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16 to exchange your property for bribes. It means corruption of your judges as long as with, your money corrupt inducements are held out to them. Private ownership of public neces sities means that thousands are kill ed every year unnecessarily, to save money and provide dividends on watered stock. Isn’t it worth your while 'to think occasionally of this matter? it* so, forgive the writing on New Year’s day of a dull, stupid editorial about the rights and the lives of the peo ple.—New York Journal. CUBA REQUIRES “THE MAS TERFUL HAND OF A RESIDENT.’’ With every r day it becomes clearer that Cuba can be governed only by the means of what the Marquess of Dufferin once called ‘ ‘ the masterful hand of a Resident.” The Herald’s suggestion of an American protec torate over the island upon the model of the one established by England over Egypt is manifestly the sole solution of the problem that ean end the existing crisis and guarantee the future. The administration, however, while recognizing the urgent neces sity for a protectorate and the cer tainty of its efficacy, is prevented from proclaiming one by Mr. Taft’s pledges that the United States would do everything possible to maintain Cuba’s autonomy. Such scruples are very honorable and should reassure the South Amer ican republics, which are somewhat suspicious of the disinterestedness of the United Stales,- but circum stances may force the administration to ignore its pledge just as circum stances forced England to remain in Egypt notwithstanding repeated and undoubtedly sincere promises to withdraw. Whether the United States desires it or not, it is held responsible by Europe for the good government of Cuba, and sooner or later will be compelled to grapple with the difficulty. Already a situation exists there which is sufficiently alarming to jus tify the law abiding portion of the Cuban population in asking whether they and important foreign material interests are to be left forever at the mercy of a gang of professional of fice seekers and negro bandits merely because the administration at Wash ington desires to reassure republics of South America. A petition for the proclamation of an American protectorate in Cuba is circulating among the Cuban business men and has already received hundreds of sig natures. The mere prospect of American withdrawal from the island has suf ficed to paralyze business and to make Cuban bankers refuse to lend the money urgently needed by the iigricultural interests. The Cuban Minister to Madrid has resigned, con fessing that his countrymen unaided are incapable of remedying the ex isting situation. Even Governor Magoon, though he is loyally carry ing out Mr. Roosevelt’s policy, is credited with the opinion that ulti mately the United States will be compelled to restore and maintain order in Cuba or to suspend the Mon- THE WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN. roe Doctrine while European powers undertake the job. There, as a matter of fact, lies the danger. If / the Cubans alone were affected by their incapacity for self government they might fight among themselves until nothing more were left of them than was left of the Kilkenny cats. Unfortunately, how ever, vast foreign interests are at stake. British capital invested in Cuban railways alone amounts in value to about eighty millions of dol lars. Protection for such immense interests must be forthcoming from one quarter or another. The Cubans, having demonstrated their complete inability to protect even their own interests, cannot be expected to pro tect those of others. The United States is prevented from effecting any durable reform by pledges that have outlived not only their useful ness but also their justification. England, however, will not—indeed cannot—remain inactive indefinitely while her subjects are being plunder ed and ruined. Appeals for protec tion, it appears, have already been made to England, France, Germany and Spain by their subjects estab lished in Cuba, who fear lest the United States should adhere to a policy that, although ethically ad mirable, must prove disastrous for them. Moreover, the administration may keep its pledges today, but the question is only shelved for a time, recognizing that the day must inevi tably arrive. The Cuban politicians who control 'the situation have been tried and found wanting; liberals, moderates, conservatives, they are all anarchists. It is only the presence of an Ameri can military force that preserves the semblance of order. To withdraw that force now would be to throw down the reins to the worst elements in the Cuban population and invite another outbreak of lawlessness that would render necessary a second mil itary expedition for the purpose of restoring order. From the common sense standpoint the United States can no more wash its hands of Cuba than England, could wash its hands of Egypt. The United •States cannot shirk its responsibili ties as the great civilizing force of the Western Hemisphere, nor can it allow the results of the Spanish- American War to be nullified by ill considered pledges given to politi cians who have forfeited every right to be considered. The whole world will honor the Washington adminis tration for respecting its plighted word with almost exaggerated fidel ity, but in Cuba it is face to face with a condition, not a theory. Cu ban conditions are rotten to their foundation and must be reconstruct ed on entirely fresh principles. The facts not only justify, but even de mand, that the pledges given under other circumstances be set aside and that America intervene effectively— that intervention to be in the form of a protectorate; and if the United States proclaims over Cuba such a protectorate as England has estab lished over Egypt it will earn the respect of all really patriotic Cubans and the gratitude of the whole world. —New York Herald. Occasionally that lid in Cuba makes a noise like a loose fit. Established 1858. DOORS, SASH and BLINDS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. YELLOW PIME LUMBER Factory and saw mill equipped with latest improvements and organiza tion thorough in every department. FULL LINE IN STOCK AND PROMPT SHIPMENTS ASSURED. Prices, Catalogues, etc., upon application. PERKINS MANUFACTURING COMPANY AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. NOW IS THE TIME TO open a Savings Account. All deposits made on or before January, draw interest from Janu ary first, for the full six months following. If you have not been saving money regularly, decide to begin with the New Year. You can open an account with as little as one dollar. Even a mod est account deposited regularly each week will give you a goodly bal ance by January 1, 1908. We add four per cent interest Compounded Semi-annually. Thos. S. Gray, Cashier. A. S. Morris, Vice-Pres. Wm. Schweigert, Pres. 2? UNION SAVINGS BANK S AUGUSTA, GA. i-jatr The Great Eastern Shoe Co. This name sounds large. W e started small with a large name, and we have grown now until we are above all others in the shoe business. In other words, we are to the shoe business what Jef ferson was to the Democratic party in his day. HE WAS ALL GOLD, and never tarnished. Our shoes are all leather, and will wear. We give you Below a Few Prices on Some of our Leading Shoes: Our Greta Hand Sewed Calf and Vici Congress and Bals cap and plain toes at $2.75, are as good as most shoes sold now-a-days at $3.50, and we put our $3.50 and $4.00 line of Gents’ shoes against any $5.00 or $6.00 line made today. Our Ladies’ Department. Our $1.75, $2.00 and $2.50 shoes are simply superb. And in Boys’, Misses and Children’s shoes we carry a tremen dous stock of good shoes, and at low prices. Our stock of Hats is simply wonderful. We carry a line of good Fall Hats from SI.OO up to Jno. B. Stetson’s best grade. And now, a word in regard to our wholesale department: We do say, and with confidence, and believe we can give a merchant the best selected stock of the b est selling goods of any house in Georgia. WRITE FOR PRICES. MAIL ORDERS SOLICITED. The Great Eastern Shoe Co. R. G. TARVER, Manager, 915 Broad Street, AUGUSTA, GA. JAMES W. GREEN. J. D. WATSON. GREEN & WATSON ATTORNEYS AT LAW THOMSON, GEORGIA Consulting Counsel: THOS. E. WATSON Will practice in McDuffie and surrounding counties. Loans negotiated and collections made on good terms. <