous with mem
ories of her race-.
j (Jit, H ni»iv be that riot for nw anoti.r
light shall shim
i Like the last ligM Hk" the past light tint
made sweet this life «f mine,
It may be I sliall never S"e, for all *
grief and grace,
The I"' mi. the gleam, the ream
dream, and over all that face.
Strange ways, strange days, and lands , d
bands, and what we think S fat' ,
But over all some crimson bands that b I
a twilight late
With rare star-surinkle.l roses, with
their youth-time grace,
And those sweat lips that kissed ni". ai I
evermore that face!
I Let us forget! and yet—and yet—we w:l
remember still
’TIk- blood that made the rose so red t
ripple of th" fIH
I The hills that climb' <1 to lieaw'ii, and ■ i
remember, A place
; Thai mad.' the whole world sw ''-r for • ■
dear wom in’s laen!
D, ar fact ! I may not me. t th"' I may
ever sight
I The phantom ship that bears th" - from
watidi-lif s of my night:
: But Still ' a . ' ' '
aiij evci more 1 see
. A fa<" that maD 111 ■ I' ,u ' :l 1 ’' 1
sweet face for tn''!
In ian Summer.
'I :. ,1. " . lOU ' ' " ■'
World that se< ms in time.
i Thrills right through a !■ Ilers soul
Like a <ll'< ah o' Jn i' ’
Sei ms that birds, with golden win s
I Brush you—soft as silk.
! And y,ai almost .-<■.■ the springs
Cool tiie butt, rnulk!
t But while you air die imin' co
In I'D S.’.'l-L
Mind' you'll hear a i,lizard blow
, An' be 10.-t in sb-et!
In Winter Timo.
’ Sorter like th" winter time
U Uli fir, bl ,z n' br ght,
. WI). , all tile cotl-ig" Willis air green
I An’ all th- m<"idoi.s white;
i When from th" In’. ■ zy country-side
’i’ll" blue smoke upward curls
An' tin m-: I. I"" i -t, t.ipttn’
• Tiie nd lips o' th- girls!
Sorter ilk'- th" winter time—
Fer what's the snow an’ sleet
When tl,-.' fiddle mak, the music
I', r . f 'ii. r's willin' fe, t'.’
Wh 'i th" girls air m iDy-i'UlUn’,
Tiie ol’ foil's iioduin’ idgh
■ n’ 11 »«• njist )»•<<><■ i•' t‘ nipt hi
An' (liar's kiss n’ on lb. sly!
Irrepressible.
They put him up for congressman
In country and in town;
j Tii" other fellow l--.it him
And h" hauled bis colors .'.own;
But iie shout.,! tor If" wilinei,
And be bet. another hat
He'd make the legi lature.
And they lieat him out for that!
But he saw the sheriff’s office..
Ai.d lie .-aid: "I'm goin* in!"
The road was mighty dusty.
And lie found lie couldn't win.
But failure didn't phase him—
I Though the weather WUZii't fair,
I He jumped into the saddle
I And !;*■ ran along for mayor!
And still li" was unfortunate -
I!.' lest tile wished-for place,
And h"’s alwa.es running, running,
And lie’s never out the race!
A Tired Fellow.
' Talkin' bout November days—l v »
tin.vie all right;
But | has er fetch the wood in f,r •*
big oak lit', s at night;
i reckon snow a-faliin’ mak- s a party
er show.
But it ain’t so powerful pb-a 'int when t
has ter .-hovel snow!
Talkin' 'I,OU'. Novetnl, r days- with ft' i
furrows gray,
They ain't so powerful pl -iu ant Wil, n
spend ' ‘tn haulin' h.ij ;
I like tn,' sharp, clear mornin's-the
tei-'s lively horn,
But I'm f.■< :in' mighty solemn wh'.-n I :a
set to shuckin' corn!
I've conn ter the conclusion this woi d •
fer man an' boy.
Is about a peck o' trouble ter . very pint
"' joy:
I like bill" skies an' meadows—a bird t a..:
knows a song,
But 1 can't jiue m the chorus when '
work me all day long!
In Spite of All.
Good times'll corne to the country
In spite o' tile trouble an' :.ll;
The I'o.-.uf M,y will lie sw> -.1 on til' v ,
And i11,.' biooms from the braiu iu s i. :
Good times'll come to the country
The storm leave the hi iVens aliove,
An’ - .".i 'll slay wtong. tn’ ;la world
with song
A. sw, "t halleluia of lovei
A Thanksgiving Note.
Talk al,,:,ut Thanksgiving, with its pl.
and iis joys—
i a-lo king forwarfl to a
with the boys;
And Sin will com" from college, and J u n
won't foiget.
And we'll a l f. , | mighty happy that Wi 'iC
tills side Jordan yet!
Ive seen the turlv y spreading ot h.s
feathers fair and tine,
And b.s “gobble. gobbl< . gobble" s, , ms i
dav. (he folks to dine;
’1 be verdict's been against him, and h:s
Ami he mak ■ . ■ hapi
they're ali a-living y, i!
The Bills.
Hear tiie members with their bills.
Lengthy bills!
Mhat a tai" of t,’,l s ousness each readii s
long instills!
How they chatter, flatter, spatter iliiou; ‘
the dull November day;
How nite bi ng> n< w matt,
ns blossoms blown in May!
Keeping , me, i:nic. lime, to the eourthon u
steeple’s chime,
Io the t.ntlnnabulation that nioiiotono'i -
rills
From th.- ti lls, bills, bills, bills, bills, bills,
From the squeaking and the shrieking of
tin- bills!
Briefs from Billville.
Th" folks down here say. it's best to be
liberal, although we are alive.
We re uiid. r the impression down h« L’
that were living’ in a world which is full
of humanity. W. 11, the last m utiomri
thing is a good thing top this world.
We are all broth' rs. The only trouble
is, some of us won't pay the brethren.
Let the yekow f<ver come in! BiJlville
has be* !! through the hard times, and she
dun i fear anj thing.
