The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-01

men and women, thoroughly reconciled and
homogeneous. have seen the constitution
outlast the strain, not merely Of the recon-
structory ordeal and presidential impeach-
ment, but OF the dispute of the count of
an electoral vote, a congressional dead
lock and an extra constitutional tribunal,
yet standing firm as a rock against the
assaults or its enemies, and finally | saw
the gigantic fabric of the government
passed from hands that had held it for a
quarter of a century to other hands without
SO much as protest or bloody nose, though
the fight to the finish had been so close that
a blanket might have covered both contest
ants for the chief Office.
NOTHING ALARMING NOW.
He who has seen these things, and who
has borne his part in the awful responsibili-
ties, is not likely to lose much sleep about
what is now going on at Washington or
whether Bill Jones' pension is increased 81
or 81 so week, or the duty of slap ups is
altered from AZ specific to 371S ad valorem.
Certainly we want to be frugal in expendi-
lures, just in appropriations and otherwise
careful of the peoples money. We want to
go slow in the matter of new legisla-
ton and innovations of every sort.
Both the parties are too evenly
divide them arise too much out of questions
OF mere expediency, or local or selfish, or
party interest to excite in the minds of
thoughtful people the idea that we shall go
to smash if such and such an act of congress
is or is not carried.
REAL DANGER OF THE COUNTRY,
"The real danger to the country rises
directly from the relation of money TO the
moral nature Of the people. The money
standard becomes most and readiest, and is
found everywhere, from the $4,000 a
year pulpit to the 100000 seat in
the Senate. The trial of the trademark is
over us all. Honorable poverty seems to
be one of the lost arts. Agassiz refused
100000 for 100 successive lectures. The
people thought him crazy, but it is to be
regretted that we have not an Agassiz or
two in every community throughout the
land. The genius of the country is no
longer engaged in works of patriotic duty,
imagination. and humble piety, but in the
construction and development in money
making"
Discussing the union between the two
agents of Generalization and misgovern-
ment, that is avarice and intolerance and
lust for money and party spirit, MIR. Wat
terson said he had given the combined force
name some years ago which had stuck.
He had called it the money devil. This
money devil is the lion across the highway
of our future, and he stands just at the
fork of the roads which lead respect
lively up the nights of national
glory and down into the depths of
plutocracy, which yawns before us.
Already it costs 100000 to set a
presidential ticket In the field; already
100000 to sustainIa contest for a seat in the
Senate. How long will it be before our
public men become race of mercenary
princes without the learning or arts of
Florence, and the presidential chair mere
commodity, to be auctioned off Co the
highest bidder. With standard so high,
and moral standard SO low, it might well
be asked whether there is any hope
for us at all. In this regard,
however, he was an optimist.
He thought there were centuries of great
ness and glory before us. He believed in
moral forces and organized ideas. He was
something of a Methodist In the conceit
that we are steadily going forward from
grace to grace toward perfection.
A WORD TO THE EDITORS.
In closing, Mr. Watterson turned to the
editors and spoke directly and particularly
to them: "And now, dear friends and
brothers in arms, in those arms which
ought to embrace the good and great, the
noble and gentle in our domestic,
personal. and constitutional life, never
to be turned with mailed hand
and hostile spirit against either society OF
truth, let me close with word especially
to you. Go back to your homes and our
sanctums and teach the people that in
morals, at least old things are the best.
Standing to this regal city, at once a type
of the splendor and the squalor of the south.
with the tints and travail of antiquity upon
its walls, yet its gardens and the hearts
still turned, thank God, upward to the sun,
l set my foot upon the cant of the new
south about W hich we have heard so much.
Under this spurious label it is sought to
bring among US the delusive morality of
the quack philanthropist and the swindling
methods of the bucket shop.
BOoMS DENOUNCED.
"Whenever and wherever you see the
boomer spot him. The boom is the DEVILS
own invention, first to rob the victim of his
money and then the boomer of his soul.
Cities are not built by sbooms'; countries are
not advanced by them. They are the merest
artificial stimulants, compounded of brandy,
printers ink and midnight, and as fatal
to the community to which they are ap-
piled as a dynamite shell. True prosperity
is diffusion of wealth, cheap homes for the
Door and opportunities for all. II we must
have new south let it be an honest new
south, for with all the shortcomings and
mistakes that were ever ascribed to us, our
arrogance, ignorance and barbarism,
pocket or turning our back
upon an enemy or friend.
Let us stand by all that was good in the
old south, all that was upright in thought
and brave in action, and with our past
behind us alike to warn us and to cheer,
let us turn our face to the future, erect in
the sight of heaven and earth and saying to
mankind, Applaud us if we run. console us
if we fail, but let us pass on, for Gods sake
let US pass on.'"
A BRILLIANT AUDIENCE.
Mr.. Watterson's address was delivered
at the grand opera house in the presence of
one of the most brilliant audiences ever as
sembled in Charleston. The stage was
decorated with plants and banks of
roses The distinguished speaker was
greeted throughout the GRAFTON with
applause, and the humorous points
! OF the address convulsed the house with
| laughter. After the oration the representa-
| tives of the press and invited guests attended
a BANQUET at the Charleston hotel. Covers
were laid for 200 people, and the banquet
was the most successful affair known In the
south for many years. The toasts were as
| follows:
Mr.. Watterson responded to "The orator
Col. W. w. Screws OF the Montgomery
Advertiser to the Press"
Gen. B. H. Rutledge, to the "Old South
and New South-one and inseparable."
w. B. Somerville. to the western
| TT.;o.,