About The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19?? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1902)
6 THE COBSTITUTION CLARK HOWELL Editor ROBY ROBINSON „ Business Managar Ea(»r*4 at lk*4rt»»i« F**«*fTl*-r ■ • *4**c*«d <4*m Mall Matter. Nev. 11. 1911 THF WEIKLT COXSTITCTION. onlv SI r»r itaaum. Clabe of H»e. tl earh; «-iut<* <>f bn. *1 eaeh and a ropy to ip-tter-up of clab. **!. WANT Tot* The Cnti’tltlltlori want* an ***** at ***** p-*v»tlle* In America. Ar***’* ectM f*ro *n>l *«—J t.ttw* If you are n<»t la a clnb. *»< want you Io a-* aa a*aM at your -nffi** Write «. 'HAXGK OF ADDRFFS—Wh*n w-.lerlng al -of your janer <-h*r.«*-l always clve t*ie •X aa w-li ** the now ad-lren. Always gl'« y.at.dn.-w rouoly and stale. If your pat»r •a rwt recelvetl regularb. naAtty us an !we will «tmls!.ten the tuattrr. IF T«H*»»:Nl> I s AX ORDER for new sub scriber*. *>*-»*• allow us a week to «et the name* on the U*t ••»*! C»P-* Started h* fore you write a complaint, as we are Very much clowded WOW. DO X<tT FORGET to make your renewal* In ttm« Water: your direction lag and see wbes rout subscription < tt-irea. The next ■I month Wi.l be full of Interest, and ran soo*l I miss » Sirrtl"- ropy of The *'-wi s« it at ton. .eno your orders at least 3 week la ad'-ar ee to make sure. It may not take a week in every matance. as we t» th* **»,*-*, Clitcence to set them OU O>ir null .np Hat. The Future of the Democracy. Present calculation concerning the g-ossihle future of the democracy most r-aturally dates from the recent No v, mbtr returns from the people. Be hind them "what is writ is writ’ ami the question that follows is; Do they afford a reasonable hope of an early MicceeFful tampaign In tiehalf of dem *x ratic principles of government? The elections loosened the hold of the republican party upon the conti dtnee of the country. The democrats made gains in popular representation against heavily adverse conditions. In a rontest between a party offering i mhing hut just principles and one with a heavy purse and the power to give large bounties by legislation, th-* party of principle has its tents pitched today on territory formerly held by its enemy. There is inspiration ami hope in the fa* t. And the most uopeful part of the fact is the evident « that the people are turning from the repub lican paramount idea of politics for • rnnmi-niaiism only! Sfm*e democratic principles have ►< orvd these gains against the odds op posing th* m there is every reason for (Ouragcmis democrats to believe that a harmonious and strenuous campaign t*u the same principles may be made pt priarly triumphant two years hence. Th* re is a strong historic line of di vision between the political and eco nomic dwtrines of the democratic and republican parties. Their doctrines an so radically antagonistic that those of th*- one party, whichever It may be. can only be dominant in the govern ment through the defeat of the other rarty. The democratic party, since I X 'H\ has been the party in defeat. How to lead it to victory again is and -n* i'<! be ti*’ serious con»-ein of every petrtotir democra . Os course, any oresent discussion of s in t'.-l mu-t ;»n -eed by barring the elem* nts of disparity of campaign funds, coen ion ot rhe ial»«>r voters, the falsely g* ndered alarm of capital, etc., ail of which are unknown quantities nt til they h ive I < <-n exploit* 1 to their fhi!*-st . ff*. t. Starting at the point wh*-r«i •h<>'-* > a* turs an* deer.u-d elim inated. the first question confronting th* democrat is. ■\\ hat is C’rre to lie done to enable ■l* fa* e«>iis <4 the party to get to- The money standard of the country i- no longer an is-ue. Whether set tled rightly or wrongly, it is settled, for th*- pn-sent. at hast. Th*' safe ard s*‘Ur-ihi** democratic policy is to say nothing on the money question until it has something to say t! at will meet national necessities am! a: swer to a popular demand. It is only desirable. from the pres ent point of vi* w. to keep the currency !•• * from extra swiveinmentai control ard give it that elasticity which, undei wise governmental regulations, will k**q» th«- volutn. of ft equal to national business r- quit* niciits in any emerg ency To take this position now Is not to Impeach the patriotism of those deni • rats who in times past sought io relieve the business depression and crrency famine o: toe nation through th*- remonetization aid free coinage ■f silver. The popular demand, appar ently. t«*ok that form and the exigen- • ies nt the equation pointed to those expedients as the logical and most available relief. That fi.s-•!.•»* <• voters favored it as against 7.l**v.**'*» who aondcmnrd. pro'**! that tl:*' party did not err v, ry rashly in trying to in«*et tl-ai appan-nt demand. The Philippine question, in so far a- the retention ot the islands is in volved. ia n<* longer an issuable one between the parties Events and an unmistakable popular consensus have stamped it with an unchangabie jsdit t> al character. We have th*' Philip pines and n«» |M>pnlar majority can ever lw» secured in favor of surrender ing them out of hand The American people are going to hold onto them un til. with th* r.iey make . . <ii them Th*' question of their retention as American possessions is settled for all present purposes. Th* only question remaining is now hest tn administer them for the mutual b» n* fit of the Filipinos and ourselves? And |>arty that *>ff*-rs the best «• heme of American control and Amer -anlzation of th** Filipinos consistent with th*- broadest degree of free gov “rnment that «-an lie safely given hem will gain in the campaign whatever makeweight the Philippine problem ran confer. What should the party hand for? It cannot stand for less than tie • ore-principle of its existence —the principle that has made it an imperish able party —and that is the popular right to handle the national nurse for the greatest good to the masses. The exchequer is the h*-art ot the nation. The revenues and expeditures of gov ernment are to it as the pulses of blood in the human Imdy. P’othora in one r»ember of tne body means poverty in rhe others—and poverty of the blood is a sickness to the wh<il<* organism. A fundamental do* trine of democ racy Is bhmd supply to the body poli tic by a tariff for revenue. Internal taxation ha« never been a democrati*- principle and has only been consented f-» In war exigencies and is only tol erated now because of continuing war expenses in the shape of pensions, etc. The tariff affects the living pro cesses of all the people. The old fallacy that “the foreigner pays the tax" is dead beyond resurrection. The people know better today than ever before in American history that the consumer .pays the tax and the issue that republican policy presents is that tax shall be paid to home monopolists for their sole enrichment. The people n<*ed and will ultimately demand lair trade, honest competition, with the ne cessity of paying no more profits to a bc-nie producer than to any other trader. Therefore, let II he said that the party should stand: First—For tariff laws framed to pro due*- the needed revenues of the gov ernment over and above toternal rev enue receipts. The basis of the ctis t« ms taxes should be for revenue and the taxes should be so levied as not to burden any class or industry of cit izens for the benefit of other classes or industries of citizens within the na tion. Here the fundamental principle bhouid rub* that equal citizens are en titled to **qual rights and taxation should lay upon them equal burdens — no more and no less! The democratic party does not de mand free trade for foreigners, but lair trade in home markets, whether the sellers be native or foreigners, for the benefit of the home consumer. Be ■ud Tbe demoei*c| ahouM de mand unrestricted trade between all parts of the national don ain. Tariff barriers Ik*ween the states, territories or coil’.tries over which float the Ainer’i an flag i re net understandable thingn to the A.ner.*-an sense of true nationalism and true patriotism. As Porto Rico and the Philippines are our lands and peoples, and our flag is their I’.a.'. our laws, in a general way. should b** their laws, and freedom of com merce should be theirs as fully as it exists between the states and territo ries on th*’ home continent. The plan that now prevails is a foreign device and the logic that underlies it is alien to every instinct of Americanism. We should stand for the tearing aw’a.. of a!) su* h barriers to free intercourse be tv.e*n the subjects of tbe American sovereignty. Third —As regards th** trusts, the most direct way ot affording relief to the whole body of the |>eople at once i- t«» impose the prosecution of specific n the civil mid erte* inai arms of the national judiciary and establish by law the policy of putting upon the "ine lisi" ot the tariff any product, raw or finished, that by rea son of the tariff rate is made the sub ject of trust monopoly. When it is once certain that the formation of a trust to «-<mtrol a product will l* ad at orce to tn*' removal of the tariff boun ty upon its production ami tbe open ing of the home market to the pro ducers of that class of products from any pa*-t of th,' world, the trust-iorming habit will speedily su<<umb to the treatment and the country at large will again enjoy the equality of rights and competition between individual and <-orporate producers that makes tor honest prices ami healthy trade. Tbe tree listing of trust monopolized g« ods is a proposition that should strike every patriotic consumer as a measure o* justice and seli-pr* sci*va ti<*n. Tbe strong factor which helped the vie;* ri* - won by the t i:» N i mt r was th- • r*** liig knowledge of th*- p* •}>!•' that "the tariff is th*' moth ,-. * the mists” and tiiat by Its terms those combinations are enabled to mo nopolize industries, destroy competi ti-'ti. b< at down the prices of Amtri- C4;ti raw materials, enhance prices ad libitum to tin* American consumer, i to. then unload surplus products upon foreign markets at figur < that seduce the foreign consumer from using the own < onntry. Win n p.r American manufacturer can take -1.1- goods t<» Europe’ and undersell th*' l*>< :»I manufacturer it is inevitable that what he* stands to lose on that d* al he u allowed by th** tan., bounty of this country to make up through < xtortion practicc *l on th*' home consumer. This faei is so plain to th*' common intelligence, and so defiant of any ac * - ptable justification, that it needs only to be uressc'd home on every vo’er to arouse an Indignation that, vill bury the- system under an ava lanche of ballots. The democracy must stand, there for for a tariff that will preveßt trusts ami enforce tair competition in I Incidental issues will be declared upon as usunl and in the* spirit of con servatism and progress that have* c har acterized the party alwa>s in dealing with national concerns. Hut with unity of purpose among democrats in ail scs*tions of tin* union t . accomplish the abc»ve specific' things, when called to power, there should be amp!** fighting ground and splendid courage lor the* democracy in !!M>4. How to omain that unity of purpose among democrats is the condition prv, «*dent to party success. Ami no d* mo<-rat should doubt for a moment Low that is to be had. The dividing question of th** past must be ignored. Crimination and recrimination can never produc*' harmony in a party on earth **•* among angels in heaven. To altandon efforts for things no I* nger available* does not argue a surrender <»f principles or convie-tio; s. The general good .should c*utw**igh th* indivhhial pr« 1,-ren*** v her*' administrative polic-ics alone are involve**!. Admitting that the par ty lias ha-l divisions in th*- past. 4iie waj to unity now is not in demanding unconditional surrender by cither of the sections, it is no more- the duty ot th** one to fall back ami eat curt than !• is of the* other. lx-aving out ot the agreement all question of th*- right fulness or wrongfulness of past con tentions. lei all the members of the party com** tn one heart and one mind upon issues that affect the lullin' and stand in solid phalanx as of old tor living principles that affect the imme diate and future needs of the repub lic. This sort of compact and cam paign is possible and to obtain them then* should be patriotism ami cour age enough in the party rank and file to put away from leadership any man or men wao fa* tiously oppose that pro gramme. • The* people of the nation have be come within the last decade more con ci rnod in measures and less in men and names than at any period of our history. When they are convinced that th*' democracy is the party that stands squarely and honestly for hu man progress, for equal rights to all citizens, for the denial of spec ial priv ileges to individuals or corporations, and for the restoration of a govern ment of the people economically ad ministered for and by the people, in that hour it will triumph and the pure republican democracy of .Jefferson. .la.-k.son and Tilden once more Iwc-ome the creed and character of the nation THE WEEKLY C ONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1902. THE TRIAL OF MONROEISM. Since the day of its utterance statesmen have looked forward to an occasion when the Monroe doctrine would be put on trial for its life be tween this country and the old world powers. The doctrine contains in its very terms an offense to every such power. It says to them that they may not make territorial gains upon, or assert new sovereignty over, any part of the western hemisphere not held by them on the day ot its pronouncement. Up to the present time the doctrine has stood fast, though not with out friction. France was made by us to release the attempted usurpa tion of Mexico by Maximillian and England was successfully deterred from a seizure of disputed territory between one of her ancient posses sions and Venezuela. So far, so good; but within two weeks we have been brought face to face with a situation in South America that we can not escape dealing with on the foundation of the Monroe doctrine in a way that will try our diplomacy crucially and test the famous doctrine to the core. The incidents leading up to the attitude of the powers —England. Ger many, Italy. Belgium. Holland and Spain—toward Venezuela are imma terial in this writing. They have presented claims against that country and demanded prompt payment of them. Venezuela has refused to yield compliance under what she asserts is unwarranted aggression. England and Germany began the initiatives of war and Venezuela proposed arbi tration —through the medium of the American minister at Caracas. The allies say they will admit the principle that their demands are arbitra ble, and are content to have the United States arrange the arbitration, provided it will make the arbitration seriously worth their while by guaranteeing the compliance of Venezuela with its findings. It cannot be denied that the powers have acted in this affair either wi’h admirable pre-concert and present Intent, or that they have since seized the opportunity to compel the United States io absolutely define and defend its position ou the Monroe doctrine. The dilemma in which they have placed us is a chef-d'oeuvre of artistic or accidental diplo macy. Anyhow, in plain language, they have brought us into the situa tion at a point where we must make good with Monroeism, or find a way of escape from its obligations. Will we say to the European powers that they may not. use tbeii own devices to collect their claims against powers on this side of the world? If we do, it is as sure as shofHing that they are dispose*! to con test that international right with all the men and ships and guns that • •an bo allied for the purpose and we will have to fight the issue out with the combined creditor nations of the Old World. Or, will we consent to conduct the arbitration of South American in ternational dues on the terms proposed? That means that, we must guar antee tho good faith and perfect performance of the awards made against our proteges. Since the creditor countries of Europe have some $20,000,000,000, or two-severths of the entire wealth of the United States, invested In South American securities and debts unsecured, wo would stand to underwrite every dollar of that tremendous sin total. If wo refuse—as the American people certainly will —to assume this latter attitude, th** question recurs in the acute form —what are we to do about it all? Unless Venezuela backs down at once a.id settles matters to the sat isfa**tion of her creditors, or the European!; kindly let us out of our dilemma by retraining from making reprisals from Venezuela to satisfy their demands, th** United States may be called on to take a hand in the final argument. Castro can compel us tn that event to toot his bills or fight over them against the whole European combine! If we are to stand pat for Monroeism we must define it to mean that no European power under any conditions, whether of debt, insult oi ag gression on the part of a South American power, may make war upon the latter. The former may vindicate their rights ami < oiled their debts peaceably, if they can. but forcibly—never! When wo assume that broad Interpretation Enropi* will give us at once th*' fight of our .Ives to main tain It. 1 Otherwise, we can only say that the Monroe doctrine holds good no longer than it is tolerated and that it means nothing when menaced by contempt and war. The measley little republics in South Aincrl< a that always hate us and patronize our rivals In seasons of peace are not worth a pound of powder or a sack of shot to us, but the principle of Americanism an nounced by Monroe we do stand sponsor for and to make good with is th** issue with v.hi* h we have now to deal—perhaps once for all time. In dealing with it. in the last event, wo will as a people take into account the general attitudes of the South American countries to this re public. They have kept as far from us as possible In sentiments and in mutuality of interests and clung to their associations. Th< y have opened their lands and commerce to Europe and laughed our efforts to deal with tliein on reciprocal terms to scorn. But whenever political troubles menaced them they have hold out their hands to us for h* Ip and cried to us for defense. We owe them not one whit of debt or gratitude—our only concern with them is to keep monarchy off the hemisphere as a guarantee of safety to our own republican interests. It may cost us worry, wealth and possibly war to get this Monroe doc trine exactly adjusted so as to be a standard oi action lor the nations in th** future, but one of the events of the settlement will be to fix the South American troubles so that the perils they make they will be ex pected io pay for every time! Th*' hop,' of this country is to avoid trouble and wars and we sin cerely hop** diplomacy anti the mutuality of national interests will bo * fficient to that end in the present case. Public Land and Frauds. Secretary’ of the Interior Hitchcock’s warning against the fraudulent prac tices resort* d to by cattlenn'it to ac quire title to large bodies of public land in the '.’’cst is shown to have lie, n timely and well founded by the revelations brought to light by the federal grand jury in session at Omaha. N< br. it would seem that the frauds complained ot have been of a wholesale nature, and it i« estimated that within the past year, in Nebraska alone, i.non,t tut acres ot th** public do main have be, ti fraudvlently tiled upon for homestead, ami other millions of acres have l.een stolen in the same manner, within a very few’ yeais. in outer plain and mountain states of the west. As is well understood ’»y people fa miliar with conditions on the bald prairies of the west, tor some fifteen years past a bitter struggle lias been in progress l>etween th*' settler aad Hi*- cowman for th** undisputed pos session of th*' country. The former wants to develop his claim agricultu rally. while tl.e latter wants the tand to remain in its virgin state lor free pasturage. During the latter half of th*' eighties it looked a’ if the home steader had the better of the contest, lor nearly every quarter section of the whilom “Great American Desert" was squatted on. and in consequence the pasture lord had to pull dow n his barb wire and hurry his steers off to mar ket. But successive years of drouth wore the sod shanty settler out. and gradually the cowman regained pos session cr partial possession. Then began a bitter feud between the in domitable homesteaders who remained or continued to come in and the Herds man. The claim holder was fenced .n side gnat pastures and. in some in stances. intimidat'd until he was forced to abandon his claim. He cut the cowmans wire ami th*' cowmans cattle at*' his growing crops. There wet*' "kill ngs" and outrages of van ruts kinds. The cowboy, being a pro verbial “bad man." at length was I>ret ty much master of the situation. The settlers who stayed could be han dled.” Knowing that they would continue to he annoyed by recurring tides of immigration and continuous sjasmo di< * fferts of settlement, the cattle men set about acquiring title to the range without paying for it at the land office Their scheme was bold and shrewd. In addition to thousands of claims being tiled upon by cowboys, paid adventurers and “dummies,” in volving perjury without limit, a vastly greater number of "widow s claim entries were fraudulently made in the interest of the land-greedy ranchers. A widow of a federal soldier of the civil war is permitted to “prove up" a homestead without being subject to the government s requirements <>: resi dence, obtaining her pat,'tit at the end of five years. Agents of the cattle syndicates scour, *1 the whole United States persuading such widows to make entry upon such lands as best suited the purposes of the conspira tors. These w idow s have signed away in advanc* their filial proof papers, for a nominal consideration, any sum being looked upon as a windfall. Tho cattle companies, of course, will be the beneficiaries, and if their plan are not frustrated, they will soon own vast areas of the public domain lor a song. While it is true that, much of this land can never be made to grow crops without irrigation, and tho irrigation of it seems to be ' tterly impracticable, there is a right way to acquire title to it. and tho rights of the American homesteader must be respected and protected against public land thieves of whatever sp.cies. In former years tho railroads were the greatest, of fenders against the spirit of the United States homestead laws. This latest scheme to appropriate to private own ership whole townships and counties of raw prairie land, amounts to a na tional scandal, and th*' interior depart ment of the government must ferret out the rascals implicated in the in famous plot, if its management would escape an avalanche of popular cen sure. The more tho gigantic fraud is uncovered the greater will be the pub lic’s indignant wonder. Cuba's “Back-Bone” Railroad. The infant republic cf Cuba seems to be earnestly proceeding on the max iin that God helps those who help themselves. Thus far the Cubans, as a new nationality, have put to shatne the confident predictions of a few months ago that they would make a sorry out of pad'aing their own gov ernmental canoe. Not only hav our swart brethren of the summer seas ex hibited sagacious and self-confident qualities of local self-government, as American diplomacy is beginning to perceive, but the material progress of the long-ravaged isle has been most gratifying, and even remarkable. Os course, outside capital is largely in strumental in exploiting the practical ly undeveloped resources of Cuba, but the Cubans have inspired the confi dence that was necessary to put cai>- ital to work. One of Cuba’s greatest commercial needs was an east and west railway connecting Havana with Santiago. For centuries the two cities have been al most as completely separated for pur- ! THE PORT RECEIPTS CONTEST. Closes December 31st —Only Few Days. The contest upon the total receipts of cotton at all United States ports from September 1. 1902, through January 10, IWC. tMOOO in cash prizes, closes Decem ber .".1, 1902. Every estimate must be mailed to us on or before that date and I bear post mark not later than Dee»niber I 31, else it will be ruled out. The time Is so short now that it will not do to put the matter off. You have waited almost to the last moment for figures to guide you in making the esti mate. Here they are from September 1. 1902, up through Friday, December 19. with eiriiipa i.sons for the identical period for the past three years as follows: Bales in port receipts. l!Mr_> 4.433.311 i lf»*»1 4,274.(70 I!KM 4.itW.K« 1999. 3.647.440 \Vh* lher the same ratio of receipts will be maintained remains <o be seen. Ev ery one must estimate the receipts for the last ten days of the cotton that will be counted. The contest closes finally with the mailed estimates December 31. The cotton for the first ten days of Jan uary will be Included in Secretary Hes ter's certificate that will decide the con test. The announcement of the result and payment of the prizes will be made as soon as possible after January 10. I>o not let your subscription lapse. The paper stops by agreement with all par ties at the close of the time paid for. When your time runs out yo.tr paper runs out. If your date on the name slip that addresses your paper will he out in a tew weeks, send on now an,l the,time will be set up for one year an<l the estimate you send with th*' subscription will be duly entered for the contest. One estimate with ea<h yearly subscription, 31.00, to The Weekly Constitution, two estimates with each combination subscription to Weekly Constitution and Sunny South, only 31.36. Agents at work on the 3135 offer to agents have the same privilege as sub scribers in this contest. Write out your orders plainly, state just what the sub scriber wants from our offers, give his estimate in plain figures, and your own estimate in the proper place. Ilen*'w your subs<riptlon during I>- <■• rnber, send your estimate and subscrip tion together and attend to it at once. Should you not want to extend your subscript ion ami still would like to enter the contest, yon can do so in this way: Send 5b cents for one estimate, or semi $1 ! for three estimates, or send 33 for ten estimates. without atty subscriptions. Sm h estimates will be acknowledged by postal card receipt as promptly as we can r t< h them and alt will be recorded upon in equal footing iti the contest with l all oth* rs received under the rules. ’ Wh.it. ver von do. the contest is draw* I Ing Io a close, am! your time to ponder | on it is past; you must act now. Mail , your estimate, subscription and rcinit ' tance together, in the same envelope, ad- I dressed to THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Atlanta, Ga. | poses of trade as if an ocean divided them. Tltt' intervening distance is not ■ so great, bin obstacles in the way <>l mountains, forest and the ttnspeaka bl< Cuban roads- were never overcome ■ under Spanish nil*'. Perhaps if the - governor-general at Havana had been I able to send the re-enforcementa at his ! command to Santiago at the time the latter city was invested by tho Amer ican army and navy, then' would have been a different story to tell, so far as Spanish resistance was concerned. I There being no railroad, and an over -1 land march out of the question. Gen eral Toral could not be re-enforced. i The inaccessible condition of the east ern half of the island was also proba bly responsible for Cuban independ ence in that for fifty years it afforded a safe field of operation for the suc- I cessivo liberators down to Gomez. The" Ten Years’ war of a generation ago was conducted from the fastnesses of eastern Cuba. Tho recent opening of tho so-calied "Back-bone” railway, which traverses tho island for a distance of 300 miles | from east to west, gives the chief cities of Cuba direct railroad communication with each other, and there can be little i doubt that the enterprise will exhibit a j strong influence in developing the I splendid dormant resources of the whole island, particularly the mineral I and timb r resources of the east side. New plantations will be opened and i towns built, and new life will be in i fused in the lethargic land. Truly. Cuba’s N’iobe fact' is turned hopefully to the smiling sun of progress. The Color Line in Labor. In the course of an address at an educational meeting in Philadelphia last, week ex-President Cleveland spoke of the advances already accom plished in the education of the negroes of the country and the practical bene | tits of stiil further equipping them in ! the training that will ensure compe- I tem y along lines of self-support by i manual labor arts. One of his re marks was more than usually signifi cant, spoken when and where it was delivered. He said he looked for a uay when no man in employing a me- ■ chanic would ask as to his color, but ! only as to the character of his work. Undoubtedly Mr. Cleveland had in his thought the great mass of negroes. 1 those who reside in the sofith and I really are "the race" in the United States. But it is strange that a man of such resources as Mr. Cleveland — the knowledge that came to him as twice the president of the nation and as for a long time one of the trustees I of a great fund in aid of negro educa ■ tion -did not take advantage at that point of his address to discriminate between the treatment accorded to the negro laborer in the south anti that dealt out to him in the busy and phi lanthropic north. In the south the negro with a trade who wants ro work at it finds no diffi culty in getting it and no discrimina tion practiced agaist him in the valua tion of it. The Constitution has often called attention to the absolute free dom and facility with which the negro mechanic obtains employment, steady and remunerative, in any southern community. His color is never made a barrier to his acceptance in the labor field. All over the south such artisans are working side by side on the same work with white men by tho tens of thousands, even as wo write these lines. The fact is too notorious to be dubi table. It is not so in the north. The ne gro’s color is his chief disqualification in that region and only those who are willing to be the veriest of menials gen countenance and work. The ne gro may black boots, but he may not be a house carpenter; he may be a hostler, but he may not be a brick mason. stone-cutter or iron-worker! “Songs of the Soil” By FRANK L. STANTOM A Song of Christmas Times. Ain’t as young as once I wi*z Hut—*'hristme.s times In Georgia Take my chance hi any dance! Christmas times it* Georfla’ Throw that white soul on the floor lx*tchstring's Just outside tne do, r. Give us one old quadrille more Christmas time** in Georgia! Come in r 11—the great an’ small— Christmas times in G<-orgin! Still there’s room enough for all Christmas timer in Georgia! Don’t you hear the fiddle's sound. Sweethearts now with holly crow net , Swing the gals the worjd around Christmas times in Georgia! The Philosophy of It. Believers, hear de lesson fl it’s true tz true kin be: All can t bag de 'possum. Kaze all can’t climb de tree. Believers, hear de lesson— Hit’s true fun* spring ter fall: All can’t set at table, Kaze dey ain’t no room fer all. Believers, hear de lesson— En keep de golden rule: At< can’t rl*’e ter glory. Kaze all can’t ketch tie mule’ 11l Luck of Brother Dickey. "I’m de onluckiest pusson in de roun worl’." said Brother Dickey. "I tuk cut a accident policy six yejy ago. come Chris'mus, en moved within a stone throw er five railroads, en not one er dent hez runned over me in all dat time! 1 ic ly b’l’evcs, dal *f I wvz f r lay down en go ter sleep on de track de engineer would stop de engine en tell de head fireman ter wake me up!" The New and the Old. De new rtme Chris'mus cornin'. But ghostly look de snow. En’ Chris'mus ain’t lak Chris’mus We danced ter long ago! But take yo' place, believers. En shake de white san’ down, new times is de true times. So. swing de worl' arout.'! ••• • • Merry Days. Sing a song <»’ merry ctavs • ’oniln' up the slope. All the gray an* frosty ways Silver-bright with Hope! All forgot—the stonn and strife ttf a darkene*! day; All the world is love with Life Anil singing on the way! « • q « • The Number on the Door. Come ’long. Misti r S-mty Claus. We is mighty po’! But don’t fergit de number— !>.- number on de do’! De shingles sort >r lof de roof De chimbly gone f<T sno’; But don’t fergit *1 • number— De number on de do’l Wo wait so lona for Chris’nuts— D* Chilian -.ryin' so! 1 wish you’d fir.’ *le number— De number on de do’! Being told that some one had prophe sied that the woilt! would c >me to an end about the middle of January. Broth er Dickey exclaimed: "Thank de Lawa dats thro,. w«k, after Chris’mus!” A Winter Prospect. With the li;<rns all plle*l with plenty—tho gray frost on the shed. The cane there, in the sugar-mill. the apples rosy-red; The heavv wagons rumbling along the rocky way. I’m thankful that I m living in a world like this today! Sorrow in full measure— But Sorrow shall not stay: Hands around the holly. And let the fiddle play! The Springtime spread her roses In crim son at our feet: The Sumnn r set tho mockingbirds to sing'll’ si'.ver-sweet; But pleasure In full measure comes with the Winter gray. And I’m thankful that I m livin’ in a world like this today! Sorrow still, and sighin’,— Let Sorrow sigh away! Hands around tho holly, And let tbe fiddle play! Singing with th* mockingbirds, or sighing on the roan. It’s only Life, my masters.—the laughter, or the land; Bu. reap you Live forever—in Winter wild, and May. And be thankful that you’re livin' in a world like this today! Wave your hand to Sorrow- Joy is on til, 1 way ; Hands around the hotly. And let the fiddle play! Holiday Notes from Billville. ’Possum is out of place on a hotel table; he doesn't taste the same in French. It’s fortunate that Christmas comes but once a year. Very few of us could stand It any oftener. We are determined to make somebody happy this Christmas, even if we have to whirl in and marry a widow This is the seas* n when Charity begins at home—to scold the old lady tor mak ing so many Christmas bills. Some folks think their whole duty is performed when they build a big fire, and warm their feet, and pity the poor. There should be no politics in Christ inas; and yet. we can't help feeling friendly to the man who sends us the fattest turkey Singing by the Way. Jt ain't so fur, believers, ter de breakm* er de day. We singin’ by de way— We singill* by de way; Whar do fiel’s is white wid cotton, en de hills is heaped wid hay. We singin’ by de way— By de way! It ain’t so hmg. believi rs. 'twel de Winter come ter May. We singm ’by de way— We siiigin’’ by de way; When de Win'll piek de banjos lak a hap py holiday. We singin’ by de way— By de way! It am<t so long, believers, ’two) do Light’ll come ter stay. Siiigin’ by de way— Bingin’ by do way, En you'll know de swe ter music w hat de angels sing en s-ay. Singin’ by de way— ! By de way! • • • • • A December Note. Ah, distinctly I remember It's the First of bleak December, And of coal there’s scarce an cirtiT ’ Reddening in the chilly grate! So that now, to still the beating Os my heart. I stand repeating: •‘l’m from homo —O Bills, entreat* ll ® Entrance at the Christmas gate! Set k the Night's Plutonian sha'k’ws — | Tell the bailiff he must wait!” An Invitation. \\>l jrne. Mist r Winter— Fopsmn < n ■!•' griddle. ’Taters in de ashes white. hJ.i music in ue nddie.’ OUS WEEKLY SERMOH The Way of the Lord. tiiA wav of the Lord, mdke Matthew iii. 3. Such -as the cat! to the world by John the Baptist and the significance of it has never ceased to be paramount among those who adhere to the reli gion of Jesus. The wav of the Lord into the hearts of men must be prepared by that emptying which results from an hon est and hearty repentance of the sins that have leavened the life with un righteousness. Tne surest and only satisfactory repentance is that which makes a complete quittance of sin. The whole gospel on that point is summed up in the plain words: “Let the wicked forsake his wuy, and th* unrighteous man his thoughts, and ! let him return unto the Lord! I The man who insists upon following < his own way in life has not prepared away for the I>ord to enter into his life and lead it in clean and holy paths. He warns us clearly that our ways are not His ways. Logically, then, a man cannot walk In both ways at otice Physical science agrees with divine truth upon that proposition Hence the selfish, self-willed aad proud are necessarily out of the way and all sinners belong to one or tho other ot" those classifications. So we must each of us lose our life to gam the life that is after the spirit of Christ. To uicik<' His paths straight is th<j duty of His followers. To them is committed the work of renovating th*: ways of numan existence, substituting good for evil, leveling mountains of unrighteousness, filling up valleys oi iniquity and casting up th*- highway o holiness upon which nothing tinclcan may come. These are all works com petent for human energies and possi ble to be completed by the enthusiasm of righteous generations. In aid of this divine programm** for the perfecting of hitman chara< t* r churches have been instituted. Orig inally they were but voluntary ami I<> cal associations of those who had taken up the way of Christ. Gradual iv they wej-e extended into sympa thetic relationship by the progre? sive labors of tho evangelists, led by the apostles, until at last from Jerusa Jem outward they have covered the earth with the sign of the cross and the camps of Christians. That the Christian propaganda has added tremendously to the methods of human development toward idea! character an., amended the living > esses of nations by the substitution of diviner standards of cojjdixt goes without the saying. It is easy to sp< * t late on how much more could hav»* been done, bi t it is safer and more consistent with philosophic truth to say that what is now exant is the best that circumstances have allowed to i>< accomplished. Instead of lamenting about "what might have been." it is i wiser and more helpful to rejoi* e things that remaii as ■ achievements of all past efforts in Christian endeavor. It is a hop* ful thing that the Chris tian spirits ot the age are not satisfi with present results. These, tn* ' 1 happily, put fresh pressure upon tie i enthusiasm of earnest Christians to ' increase the ardor of their faith a: i . inject more spiritual vigor into their ; struggle for the establishment of rhe i universal dominion of their Master. 1 But tho paramount question of the age in Christian endeavor is how ;<) simplify the religion of Jesus to ;s | divine and exact terms and there y i Increase its power to draw men : I Him? Tbe expansion of Christian! y I as a personal cult must continue al ' ways in the future, as in the past, to i be counted by the conversion of units. Therefore any system of propagar.- j dism aimed at the mass instead of tb<’ individual must largely disappoint the hopes founded upon it. Jesus was the supreme indiviJ"’ allst of human history. Ho cani*' o . save His people from their sins!” mission was not to redeem them from ; Roman dominion and burde* - from 1 poverty, or any other incidents o the national organism, but to redwnt ’ them from sin and thereby from Its | consequences. Hence He saved them not in bulk, hut one by on ’ .Many believed because of Lazarus’ and many because of tn*' ca<-< of Bartim etts. and of Zacchens, and of Jairus’ ■ daughtei, and so on to the end of His ministries and the culniina fion °f teachings in th,* stupendous events ct His own death, resurrection and as- I cension. because of which millions upon millions Lave sine* believed. In this very day. this Sabbath morn- • ing. there are untold millions of self conscious spirits waiting and yearn- i ing to believe on H* Dl ,>e saved. Why are they not saved? Because of the confusions which fill the world concerning “the « a -' of the Ixtrd. instead of that "ay being in better preparation than tn the first century , of Christian history. It is in the very worst of conditions. Ir. read of His path having he*’ 'me straight, visibb and easy for m* n to enter upon, it is warped and perverted almost beyond recognition—the result, indeed, not of 1 a wilful «tesire on the part of Chris tians to confuse "the way." but be cause of ex essive and fatal zeal to i establish ’ha' magnify creeds and minini ze the personality and ex emplarshir of Christ. The winder of the world is that the Christianity of the * twentieth century cannot exalt Christ and m» Ke f**e four gospels—"the rec ' ord Go' has given us of His Son" —the sum finality of the faith that dominates life and determines des tiny. To do that does not demand that "differences of administration" i n church organization and endeavor l,c abandoned. Let the physical, financial and philanthropic affairs of churches be systematized as the con jociates in them will. The paramount demand of the world —of the people who want to know and follow Christ —is for unity of spiritual faith and standards. And such earnest, honest people have sense enough to know that those things can only be found in the person of Christ and in the imitation of His life! When our system of Christianity shall have been stripped of all the impositions of the last nineteen cen turies, freed of the commandments of men snperpos«*d upon the command ments of God. and made the personal privilege of any and every man to accept Christ as a savior and follow Him as Lord and leader, then will the whole earth rejoice in peace and "the way of the Lord" become the highway of holiness into the City of God!
