The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1894-08-17
THE NEED OF THE HOUR,

We will hardly merit the charge u
being IN alarmlst, a character we Ger
tainly do not wish to assume. wher
= we say that the number and magni
tude OF the vital questions now await
ing solution In our government rendeI
the closing years Of the nineteenth
century the most mcmentous period
perhaps, in our history.
The questions OF finance, of tariff
the industrial controversies us they
relate to labor and capital, as well as
other questions Of less Importance,
conspiring as they do in forming one
crisis added TO the fact that the tri-
bunals organized for their adjustment
seem entirely impotent for the task.
should invoke the most serious CON
sideration of patriotism or political
wisdom.
We do not believe that these ques-
tl2nS, or any Others, are difficult
enough in themselves to discourage
earnest effort, but their gravity should
incite us to diligence and thoughtful
ness in applying the means to salts
factory solution.
one OF the greatest, andwe might
say only need to accomplish this in
our Judgment, is men in public places
who are willing to think less of their
own interest and perpctuation in
power, and more Of the interest OF the |
country at large; men who will act
from conviction Of right, strictly on |
the merits of the matter under con
Slderatlun without reference to their |
particular interests as they see them,
trusting the people, and crediting
them with SagaCity and discernment
enough TO enable them to appreciate
honesty Of action and integrity of
purpose: men who will rise above the
transparent TRICKS Of the DEMA-
GoGuE and do right for the sake of
right, and who have confidence enough
in the inherent attributes of truth to
embark with it on voyage Of pa
trlotic effort in behalf of the vast
of man.
The demagogue and time-serying
politician may sneer at this picture,
but 1t does not portray the impossible.
The men who have been useful states
men IN tins country. and have made
it what it is, and who always com
mandcd the confidence of the people.
and could DC elected to any Office they
desired, were just such men; and be-
fore the serious questions which now
lgitate aud distress the country arc
settled permanently and SATISFACTORY
y, they must be handled by men ac-
.uated by motives far higher than the
]erpetuation Of their own political
iggrandizement.
Men enough of this sort would have /
aved the Democratic party, and the
'ountry, the humlating spectacle of
mpotcncy and intrigue now daily
presented to us in Washington. Men
'nough Of this sort would save us +
rom further serving as the dumping :
ground for the socialstic criminals
Ind outcasts OF Europe, who are food
ng our land poisoning the mind and
)aralyzing the efforts Of American
ab0f. Such men would soon find a
oIutlOn of the financial question. I
tart the wheels of commerce and r
manufactures, and restore that con-
dence among agricultural classes :,
Which the omnipresent den.agoguc
as well nigh destroyed.
The election Of such men to posi-
ions OF government we believe to be S
he burning need Of the hour. "
Theories we understand well enough
nd we have been d0sed with them Y
ute enough. What we need now is ;.
oncst, straightforward, fearless ac-
ion. Then the duty of the people is
stand by, and support such action. S
! may not always be wise according Il
our conception, but stand by the
ian if he is honest and has done his
aty, thereby encouraging honesty of =,
urposc and sincerity Of action, rele- u
lting the demagogue to the rear.
here he belongs, if lie belongs any c;
here on this earth ~