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About The Columbia sentinel. (Harlem, Ga.) 1882-1924 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1919)
Some Old Editorials, Published in 1917 . ( 1 ) “What got us into the War? It was after the German crimes of 1914 anil 1915, that Ambassador Gerard—fresh from a visit to President Wilson—made the banquet speech in I erlin, telling the Kaiser’s government that the friendly relations between them and us were never .tetter. What new departure from her war policies aid practises did Germany make, after that? She didn't make any. What motives are leading our Republic into t 1 is furious world-war? What do we seek? What German possession do we covet? What has she done to us, that our Navy is unable to avenge and redress and rectify? For Heaven's sake, think it over! Don’t get drunk on words, by absorption. Try to fix your mind on actual facts. What dangers threaten us? Where are we attacked? How came we to be involved in this Europe n maelstrom? No German soldier has harmed us. No Ger¬ man army faces us. The wide, wide ocean rolls be tv oen us. German troops are battling for dear life, right now, to keep from having to re-cross the Rhine. Every gun, every horse, every man that Ger¬ many can bring up, has been brought up, to bar the avenging French out of German territory. Don’t you know that? Can’t our ruling powers see it? Why, then, should we compel our young men 1/ go to Europe , when no part of Europe an pos¬ sibly come against us? The idea of German soldiers attacking us, is monstrous. It would be laughable, if the tragic ele¬ ment were not so terribly predominant. Germany assail us? God in Heaven! Germany’s night-mare, right •now, is the vision of infuriated Frenchmen, on the German side of the Rhine, wreaking his pent-up wrath upon German mothers, wives, daughters, and helpless children, in retaliation for the indes¬ cribable horrors which German soldiers have in¬ flicted upon the innocent non-combatants of France.” ( 2 ) “The New York World —staunchest of Dem¬ ocratic Wilson papers—had an account, last week, of the profits which J. P. Morgan had thus far made out of the War. The amount was ninety million dollars. In less than three years, the younger Morgan has made, out of this War, more than his honored and lamented father made out of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Panama hand¬ made “Revolution;” the Chinese War, and three well-grown Panics, two of which Morgan himself precipitated. Ninety million dollars in three years, comes to thirty a year, or more than two millions a month. The New York World reports that Morgan made $18,000,000 on one loan for the Allies, “float¬ ed” by him at the modest rate of 12 per cent com¬ mission. Now, when you regard Morgan as a type, rather than as an individual, and remember that he represents the greed of soulless Capitalists, in¬ corporated by law, favored by legislation, ever since the War between the States, fortified by c urt decisions made by lawyers whom they eleva¬ ted to the bench, and constantly guarded from the peril of reformatory measures by their docile serfs in the Governmental livery, you can begin to see the selfishly sordid sources of all this fanatical clamor for an American army in Europe. What do such Capitalists care, if a hundred thousand of your sons are freighted to German factories, and boiled into oil, made into soap, mix¬ ed for fertilizer, or prepared as pig-feed? My countrymen! The deadliest danger to your country- and to your liberties, lies on this side of the ocean. American Prussianism is not aimed at German Prussia: it is aimed at the plundered American j.cducers; and aimed by the plundering non producers. The Standing Army is to be built up. on the Prussian model, for the purpose of maintaining and perpetuaing an infernal system of class-legis¬ lation, which enriches (he ncn-producing classes, l y the pillage of the producing masses. The. Standing Army’s real purpose is, to sup¬ port a heartless Aristocracy of Dollars, whose patents of nobility are written in the “laws” which confer Special Privileges upon incorporated wealth. You see a few grey-headed men sitting on the side-walk, or on the piazza of the cross-roads stores; ask them how the world of today compares with the world that they lived in, before the War between tho States. They will toll you, that the world of today is altogether different. Everything is changed, and not for the better. Before I860, there were no price-fixing Trusts; no monopolies intrenched in Federal legislation; no railroad lawyers controlling the courts; no gag laws threatening (he press; no legalized ' Money rrust financing gigantic Speculations which rob the people: no huge national debt devouring in taxes (be substance of the producers; no artificial THE COLUMBIA SEl ilNHL, HARLEM, GA. inequalities in the distribution of the common, wealth, caused by congressional laws which enable one class to despoil all the others; no stupendous i’> rtunes heaped up by law on one side of the street, while the other side of the same street is littered with the pitiful wrecks of wronged huxnan iiy. No! None of these terrible conditions existed lx fore the War of the Sixties. The tears will fill the eyes of the old folks a* they tell you how different the country used to be. What changed it so? The War. The Spanish-American War gave another vremendous impulse to Imperialism, Centralism, Capitalism, Special Privilege. and Dollar Autocracy. Under President Wilson, those consolidating tendencies have been enormously advanced. No el eek whatever has been placed upon the Supreme Sovereignty of the Specially Privileged Dollar. And now those Sovereign Dollars, mad with insatiable lust for more, are driving you headlong i, to the vastest whilrpool known to history; and not one of your sentinels upon the watch-tower has the foresight and courage to warn you of the breakers ahead. It is sad beyond words. (3) In round numbers, the amount of money that L’ncle Sam has loaned to foreign nations,- is five thousand millions of dollars. The North American States which declared themselves independent sovereigns, on July 4, 1776 -and which were acknowledged to be such by Great Britain—afterwards met in convention, by State delegations, and created a Federal Govern¬ ment, for specified purposes. These purposes were ^uch as the States could rot well deal with, separately, without conflicting laws, varying systems, and consequent confusion. The States desired a Federal agency, or gov en.ment, for the establishment of uniformity in (lu relations with foreign powers, uniformity in the currency system, the postal system, the cum¬ n ercial system, the naturalization of foreigners, the enactment of laws relating to commerce, and the raising of armies to repeal invasion, suppress insurrection, and enforce the laws of the Union. To enoble the newly-created Federal agency, or government, to cany out the foregoing pur¬ poses—for which the sovereign States had volun t.iily created it—the Federal Union was empow¬ ered to levy taxes directly upon the people, instead of calling upon the States for what was needed. Realizing that these taxes would be insuffi cinet, sometimes, the sovereign States authorized the Federal Union to borrow money. Consult any constitutional lawyer, and he will tell you that the foregoing outline gives you sub¬ stantially the truth about the origin and character of our Federal Government. This being undeniable, you can readily see (' hat a tremendos usurpation has been accomplish¬ ed, when the Federal Union takes enormous sums c 1 money from the people, to lend to foreign nations. ” (4) Why are the papers belittling the heroic volun¬ teer, who used to be the subject of song and story, of the artist’s brush and the sculptor’s chisel? Look at your great historic paintings, com r emorating the triumphs of our War of Indepen¬ dence—who are the heroic figures painted there, for the admiration of all future generations? They are volnteers! Nobody conscripted George Washington, and Nathaniel Greene. No act of Congress infused patriotic valor in¬ to Francis Marion, Israel Putnam, Dr. Warren, ( oJ. Prescott, Harry Lee, Daniel Morgan, John Ft gar Howard, John Sevier, Elijah Clark, David Twiggs, and sturdy old General Lincoln. They were all volunteers. How can we now sneer at tho volunteer, ridi¬ cule him, and cartoon him, without defiling tho monuments of Nathan Hale, of Gen. Sumter, of Paul Jones, of Commodore Perry, of the heroes of Lexington, of the patriots of King's Mountain? God in Heaven! Some secret, subtle, sinister influence seems to be systematically at work, with diabolical art, to change the whole American mind. The very things that used to be held in high¬ est reverence, are now being defamed. The papers •red cartoons demean the very- men and things that used to inspire the orator, the artist, the poet, and the historian. How do you explain it? The fact, is patent: what is the hidden motive? General Lee was not a conscript: he was the '»lunteer commander of the finest army the world ever saw— the volunteer Army of Northern Vir¬ ginia? General Grant was not a conscript, nor were in’s best soldiers forced into the ranks: they were olunteers. (5) England’s government is for England and the England: France’s government is for France and tei the French: tho American government was sanely intended for America and the Americans. Any other idea, is sheer sentimentalism. It will not bear the slightest test of reason; ■red the country would have laughed it to scorn, srx month* ago. The President, himself scorned it, last fall! Addressing a crowd at his New Jersey home - Shadow Lawn—in October, he warned the American people against changing our foreign policy, and he was universally understood to bo referring to Mr. Roosevelt and others of the same way of thinking, who were then clamoring for war. President Wilson then said— Shadow Lawn, N. J., Oct. 14.—The American people have no disposition to exchange a handsome certainty for an unhandsome uncertainty," President Wil¬ son declared this afternoon from the porch of the autumn White House in a speech more sulphuric than any he has thus fur hurled at republicanism and its leaders. His talk warned against the sinister influences of campaign bosses and of the dangers of changing the American foreign policy now. Compare the rational tone of this sort of talk —which satisfied the American people so thorough¬ ly that they gave Mr. Wilson a second, term —with u e vague, dreamy, fantastic visions which have since taken possession of Professor Wilson’s mind, ar.d you cannot fail to be deeply impressed by the irreconcilable difference between the two positions. In October, he was rebuking Roosevelt, Lodge. Hughes, and Company; and contending, substan¬ tially, that we must stay on the safe side, accord¬ ing to the time-honored policy of our Government. Now, however, he completely changes his pos¬ ition. In fact, he exactly reverses it. He now demands enormous sums of money, ei ormous numbers of conscripted soldiers, and enormous personal powers, in order that he may “exchange a handsome certainty for an unhand s >me uncertaintyand he now says, in effect, that our Fathers did not know what they were talking about, when they solemnly declared, that they es¬ tablished this Government for “ ourselves and our paterity," (6) Mr. Ambassador Gerard, speaking to his offi¬ cial German “friends,” on the night of January 7th, 1917, in Berlin, said— “Never since the beginning of the war have the relations between Germany and the United States been so cordial as now. 1 have brought back an olive branch from the president —or don’t y T ou consider the president's message an olive branchf “I personally am convinced that as long as Germany’s fate is directed by such :rjen as my friend, the chancellor, and Dr. 3e)ferrich and Dr. Sholf; by Admirals -*on Capelle (minister of the navy), Holt zendorif (head of the naval general staff) and von Meuller (naval adviser to the emperor), by Generals von Hindenburg (chief of the general staff), and Luden %r orff (first quartermaster general), and last, but not least, by my friend Zimmer mann, the relations between the two coun¬ tries are running no risk." “Germany’s fate is” still “directed by my friend the Chancellor.” Germany’s fate is still directed “last, but not least, by my friend Zimmennann.” But where's the olive branch? “/ have brought you back an olive branch from the President .” An olive branch in January, of this year, six months ago. An olive branch, after all the atrocities of the autocracies. An olive branch, after the sinking of Ameri cun vessels, and the murder of American sailors! A.n olive branch, after the massacre of 119 American men, women and children on the Lusi¬ tania! When Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” what did he mean? What is the definition of the word “liberty?'’ In the United Editors’ Encyclopedia and Dictionary, you will find that the* word means, “freedom from restraint, freedom of power of choice, as opposed to necessity." What is conscription? Just the reverse of liberty! Therefore, according to the President and Congress, Patrick Henry risked his life in battling foi the exact opposite of what has recently been imposed upon us, without any authority from the Constitution. In Australia, the question of conscription was referred by the government to the people; but in the United States, it was assumed by those in pow¬ er that the young men of the country were cowards, slickers, and shirkers; and they were cartooned and abused in the daily papers, before they even had a chance to show their patriotic, manhood. Nobody can reasonably doubt that, if our country were invaded, every able-bodied man would instantly be eager for servico in defense of mu soil. But to send an army across the ocean, when ' have not been attacked on land, strikes the average man as a wild-goose chase; and he cannot avoid the suspicion, that the purpose of it is an f agonistic to our own best interests and to our blood-bought liberties. Democracy constrains no man, outside the con¬ stitutional powers granted by the people to the government: and compulsion, whether by a Kaiser vr a Congress, is tyranny, when it oversteps the boundaries of the powers delegated to the Govern¬ ment. 1 bat man is blind who cannot see, that the Spirit of Tyranny is abroad in the land, taking 3 \ arious forms of compulsion, and forcing phus m an ism upon rs, at the very time the Government pretends to be fighting it. I have said my say, and I am done. God guide you, my people! Many and many a time, in the years gone by, I have fought your battles, with tongue and pen, when the clouds hung low over¬ head, and the wind from the East blew hard; hut never have I felt so deeply depressed as T now do, at the sudden turn which the Government has tak¬ en, since the President's second inauguration. As Patrick Henry said, “1 have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp o£ experience,” All my studies of government, all my reading if history, tell me. but too plainly, that such laws as have been suddenly fastened on you , wrrnorv consulting of you, lead inevitably to the destruction individual liberty, and to the establishment of a military despotism. x The above extracts from editorials published in The Jeffersonian i, in the early summer of 1917, may be read again now, in the light of what has happened since. The War cost us .$30,000,000,000, and 300,000 lives. The War gave the negroes the biggest advance toward social equality he has ever had. The War gave the Roman Catholics $17,000, 000 of Protestant money to use in the camps fop proselyting purposes. The War entangled us with the policies and destinies of nearly all the nations of earth. The War -vested Woodrow Wilson with the powers of a Dictator. Thef War paved the way for universal col¬ script ion in time of peace, and put upon us the ob¬ ligation to force our boys back to Europe, when¬ ever France or the League calls for them. The War put up the price of living until the poor man is on the ragged edge all the time. The Last Slave-Ship, The Wanderer. in a recent issue, I mentioned the Wanderer, libelled at Savannah by the late Gen. Henry R. Jackson, who was U. S. District Attorney at tho time the ship arrived. In passing through the Darien region, some years ago, I was struck by tho difference in features and speech presented by the negroes, as compared to the blacks of other parts of Georgia. I remarked it to my companions in the car; and told them that, in my opinion, these Darien negroes were descendants of Zulus, the highest type of Africans. On reaching Fort Lauderdale, where we then had a winter-home, I mentioned the matter to Mr. Ed. King who was going down to Miami with me, to attend court. He at once confirmed my guess about the negroes, telling me that his mother had lived at Darien when the Zulus were brought there. The actual landing-place, (as Mr. Spear cor rects me.) was 30 miles from Darien; but in being distributed to the interior by boats, some were Drought to Darien, some sold at Albany, and some to other towns. Thus it is apparent that no material error oc¬ curs in my statement, which was based upon Mr. King’s recollection of what his mother had told him. By the way, I have the pamphlet which Gen. Jackson published about The Wanderer. In his old age, he was much fonder of reciting this pamphlet to young and convivial companions, than they were of hearing it. The General would “fix” some hapless dinner mate with his eye, and begin on The Wanderer; and by the time he finished, he and his victim were the only ones present. Brunswick, Ga., Aug. 8th, 1919. Dear sir: I see in your issue of Aug. 8th, in an article headed “Our Own Subject Race,” the following item, “The very last cargo of negroes brought to the South etc.” “The name of the vessel was The Wanderer, and the owners ran the cargo of blacks to Darien, Ga., where their descendants still live etc.” This entire statement is correct, only to the place of landing. In the Summer of 1859 or 60, The Wanderer came into the harbor at Bruns¬ wick, and lay here for about two weeks, while the officers were selecting a landing place. She then sailed for Africa, no one here knowing her business or place of des¬ tination. The next heard of The Wanderer, the light-house keeper, on little Cumberland Island, reported to Brunswick, the near¬ est town, that he had piloted in and M chored The Wanderer in St. Andrews Sound, loaded with African Negroes, and that they had been landed on the South end of Jekyl Island, from which place the negroes wore distributed in small sailing vessels up the Satilla and Altamaha Rivers. I. ns a 16-year-old boy, was aboard The Wanderer a number of times, both be¬ fore her sailing for Africa and after she 1 had landed her cargo and been abandoned by her crew. Darien is about 30 miles North ot where these negroes were landed. Yours truly. r* J. J. SPEARS.
