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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-