The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-11-08
REVERIES OF A SMOKER.

Barrie, thou reasonest well. For thou
reasonest from actual knowledge of most
absolute fact. Arcadia is your only smoke.
Metbinks see thee now with a wreath
OF blush vapor around thy swelling brow.
thinking calmly and Justly, as all Area
dams must need think. The fussy fret
tings OF the politicians disturb thee not,
for around thee thy Nicotina has thrown
her sacred cloud, as of old .iphrodite was
wont to cast that rosy mist about her IA
vored worshipers. Thou art shut in to
her soft companionship, and in the d.
vine light emanating from the goddess,
aud flooding the consciousness, thou see
est things as they sre-in their just pro-
portions.
Here, just now, the republicans rage,
and the democrats imagine vain things.
Thou, my Barrie, it il true, knowest
nsught OF republican or democrat. 1t is,
however, but as though thou shouldst say
unionist or radical. What is Of greatest
moment IN the distinction is that one is
in, and the other is out-and the last
would be first. Lo the war cries are
raised, and the fight 10 joined. The coun-
try they are both so deeply concerned to
save 10 torn between them, and some
think one thing and some another; but
even the wayfaring man, though fool,
knows all about ii.
"Tis with our judgment ss with oar watches
none
Go Just alike, yet each believes his own"
And so every citizen casts his vote up
on the waters, save only one freak, whose
boast it is that he never exercised the
highest privilege OF free-born American.
This strange being seems to find in his
lonely attitude patent of superiority to
the rest of his kind, and much contem-
plstion thereof has enlarged his head.
He has a mouth speaking great things,
but all shallow shallow Pride. the
never-failing vice of fools, the mans
weak head with strongest bias rules" To
him there are but two parties, himself
and the rest OF his country. He, Of
course, is right; ergo, the rest OF the
country is wrong.
This citizens OF the better sort vote as
their watches give the time Of day-those
OF the baser sort mot having watches, or
those having run down or being out OF re-
pair vote with the ring" as the ex-
preston goes. There be mysteries. my
Arcadian, in politics, as in nature and
grace. THE ring" has "a sack" or "a
pull" which terms mean some kind of
unsanctifed influence altogether apart
| from the ethical inwardness of the mat
tiers at issue, and the watchless ones, car
ing naught for ethics, but much for ringy
influences, wheel into line with uns-
nimity and precision worthy Of higher
| leadership. And often it is as when the
flying wedge pierces the hostile phslanx,
or the keen, much-drilled force OF fama-
gaia goes through the vast but disorderly
hordes of Ii Hung as the big bullet pierces
the Carnegie plate. At times, tits true,
the ring-led cohorts by haphazard are on
the side of right. At times the ring be-
comes so corrupt that it smells to heaven,
and then those OF the better sort bestir
themselves. choose n leader after their
own heart, and sweep the ring and all its
works into innocuous desuetude for time.
But the cohesive power OF plumber seems
to be deathless. Scotched it may be, but
not killed. Silently and gradually it
works, till it is again in control True, il
does not dare to sit openly in high places.
but it is there, and sometimes it is seen
with an impudence so brszen. hand so
far-reaching and powerful that the nation
is hypnotized into fatuous scquiescence.
Nothing succeeds like success. and the
evil example in small matters and great
has eaten into the heart Of politics. mu.
nicipal, state and national. But above
all, my Barrie, is the Eternal Right 10
whom thousand years are but as one
day, and in whose hand are the nations
. Wander aside as they may, they mus,
pursue certain lines, and all lines lead tc
the great goal of his purposes. The world
is growing wiser and better, rs it grows
older. Time was when in thine own ia.
vored land politics were as corrupt a,
, they are here to-day-nsy, more SO.
81 ln the great scheme of the worlds de-
, velopment it cannot but be that Americs
E is reserved for great and leading part
, As in the youth OF the world compeilers
. the kings OF songs, of science, and of war
clear evidence OF their power was seen, &C
8 with our youngest Of the nations OF earth
E youngest, but already greatest. What
J. IL there still remain many OF the faults o.
headlong, hasty, inconsiderate youth p
a Of the abuse Of wondrous strength not We,
4 under the calm control of wisdom? She
: too, must work out her own salvation
a till throughout the great republic Right
!. is king and every man a royalist.
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T. +. Maher will remain in Yakima IN,