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About The Reason. (Savannah, GA.) 1908-19?? | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1908)
4 lie finally arrived at the conclusion that the hand of God was in it all and was extended to him j at this time on account of his great weakness and soreness of heart. Many times, as he observed strangers of pleasing address approach one another and form an apparent friendship he would retire to his room and pray to God to change his heart and make him fit to enjoy the society of many men in stead of only a few. But this was impossible. He was not of this world. He belonged to another —to that other where alone may be found the congeniality t hat he sought. Are there not many others in this world like him? How many there are all about us who are starving for a word or look that cannot be given, because we are not of the purity of mind and heart that puts us in such harmony with their idea of justice as to make us agreeable! A look from some people is as if they had spit in our face. “Life is all a puzzle, at most." said the old man as he returned to the room and found his new-made friend greatly lamenting the pessimism and sorrow of the world. “The living of it. however," he solemnly con tinued, “in a proper manner so as to amount to something, entitles any man who does it to great honor. It means self-sacrifice, self-denial and a great deal of selfness. The average man who is concerned only with the matter of making money is selfish, but he is happy and so far as one's own individual self is concerned is to be envied. ‘‘But life must be serious for some of us. 1 re gret the day that its serious side took possession of me. Before that I was in innocence land, in the Garden of Eden, and naked. I saw nothing wrong with the condition of society, no need for much of the reform that some men were demanding, and formed the conclusion that thev were onlv after notoriety and were unworthv of the least considera tion. How I do wish 1 had continued to believe this instead of allowing myself to form other conclusions. But I bit the forbidden fruit and my eves have been opened and I see we arc naked. Sometimes lam so unhappy that it matters not how soon death comes and takes me away. 1 shall be content to go. “Now, you complain of the growing crime of lawlessness in the South. You are right,—it is a fact, and it is breaking more hearts than yours. The question however, that ought to concern you most is, what can 1 do and am I doing to improve con ditions.’ And. where should reform start.’ Am I, myself all right .’ “You tell me you are leaving our section to lo cate in the North or in Europe, where you will not be troubled by the evils complained of. That is wrong. Sin is everywhere and you can’t run from it. neither can you hide from it. You must turn on it and strike it dead wherever found. It will never let you alone, but will conquer you, if you do not conquer it.’’ PETER LICKSPOON. (To be Continued.) The Reason prefers being ahead of the times rather than to incur a reputation for laggardness, therefore it cheerfully assumes all risk of criticism for “previousness, ' by here and now announcing its advocacy of the Hon. Pleasant A. Stovall, of Savannah, of South Georgia and of the State in its entilady, for the governorship, at the close of the term expiring two years hence. THE REASON Platform. Ist. 1 am Opposed to all corporations or combi nations of men and money which restrain commerce, and manipulate 1 and speculate upon the products, the public franchises, and the utilities of the coun try, to their own advantage and against the public good, which destroy competition in trade and op press the public and their employes. 2nd. 1 favor a reduction of the tariff on the necessities of life; 1 believe that there should be an equalization of the tariff; that is to say, there should be a fair tariff placed upon the raw materials which are imported into this country, free of duty, such as cotton, rice lumber, etc., and a corresponding re duction on manufactured articles. 3rd. I believe in a just and equitable income and inheritance tax. This would add many millions of dollars annually to the revenue of the Government, and would make possible a material reduction of the present exorbitant duties and besides, it would light en the burdans poor, and would cause those who now escaape taxation to contribute their portion to tin 1 support of the Government. 4th. I favor the control and regulation of Inter- State Commerce and traffic by the General Govern ment : and the proper department of the Government should be clothed with ample power to cope with this question. sth. I believe that it is the duty of the General Government to supervise, regulate by proper legis lation, and if need be, control, such corporations as act in a fiduciary capacity to the public. 6th. Congress should speedily enact a financial measure for the relief of the country, authorizing the issue of an emergency currency by the General Government, based upon the United States, State, County and Municipal bonds, to be issued to the people throughout the medium of all the banking institutions of the country. This would provide ample currency and insure equitable distribution and thus prevent a recurrence of the recent financial distress. 7th. I believe in organized labor, and favor the enactment of such laws as will protect the interests of the laborer, the employer and the public. I am in favor of the proper restriction upon the employ ment of children in manufacturing institutions of the country, but I am also in favor of the better pro tection of those whose duty it is to care for and support them. American laborers should be pro tected from the usurpation of their places by the importation of cheap labor from foreign countries. Bth. I favor the enactment of such laws as will restrict foreign immigration into this country, to the intelligent and upright people of character, who bona fide intend making this country their future home, and who come of their own free will and ac cord. 9th. lam in favor of the internal improvements such as will facilitate the public convenience to re dound to the public good. The improvements of our rivers and harbors, the establishment of neces sary public buildings, postal facilities and parcels posts, the building of public thoroughfares, and the establishment of a thorough system of public schools. 10th. 1 believe that local option is the best regu lation of the sale of alcoholic stimulants. This is the doctrine of democracy—the right of the people to say how and to what etxent their rights and privi-
