Newspaper Page Text
6
THE COHSTITUTIOH
CLARK HOWELLEditor
W. A. HEMPHILLPres, and Bus. M’g'r
tutored at (be Atlaata Paatafllee aa Heoaad
Claaa Hail Mauer, Nar. 11, 1813.
TH* WT7KI.T mXMTHTIOM. only »1 per aa
awa. <sabso« Bee. fl wh: rtabaof tea. fl each
•M a copy to geuer-up of duh.
t
n WANT TOr-TW (mwtttattoa waata an a««nt
at at cry prwtofllce In America. A«*of» outfit tree
•nd rood terrra. If roa are not tn a elab ** want
loa to act aa egsal al jour oll.ee. Write ua
CHANGE OF ADBRKRS—Wtwn entering address
of year payor changed alarara gtva the old M wall
• alba new add rm Alwnysgtve y.«off!ee, r«nn:y
and Mate. It your I>|»r M not r vlrel rryrilarl,
aot Jy ua and a a wtU eUwlghten the matter.
It TOV FEND VS AM ORDER tor now ntarr*twra
j>'e»*e allow ua a weak t« jet Ike Eames on the Hat
and yap. re Marta.! before yea write a complaint,
• a we ar* varv much ervudad now.
I O SOT FORGET to make rnnr renew al* tn rm«.
Watch your direction l-ur an-t ee» wbea your *at»-
rcrlf ttor expires. The next eta months will he foil
<f ir terrat. and yoa should not raise a single copy
• t The CWMltutton. -wad your on'.ers at treat a
week In advance to make eurr. It tn ir not take
a week ta every InMance, at we use the greatest
<Vur tog -t ttnm on our making Hat
Stand by the Bill.
Now that the house has passed the
Nicaragua canal bill, it goes to the sen
ate, where the old fight under cover
will be renewed upon IL
That is a significant sentence in the
dispatch referring to the fate of the
bi 1 In the senate, which, while ex
pressing the confidence of Senator Mor
gan that it can ba polled through, goes
on to say: “This is. however, extreme
ly doubtful.'* And why? Because
If th- re; übllcan lenders are a bio to pull
tlir tl.clr pr.s-ut progiauuma of an
early j.mnttnciit- mat fc». un adjourn
ment iwfote ih«- data of the republican
rational convent). a- then tlteto la liitle
chance for this or any other legislation
except the aprropr.aiiun bid and iterluu-s
a few pet n-v.isur,s.
Then it becomes the duty of the dem
ocratic senators, and those republican
senators who are really friends of the
measure, to resist adjournment up to
the reassembling of congress in Decem
ber. if u« cessary to force a vote on the
measure!
There is not a senator who will be
brave enough to oppose the bill straight
out. They will cry out for delay, in
order to have more time for debate la
ter on. Let them understand that
them never was a better time than the
present, when the people are in humor
for the discussion. Beneath every ob
jection there will be found hidden
either party politics or persona! and
selfish interests. The transcontinental
route to some senatorial minds and
pockcis can be easily traced, and while
it may not be parliamentary to men
tion the fact In public, the people will
appreciate it Just as readily.
What Is the issue? The enlarged
commerce of the world demands th©
same shortening of the western rou’o
av has already been accomplished In
the east. Ths defense of the two ex
posed coasts of the United States must
be brought within the province of ev
ery battleship, whether on the ono
coast or on the other. Doth reasons
combined make the duty one belonging
exclusively to the United States, whose
overpowering interests must have the
gam., control of Nicaragua as those of
Fngland have of Hu©z. For fifty years
this matter has been before congress.
Its necessity admitted by nil men. but
I’s «—’!m ? *»it?'»n held ’ ark for other In
terests. When Captain dark and the
Oregon were lost In the turning of the
Cape, and the whole country was
alarmed lest he should become a priie
to a h.dden Spanish fleet, then the res
olution became fixed that in the emer
gencies of the future no such risk
should be run. Added to this, when
the Pacific has developed as an Anv ri
c.in lake, with the commercial hope of
the southern staple crop Invo’red. there
no 'onger remained to statesmen from
the south any other duty than that of
support for the bill.
Th • senate stage has been reiched,
but bow? It Is a favorite game of poli
tics to nass a measure through one
house, to please and allay the demands
of the people, and to stifle it tn tho
other, to satisfy the special Interests
whl- h desire its defeat. The managers
of th“ transcontinental railways want
to force the growing commerce over
the overland route. They are bitterly
opposed, not only to rival lines of rail
road but to ocean lines as wel!. Abov«
ell. they arc opposed, first, last and all
the time, to any canal, under any cir
cumstance. aernss any part of the isth
mus. But th© people must pay the
freight and stand the loss!
Th* duty of senators favoring the
bill is to keep the senate In session ail
rummer or force a vote I*et the men
who dire orpose the Nicaraguan bill
put it in the shape of an honest “no,”
and w,> can understand them. But—
I jet there i»e no postponing!
No wriggling!
No Joah-stab from professed friends!
The plain straightforward way 1 3 to
line up and «ay “yes” or “no.” If a
majority of th., senate is opposed to
the bill vote it down!
If they are in favor of it, enact It
into law at once!
“The courtesy*’ of the senate has
teen Invoked in favor of the people In
the past. It is a priceless privilege
that even one honest senator can hold
conspiracy at bay. Tho present conspir
acy is while appearing to favor the
people by the hnr.s© action, to play into
the bands nf the transcontinental rail
roads by holding It up in the senate
through an early adjourn rhent. Now is
the time for the friend* of the measure
to force a vote, to oppose adjournment
and to hold the body in continuous ses
sion.
What say Senators Bacon, Clay and
.Morgan to the appeal for senatorial
courtesy, with which to enforce the de
mands of the peop”e ns against the
transcontinental conspirators?
Changes Wrought by the Century.
The wonderful changes wrought by
the closing century are aptly brought
forth ty the death, in New York, of
an immigrant of 1815.
Joshua Tushington, born in Lanca
shire in 1807, embarked for America in
a sailing ship In 1815. The trip lasted
forty days, and each morning the pas
sengers got their rations and had to
cook them themselves. When 100 miles
from New York the vessel was met by
a newspaper boat, and it was said by
reporters on it that she brought the
first news received from England in
weeks.
Now the news of the day girdles the
globe almost instantaneously, and what
transpires in the streets of Pretoria
becomes matter of excited gossip on
those of Atlanta as soon as it comes
to the notice of the people close about
its happening. England is but next
door, while the mist which obscured
the orient has been so cleared away
that it no longer claims interest.
The world has grown smaller as
transportation and communication has
been Improved. The Atlanta telegraph
operator can awaken his receiver in SL
Petersburg with much more ease than
he could shake up the man sleeping in
the next room. With the destruction of
material obstacles, the occult sciences
are being invaded, and no man knows
the wonders which may be developed.
The Campaign Guesser.
One of the most notable evidences of
the uncertainty prevailing in regard to
the next presidential election Ls tho ab
sence of the campaign guesser. As a
usual thing the statistical editor and
politician wear probability to a frazzle
long before the people at large have
begun to realize that an election was
pending.
Strangely enough the first man to
enter this interesting field this year is
General Grosvenor, who poses tn tho
house of representatives aa the presi
dential mouthpiece, lie felt that the
tiin-» had come for the presentation of
an electoral table. In w’hlch he makes
the following showing:
California .... 9!Ohl> 2 ’
Connecticut «; Oregon .. *
Illinois Ji Pennsylvania .. . «
IndianalV Rhode Island .... 4
lowa 13 South Dako’a .... «
MaineC.| Vermont *
Massachusetts ... !•» Washingion .. .. *
Michiganll West Virginia ..
Minnesota ’•» Wisconsin
New Jersey .. .. 1" Wyoming ’
New Hampshire . 4:
New York ’•’•
North Dakota ... 3
He concedes to Mr. Bryan these:
Alabama. .. .. .. 11l Montana .. 3
Arkansas Nebr iska Jj
Colorado •• •• •• 4* Nevada
Florida 4 North Carolina .. 11
Georgia •• •• •••• 1' South Carolina ..
Ktntuckyl3< Tennessee 12
Idaho 3 Texanl •
Izintsiana •• .. .. 8j Utah •• •*
Maryland 8 Virginial2
Mississippi 9
Missouri 1?| Total 171
Leaving out Delaware and Kansas
as doubtful, with thirteen aggregate
votes. General Grosvenor only claims
a majority of thirty-six over the 224
votes necessary to elect. As it is cus
tomary for politicians to clnim nil that
ther« is in sight, it will be seen thnt
tho republican leader grants some con
cessions to the growth of democratic
strength during the past four ><ars.
He takes no note of the evident up
heaval of opinion in the northwest, but
claims.it on the old issues of the
bloody shirt era. He c!«altns the vote
of Ohio, for instance, where, tn the
last state election, McKinleyum was
buried under an adverse vote of ever
50.0tX». The fact that this vote lost
Its effect through division does not
remove its existence, and as long ns
it exists it will be acknowledged that
the result in November must at least
b.» clas xd M doubtful. The th Might
to array the solid north as against a
solid south is but father to the wish.
The south will bo solid again, not to
acutely on the old lines, prooibly, but
upon its ardent adhesion to constitu
tional principles, and the expressions
of even republican newspapers la Chi
cago Indicate that these principles
hav H found lodgment in the west.
On the other hand there arc certain
democratic sources which would like to
establish an electoral table in rcplv to
Grosvenor, with an equally evident
purpose, which discloses itself. T ht:s
we have from The New York Wot Id
the following:
electoral voter necessary
TO BLECT.
DEMOCRATIC STATES.
Kl!*cteral| Electoral
votes votes
Alabama •Montana ’
Arkansas Nebraska
•• •• •• Ncviiiiii •• •• •••• •*
i, u .r« . . .. 3 North Carolina .. 11
FI rida < *-»>h Carolina .. •
13 Tennessee t
’ .Uh* . .. - *• J Texasls
Tv ,*nttickv >• •••• b* \ ir *nift • • •• •• * j
t. -ifinna & West Virginia .. . «
Maryland ” Wyoming 3
an's^uri •* I 7 Total 19*
Total 24 sure democratic states.
‘republican STATES.
Electoral I Electoral
votes I votes.
California ! * Oregon 4
C •nr.-ctlcut•'• Pennsylvania .. . 32
Illinois 24iR>vale Island .... 4
jowa33 South Dakota .... 4
Massachusetts .. . Washington .. .. 4
M ehigitnl4 Wisconsinl2
New Hampshire . 4 -
New Jersey .. .. 1« Total!««
North Dakota .. . 3.
Total, 17 ruro republican states.
DOUBTFVL AT ATES.
Electoral | Electoral
votes votes.
New York>'> Minnesota•)
Indianals ——
Ohio 23, Total S 3
Total. 4 doubtful rtatee.
Mr. Bryan has been in consultation
with the people ever since ho was
pushed unexpected y into the fight of
IS£<». compelling even such an oppo
nent as Hon. Carl Schurz, the ether
day in Milwaukee, to declare that "he
was the one great American whoso
hand he would like to shake." Thus
men who opposed him then have be«n
flocking back—tho masses bacau.te he
was honest and represents their wishes
on current Issues, aud the leaders,
charily. It may be, but none tho less
certain, because by themselves they
would be very lonely. That Mr. Bryan
will submit to no preliminary haigain
ing or negotiation la certain from hie
declaration, just made in Port Huron,
that—-
Tho letnocrats who are coming ba 'k
must iv.t exp.ct a single departure to ba
rnadß fro:: the position taken by the
partv In 1896. First, because the position
taken then was right, second. It would
not be wise t<» alienate those who were
with us in 1896 in order to please those
who were then ut-'aliust us. To drop the
ratio wouid be equal io dropping the ques
tion, beexuse no on.> would believe that
the petty was very sincere in its advocacy
of bimetallism if we abandon the only
ratio .advocated by any considerable num
ber of ner.ple.
The democratic convention will be
dominated by the people, and these
peop!e, whether in New Y’ork, Georgia
or Minnesota, will have befare them
all the issues, old and new, wnlch go
to make up the difference between
themselves and the Teaders of the re
publican party. As long as iha way is
open to them, elect™ al tn!)’..? const Vic
tors can keep np their toywork, but
they will bo equally unable to borloud
or to mislead.
Lawlessness In Vermont.
The prevalence of popular lawless
ness In Vermont should receive a little
attention in the neighboring town of
Boston.
It has fallen to the lot of Thomas
Penniman to offend the sense of decen
cy which is entertained by the rural
community around Grafton. There was
a woman concerned, of course, but it
Is around the man that the Interest of
the story centers. The people took the
law Into their own hands and adminis
tered a dose of wild western Justice
such as is seldom witnessed In conserv
ative Vermont. An impromptu com-
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTIOIN: ATLANTA, GA., MONDA.Y,. MAY 7, 1900
mittee was formed, which comprised
some of the leading citizens of the vil
lage. Without an attempt at disguis
ing themselves they found Penniman,
whom they dragged from his bed, and
the kettle of tar being quickly heated,
he was stripped and treated to a lib
eral coating, after which he was rolled
in the contents of a feather bed, mount
ed upon a convenient fenso rail and
carried through the streets to the out
skirts of the village, where, after be
ing given some plain talk, ho was re
leased and warned to leave the town.
It is not pretended that the courts
were inefficient, or that tho authority
of the state had been paralyzed. The
law was ample for tho punishment of
offenders, and the victim might Just as
well have been tried under its opera
tion. The victim had personal rights
which were wholly disregarded by the
threatening men who blacked him up
in order that none of the elements of
man sport should b© missing. At tho
sama time it must be admitted that
these people are esteemed orderly and
law abiding. Why. then, did they re
sort to this lawlessness? Simply be
cause there are certain contingencies
for which no law can provide. There
are feelings of which the law can take
no notice, which must find satisfaction,
and when these are outraged it makes
but little difference whether tho little
community is located in Georgia or in
Vermont. The punishment will he
meted out first and Its discussion can
follow at more leisure.
One Certain Fact.
It may not be too late to assure our
agricultural friends of one fact which
will bo certain amid all the uncertain
ty of the coming crop season, and the
market season which is to f<>l'ow it.
Food products will be high!
There is temptation in the cotton
crop. Undoubtedly there is money In
it for the man who doos not have to
leave it in town for hlgh-priCHl provis
ions. If a man could only ke'P what he
gets for his cotton he might whistle
and plant more, but ho cannot. He
must eat, and so must his animals.
There is promise for a high price for
cotton in September. Right now, with
great areas in the river liottoms flooded
there is apparent another squeeze in
the cotton acreage. If this condition
really materializes, there will be a re
duced } icld from what the world de
mands—perhaps even lower than the
yield of the crop now almo.-t marketed.
It is an inviting situation for the man
who would overplant, and ho is not to
be blamed if he looks with a fond eye
upon his f.'tt.uliar staple.
As to what each man Is to do he
must l>e his own judge. Advice suitable
for one might be altogether unsuitable
for another. Besides, it Is not the prov
ince of a newspaper to advise. It can
only point conditions, leaving to each
reader such application as he would
give it. Short cotton or long cotton,
high price or low, do not forget
That western provisions will be
high!
Will it pay to rely upon another sec
tion for food, to dump into the west
the whole profit of our labor? 1 his is a
question which ought to be practical
enough for any man to answer by re
solving to raise his own foodstuffs.
There will be southern farmers on
the right side of the market next Sep
tember, no matter what tiio price may
be. They will be the men who do not
rely upon Wisconsin and Illinois for
what they eat.
Can our farmers see the application?
Ignorance of the Bible.
The decadence of the Bible as a book
of study or of reading Is indicated in a
strong manner by an article from the
j>en o? Rev. Charles F. Thwlng, presi
dent of the Western Reserve university,
published in the current number of The
Century.
P-. Thwlng tells of two tests which
he has made to show the Ignorance
of the Bible by college students, which
leads him to ask the question:
Whether tho American people nre real
ly aware how far the Bible has ceased
to be a force in both their literature and
their theology? Tho Bible might con
tinue to be a great force in theology
and cease to be a great force hi litera
ture; or ono can easily think that the
Bible might maintain a high place in
litersturo and yet lose its primacy l.i
theology. The critic is causing It to lose
Its theological value, and. apparently,
among the people It Is ceasing to bo
known as a classic should be known.
The tests in question are thus de
scribed by Dr. Thwlng:
In the early part of the college year
of 1894-95. us the first exercise In a course
of study in the Bible. I set for the mem
bers of the freshman class an examina
tion paper composed of extracts from
T' ltnyson. each of which contained a
Biblical allusion not at all recondite. To
each of these thirty-four men twenty
two questions were put, which would
demaml seven hundred and forty-eight
answers. The record shows that out of
a possible seven hundred and forty-eight
correct answers only three hundred and
twenty-eight were given.
So much lor the first test. Five year*
later I made a like test of college girls
The questions were Identical, with a sin
gle exception. Os all the questions every
one was answered correctly by just one
girl, and, what is rather more remarka
ble, her knowledge wax so exact that to
her replies t<> a good many of the ques
tions she added tho book of tho Bible
In which the reference is to be found.
Another girl omitted the reply to the
r<-:trcnce to Hezekiah, nnd gave incorrect
answer to the one about the miracle
at Caua, of Galilee. Another omitted the
references to llezea.ah and to Peter’s
sheet, and answered Incorrectly the ques
tion of Pharaoh’s darkness.
There aro two roads by which tho
position set up by th© writer might be
reached, either cue of which will have
supporters. The first will be that whit®
people at large may uot know the liue
and the letter of the book, that
this is made up by their more
manifest observance of its alm
and spirit. Whether the angry
verse-quoters described in “The Little
Minister" show mor© respect for the
Bible than do th© quiet observers of tts
precepts to b© found everywhere is a
subject the answer to which might not
bo unfavorable to the present condi
tion. What a man does, rather than
what he quotes, should count for some
thing In the estimation of his charac
ter.
The second phase of the question,
showing that the Bible Is not as widely
quoted in collegiate establishments, is
one much more readily answered.
There has, of late years, been a great
departure from positivism to nega
tive, or rather, neutrality. In former
days an educational institution was es
tablished by a class of people having
ideas, both literary nd religious, in
common, and this w..s made manifest
in the curriculum. Os course, this lim
ited the scope of such institution to
thos© for whom it was intended. They
not only had th© Bible there, but en
1. .ened it by their own conception of
what it meant. Tho desire for increase
in attendance has led to the breaking
down of obstacles which stood In the
way. The interpreter of the Bible was
removed; the book became a mere
“reader;" even this reading was re
duced to occasional, and now those
who pose as leaders are more engaged
in criticising its veracity than in incul
cating its truths.
It is no wonder, then, that Dr.
Thwlng is led to the sad confession
that —
The Bible societies may print the book
by hundreds of thousands, hut the people
do not reud It, or If they do read it they
are not Impressed by it. Its history,
whether received as veracious or as fabu
lous. is not known. Ils hereos aro less
familiar than Jack tho Giant-killer or
Jack the House-builder. Its poetry is
not appreciated. The majesty and the
niagnlllcence of its style, its deftness
of phrase ami sweetness of allusion. Its
perfection of literary form, as well as tho
profound significance of its ethical and
religious teachings, are ceasing to boa
part of tho priceless possession of the
community. Explain tho condition as best
wo may. point out tho results as one
ought, yet tho lirst emotion is one of
grief over this impoverishment of hu
manity.
W© cannot but bcllcva that, despite
the outlook here painted, the Bible will
resume its proper place as soon as mon
of Dr. Thwing’s standing, recognizing
the true situation, will set to work
about it. They must begin by treating
the Bible us a fact—the most momen
tous fact In the world's history. They
must listen to its voice as positive and
not discretionary. They mirst not per
mit doubt nor Incredulity to Invade its
study. In fact, we might say that the
alarming condition written about is
more apparent than real. There is un
rest among the “scholars.” Ono school
is afraid that it'will bo eclipsed by an
other. Tho flattery of new.-p iper atten
tion causes many who have little to
say to speak. But away down among
th© million, In the humble homes of
the country, Burns's humble "Cotter”
reads and believes and prays as devout
ly as he ever did, unconscious of the
liitlo storm in the clouds, and strength
ened in faith by the Inspired words
which he reads.
Disfranchising the Negro.
Tho party disfranchisement of the
negro in the North Carolina republican
convention, is but one of th© many
signs of the times.
The crime of enfranchising an Igno
rant and an inferior race is one which
has long since been recognized even
by those who were originally responsi
ble for it, but tho exigencies of politics
have prevented thun from making
their views known. It was so easy for
demagogues who were soft from the
influence of this vote, to cry out about
Its “suppression” in places where it
was an imminent danger, that bitter
discussion has boon pro’onged. Already
the best men of tho whole country rec
ognize the hard fight which the people
of the south have made for white civ
ilization, nnd they are preparing a con
dition which will forever remove the
possible dominance of tho Inferior race
tn any section of the country. The
story of Senator 'iTunan’s appearance
before the “Good Government T.eague”
of Ann Arbor, Mich., will bear retell
ing:
Directly In front and alone sat a colored
student, and tho s< nator looked at him
ir inukniK his remarks.
“!ot. si raich on< of these colored grad
ual un I r the skin,” he s tld, “and you
w .ll find the savage. His education Is 11K0
a coat of paint, like Ids skin.”
There were hisses from several parts
of the house. Senator Tillman smiled and
retorted:
“You must excuse mo for my frankness.
There Is nothing of hatred in my nature
for the negroes. When that man who
hissed gets ready to gh his daughter in
marriage to a negro mil proves by his
actions and r. ‘t by hl- s that he means
business. 1 will apolc tie. and not be
fore.’’
Tho applause which greeted this retort
w is tri n:<aidous, and mere was no more
hissing during the evening.
That applause camo from the heart,
where the common blood was touched,
showing that it could be appealed to
just as effectually in abolition Michi
gan as in Georgia.
The significance of the party sup
pression of tlio ne.;ro in North Carolina
is most noticeable. In advance of hts
practical disfranchisement by the pend
ing constitutional amendment, his own
party throws him overboard and does
not give hint a single delegate to Phil
adelphia. That it is a privilege which,
most colored men do not prize, except
as somethin r to sell, may be believed
from the readiness with which they
move from Georgia, where their dis
franchisement has been expressly de
feated, to Mississippi, where it is an
accomplished fact.
The one thing which the white peo
ple of the south fear most is thal senti
ment in tho north which was unreason
able in making a voter of the negro,
■will now, that it has no more use for
him, be equally unreasonable in
crowding him to tho wall. The south
ern people differ from those of the
north in their appreciation, of tho fact
that tho negro is entitled to life and So
much of its comforts as labor and hon
esty can bring. While the negro Is shot
to death in Illinois for daring to work,
every avenue 1s thrown wide open to
him in the south. Hero he is invited to
bui'd a homo, to keep his family to
gether. to inculcate good principles In
to them, and to work out his full des
tiny. Here no shotgun obstructs his
way to earning a living, and here no
man is more ready than his white
neighbor to protect him from imposi
tion. We go even farther and say that
be is entitled to that education which
will enable him to appreciate life and
to cultivate th© best models
But rule belongs to the Caucasslan,
and never can be entrusted to any oth
er race.
a
The Story of the Gatchells.
Radical differences in temperament
and opinions often exist between bus
bands and wives, and not infrequently
lead to bickering and separation. A
recent and unusual illustration of this
assertion is found in the cause for
the parting of Mr. and Mrs. A. N.
Gatchcll, of Newark, N. J.
Mr. and Mrs. Gatchell are the pa
rents of two pretty little girls, Gladys
and Yo ande, aged six and eight years,
respectively. The mother, previous to
her marriage, had had stage experi
ences, and often read in public. Sev
eral days ago the question arose in
the family as to whether or not the
children should be allowed to dance
at the approaching Cuban fair in New
York city. Mrs. Gatchell vigorously
advocated tho idea, bought the cos
tumes, and trained the little ones for
their public appearance.
But tlie father opposed very strenuous
objection. The girls were too young,
he said, to appear before the public in
such roles, and in addition ho did not
so heartily approve the Idea of any
of his family taking part in such a
public exhibition. Ther<> were con
stant quarrels in tho Gatchell house
hold, until finally the couple, firm in
their convictions on this one point,
and neither willing to yield, separated.
At this juncture the Gerry Society,
that paternal and somewhat officious
institution organized for the protection
of tho children of irresponsible parents,
appeared on the scene and decreed that
the youngsters should not cliarm New
York audiences by their graceful danc
ing, and th© family quarrel was settled
thus forcibly. The husband and wife,
however, are still separated.
The story is an instructive one, as
illustrating the oft-repeated advice of
our social monitors, that husbands and
wives should defer to each other, and
only disagree on matters involving
grave moral questions. As to whether
the case in point does this can safely
bo left to the judgment of the individ
ual reader.
An Incautious Editor.
The Philadelphia Press, in the fol
lowing article, is, it seems to us, a little
incautious:
The south has been so successful In an
nulling the constitutional amendments
adopted after tho close of the war fur
the union that it no longer seeks to hide
its purpose or its methods. It Is calling
things by their right names.
A few days ago The .'Tew Orleans
Times-Democrat in discussing the dis
franchlsen'-ent of colored voters by south
ern states said: ‘‘The chances are that
Georgia may also repeal the fifteenth
amendment.” And Senator Tillman, of
South Carolina, in a speech In Ann Arbor
before the students of Michigan university
last Saturday evening declared; ‘‘We re
pealed the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments.”
These are blunt expressions, but the
man and the newspaper that uttered them
have the merit of being more honest than
the United States supreme court. When
the question of validity of the suffraga
clause of the Mississippi constitution v as
brought before that tribunal it decided
that tho clause, which virtually annuls
the fifteenth amendment, was not drawn
against a race but against the character
istics of that race.
Senator Tillman and The N ?w Orleans
Times-Democrat may not be very well
learned In law, but when they know a
constitutional amendment has been re
pealed they say so In plain language.
They do not pettifog.
Th© attack upon th© honesty of tho
United States supreme court comes a
little strangely from an organ which
went into a “conniption” fit over the
reference of tho democratic convention
of 1830 to that body, but then, why
should not a party which h is the mo
nopoly of being above the constitution
be equally above th© supreme court?
Tu© Press, while persistent in its
references to "annulling the constitu
tional amendment” in tho south. Is
strangely reticent about the effect of
annulling the choice of tho legal voters
in Pennsylvania. It almost renders It
self subject to the very charge which it
acquits Senator Tillmon of —pettifog-
ging.
I,et us present one© mor© a cas©
which we have previously referred to
Tho Press. There aro 8'3,000 fraudulent
voters in Philadelphia alone, and that
city is but th© small part of a largo
state. Th© benefit of fraudulent votes
always inures to tho majority In Penn
sylvania as well as in Georgia. Penn
sylvania, by th© aid of these votes, has
been declared to To republican. Re
publican congressmen now hold their
commissions through t!|in. Wbv dong
not Th© Press call upon thes© men to
giv« up their ill-gotten goods?
There is to be an election in Novyn
ber. The republican ward-heelers of
Pennsylvania will again rush in these
bogus votes, and thus create a repub
lican majority. Will Th© Press repu
diate the unclean gift? Gr will It profit
by tho crime in tho presidential elec
tion. and grow righteously but belated
ly indignant when some Insignificant
municipal election is In progress?
On© of th© first principles of good
housekeeping is for each housekeoner
to attend to her own house. If The
Press will sweep the rubbish out <'f
its own backyard and send tho wreck
age found back to its rightful owners,
wo will then have mounted a platform
upon which wo can all work together.
Creating a Case of Its Own.
The New York World, whose sup
port of th© democratic ticket in 1896
was not as brilliant as it might have
been, is now exceedingly anxious to
furbish up a platform for Mr. Bryan’s
acceptance.
For this purpose The World sets up
a man of straw for the purpose of
knocking it down. There is put Into
Mr. Bryan’s mouth certain “ifs,” upon
which The World proceeds to erect its
structure and portentously asks:
]> >es not common sense dictate. In view
of Mr. Bryan's portentous three "ifs,” a
I!’M platform this year Instead of an 1596
platform?
Why, bless your old Knickerbocker
soul, wo propose to have a genuine
1909 platform which will satisfy demo
crats and the people at large. There
always will b© dissatisfied people, how
ever, who must i o left out at the last
moment, because they demand too
much for their whistle. Tho democrats
of 1896 ar© still in harness with tha
old cry and some new ones as well,
while the mass of tho bolters, who had
been misled, aro also falling in with
out waiting for a trade.
It is not th© masses who ar© now
sollcitlous, so much as it is some of th©
discarded leaders who want to resume
their old places without being discip
lined. Th© way of the transgressor is
hard in politics as In religion, and
thea© traders will have to b© satisfied
with a probationary stand until they
prove themselves worthy of renewed,
confidence.
In the meantime some new leaders
have arisen who cannot very wefl b ■
dismissed for the benefit of the halt
and the blind of 1896.
An Attack on the Army.
General A. W. Greely, chief of the
signal service of tho army, has attack
ed the whole service as grossly incom
petent ami ineffective.
Tho army, says he, is a political or
ganization and it has not advanced
during a period of flfry years. If the
system was to b© improved in future
years, it would bo at the cost of tens
of thousands of .ives and millions in
treasure. The same process of weeding
out incompetent men that obtains in
commercial and industrial life should
obtain in tho army. Until this was dons
tho United States army would bo the
weak and Imperfect organization that
it was today and had been for half a
century. Tho soldiers. General Greely
continued, represented tho manhood
and integrity of the military organiza
tion and tho officers tho political ma
chine. If every incompetent officer in
tho army was discharged from tho ser
vice it wouid have a tremendous effect
and make th© army of the United
States approach th© model of the Ger
man army of today, which, of all na
tional ml ltary organizations, was the
nearest perfect.
Such an attack as this by an officer
upon tho service with which he is con
nected shows that the army, as well
as tho navy, is burdened with a lot of
garrulous old men who should bo got
rid of as soon as possible. Greely is
himself the product, of a system which
fosters incompetent men ami raises
them to high rank without correspond
ing service. It. is a little singular that
during tho same week in which a rep
rimand was visited upon Captain Chad
wick. of the navy, that an occasion
should arise for Secretary Root to set
an example to the land service.
It is high time to send General Gree
ly on another visit to tho north pole.
“Songs of the Soil”
By FRANK L. STANTON
James Whitcomb Riley.
(On His Departure for the West.)
I.
ll© goes away, they tell us; but he’s nev
er far away;
There are hints of him forever in the red
blooms o’ tho May;
In the fervor of the summer, by the gold
en harvests blest.
And by happy winter hearthsides he is
evermore Love’s guest!
11.
He goes away, they tell us; but he leaves
with us the sweets
Os the dear “old-fashioned roses" in the
trampled city streets!
And for his kindly presence more light
shines on the rills
And nearer to the blue of God seem all
the smiling hills.
111.
For sweetly has he hymned them; and
the valley's violets know
The coming of the master; and the echo
ing winds that blow
The brown bees to the honey cells have
swept his song as far
As ocean is from ocean on this green and
glorious star!
IV.
So he dwells with us forever: we cannot
dritt apart;
For he walks the wide world’s gardens;
he Is housed in every heart!
In a land by love united —In a land his
song has blest —
Land of that song delighted, he is ever
more Love’s guest!
—Frank L. Stanton.
Along the Ways.
I.
The ways ura lone, but in the night
God, -who hath loved us. whispers “Light! ’
; The same as when, on that fur morn.
Light to a needful world was born.
In all the darkness of the land
SUH that Almighty, guiding hand!
11.
Pillars of fire there are today
To guide Gcd’s wanderers on the way
As truly as they shone of old
To the rare chosen •of His fold.
Strengthened by Love we understand
Still an Almighty guiding Hand!
HI.
Where Is tho night that Is so dim
That worlds, coiulictlng, darken Him?
Is He not there—where Darkness goes.
Bending the rainbow o'er the rose?
' Dio worlds swing sweet at His command,
| Swerved by His great. Almighty Hand.
IV.
Lean thou, my darling, to my klass—
Wherever there is Love God is!
Love in the loneliest ways of Ute —
Kls3 of the mother and the wif<x
And clinging of the child at rest
On the forlon est mother’s breastl
V.
Lean to my kiss: for God shall make
Sweeter the world for thy love’s sake!
Thou hast, from me. in thy young years.
Only the tenderness of tears.
They’rs all 1 have to give, but they
Shall make a sunshine on thy way.
VI.
All heaven hath sweetly dreamed and
smiled.
| Dear, in the sweet face of a child; —
A little child, whoa© aocMita fa:’.
| Thls-wise: “To love is best of alll"
So shalt thou know, when years are past,
, Love leads us unto peace at last!
* ♦ • * •
Th© Bright Country.
The country’s just as smiling from the
mountains to the sea
As the Lord, whose love Is over It. would
ever have it be I
Tho gardens rich with roses, and the
meadows and the p!a!ns
And a’.l tho greening pastures just
a-t!nkle with the rains!
It’s great to just be living In a world bo
near the blue
You can feel the benediction of the rain
bows over you!
The country—she’s just g’orlous by any
night or day.
And Love o’er life’s victorious, and we’re
alnglng on the wnyl
Th© Way of It.
I.
I think I would never have loved him,
but he
Was there when tha other wasn’t, you
When the other died on the lonesome way
He sang to my soul of the sweetest day.
I wouldn’t have loved him; but women
are weak.
And a song that brings to a woman’s
cheek
The red o’ the roses. Is still the song
That sings like a river that bears life
along.
11.
But. the grief of it ell is this: At night
When I dream by the desolate, dying
light
Os tho lonely henrthsldo. I seem to see
The fr.ee that was dearest of all to me!
And a ghost Is there. In tha room, that
seems
To smite with tears my tenderest dreams;
And the song that brings to my cheek
the rcso
Is pitiful-sad to my heart. God knows!
Picnic Time.
Plcntc time In Georgia; all the valleys
bright;
The green land jest a-smll!n’ with love
liness an’ light;
The birds a-slngln’ sweeter than they ever
sung before.
An’ your sweetheart waitin’ for you,
bright an rosy at the door!
Picnic time in Georgia, under skies o'
blue.
Where the green trees say "Goodmomln”’
to your sweetheart an’ to you;
Where tho cun on field an’ river In all
his glory shines.
An’ the hummln’bird Is huntin’ fer the
honeysuckle vines.
Picnic time In Georgia; we’re happy on
tho way;
The whole world’s on a frolic In the rosy
deeps o’ May!
There s life an’ love aboundin’, an’ no
daisy In the dew.
Nor any violet that blooms but alius
blooms for you!
Stream Out, O Light.
Stream out. O Light, and show
Our stumbling steps the way!
Make us feel—to know
The higher, purer day;
And where the sweeter roses grow
Weed the wild thorns away!
Give us to know no art
Save Love, that still shall lead;
Give us the kindly heart—
Give us the gentle deed.
Rest to the weary to impart—
To help a world in need.
Give us tiie love that bears
God’s purpose high and deep;
The tenderness of tears
To weep with them that weep;
Till in the beauty of the years
On Love’s dear breast we aleep!
Steady!
Steady—steady with the storm and tide.
And steer through the lonesome night!
Some day wo’ll get to the brighter side
And rest In the morning light!
PlUnketVsLetter
(Written for The Weekly Constitution)
’Taint no use to be a grlevin.
For the world Is so deceiving
That It’s mighty hard to judge or what
Is best;
Do the best you can today.
Kick trouble from the way.
And the Lord Is mightly sure to do tha
rest.
So says Brown now. and this is h'.B
favorite saying whenever things are mov
ing smooth to him and others are dis
posed to complain.
I can tell as well when my old friend
has spent z a profitable day in foraging
upon the candidates as he can himself.
At such times he is always ready to
advise others to be cheerful and never
• seems to think of the fact that when he
i is oti having a good time with the candi
dates his folks at home are living hkrd
and without much hope for the future.
1 As these happy moods, or poetic moods,
as you may choose to call them, are only
upon him in troublesome degree when
the candidates are rife in the land, I hope
| the reader will be os patient with him
I as I have always been and let him spread
i himself to his heart’s content:
j Green truck Is In the garden and young
i chickens on the way.
Eggs are just a- wasting and there’•
ham for every day;
The cattle are a-fattening and the milk s
pouring down,
I And there’s been enough of honey to
take a lot to town.
There is beans In the bunch and beans
on the pole.
We will have them hot for dinner and
at supper take them cold.
The potato beds are humming and at
digging time. It’s clear
We’ll have ’possum and potato along with
’slmmon beer.
We’ll have squashes and tomatoes and
cabbage when they head.
And onions by the bushel and beets both
white and red.
And melons ringed and striped and melons
round and long.
Will make us all rejoice that in Georgia
we were born.
There Is apples for our dumplings,
through the kindness of the frost.
And peaches will be plenty, though a
heap of them were lost.
Our cherries won’t be many, for the
cherry trees are few.
But the blackberry crop Is the best 1
ever knew.
So we’ro snillincr, sniillnfL
pushing right along.
If miss crop of cotton w® wl** ma-K®
a lot of corn;
If wo haven’t any credit we will wait to
get the cash, „
And instead of "peach and honey, we
can make out with "sweet mash.
For the mountain boys are busy and pass
ing’ on the sly.
And the "dew” they bring along Is away
ahead of rye, ~
So there ain’t no use of trouble in the
valleys nor the hills —
If you fall to get religion you can patron
ize the stills.
I wish that Brown could be kept In his
present mood forever, but wait till the
primary Is over and you will sea sight,
not only In Brown but In many others,
that is a thousand times worse than
"when the ball Is over.” The candidates
that know them now will know them no
more and there tune will be
Kick me, kick me, Mr. Man!
Kick as strongly as you can!
Black my eye. scratch my face.
Smother me with dire disgrace—
I am the fcoi of fools today
And know I always was that way.
But Brown Is no criterion to judge
our people by. The country Is full of
cheerfulness and will remain cheerful
just the same when the primary i* over.
It really seems that Providence is on
the side of peace and cheerfulness In this
region. The George W. Scott company is
building what might be called acres of
factory at the little village of Ingleside
and this has brought a changed condition
of feeling wherever you go. Os all this
change of feeling It Is not the least that
all our thinking farmers have cotne to
know that the town people and the coun-
• try people must get close together in sen
| tlment and stand united to bring the best
• results in material progress. The coun
try needs the factories to give them
markets for whatever they may produce,
and the towns need profitable and stable
Investment for their money and the'.r
energy. I know that our county of De-
Kalb is bristling with desirable sites for
all sorts of manufactories. This year la
to be a good fruit year and much profit
• could be derived from small canning in
| dustries. One of these canning factories
i was started down at the town of Clarks
ton a few years ago and I learn that It
has proved a great success to Us owners
as well as proving a thing of profit to
all the farmers around that neighborhood.
What applies to DeKalb county applies
to nearly the whole south. All sorts of
small industries could be started on the
• co-operative plan. The truth Is that
i every settlement of people could start
some sort of Industry among themselves,
this would be better than not to start
them at all. but tha country people need
the help of business trained men. Every
man to his business will apply In this
1 as In everything, but it is not sharpers
nor adventurers that Is wanted. Solid
business men embarking In these enter
prises Inspires confidence, puts the coun
try and the town shoulder to shoulder
and would surely bring prosperity.
It does me good to contemplate the
i conditions In Georgia and in all the south
when these things have been accomplish
ed. There will be no more moving to
town to get tha benefits of good schools
for children and for what they call "op
portunity.” The country will have good
churches and good schools then, and good
Kachexs. and we already have good
preachers. Wherever an Industry Is plant
ed th© people will congregate and build
a village and the farms will be worked
from these villages. Each village will
have all these "opportunities” and all
the loneliness of country life shall have
passed away. The passing away of this
loneliness Is a great thing within Itself,
but many a man never gave it a thought.
Just think of the women who are left
day after day in lonely places on the
farms as they are today, and you should
not wonder at there being so many dis
satisfied women In the country. This Is
coining around right In its own good time
and peace and prosperity will crown the
land. So mote It be, and speedily.
SARGE PLUNKETT.
More About Cassava.
Editor Constitution—Please allow me space
In your valuable paper to answer the inter
rogations of Mr. Joe Towles In reference to tha
cassava plant.
I have grown cassava In Florida, Alabama
and Texas, and can vouch that no root crop
will produce a greater abundance of feed for
hogs or cows than will cassava.
Will further say that no crop of any kind
will yield as much good nutritious stock feed
j»r aero as cassava. Do not plant the roots,
but the stalk. The roots will do when the
stalks cannot be obtained. OTie stalks have
eyes, as does the sugar cane, and should be
cut into short pieces and dropped In furrows
two feet apart and covered with two furrows
with a shovel plow. Just as you would plant
sugar cane. At Ashburn. Ga., by let of
April Is proper time to plant.
Let rows be four feet apart and plant two
feet apart In drill. Flint on sandy land
and give one deep plowing while plants are
small, all after cultivations must be very
shallow. Rich land is best, but poor soil
will produce well.
It is now too late to plant, wait until next
spring One wishing to get seed stalks write
to Frank Bryant. Elbert Browning. Elam
Townsend, all ot Marrlana. Hillsborough coun
ty, Florida, or George Colding.. of Picnic. Fla.
Get see l stalks by iirst of November and hill
them up for winter as you would a bank of
potatoes, placing the bottom or root end of
stalk on moist earth, th- stalk standing up
and after the hear ts thus riled cover with
dry straw, then bank twelve Inches of earth
over the whole, covering entirely up so no
air can enter. Then build as good roof over
the bank as you have for your dwelling house
and your cassava stalks will keep until time
to plant. Do not use roots to propagate
from, use stalks. HOMER N. SNEED.
Pronto, Ala., May &. lonn.