The Washington times., 1894-05-06
The Peoples
- Forum.
GO SLOW AND SURE.

Sam Thorne Nicholson Discusses Good
Roads and the Present Situation.
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
In these times Of stagnation in business, OF
trouble and unrest in many sections OF the
country, the people would do well to pause,
reflect and find out the cause of trouble and
then go to work and apply the proper remedy In
the proper manner
We hear reform after reform mentioned; We
hear also of demands, threats, intimidation,
violence, revolution, bloodshed, anarchy While
1 am in favor of reform and many of the move
ments on foot for the good of the country and
my fellow-citizens still believe that very often
Ii is best to go slow in order to mako sure
trip. .,
roads. 1t is matter in which have taken deep
interest for n long time past ana nave gwen
much time and labor to the subject. we'll
known agricultural writer in the Chicago sun
estimates that good roads would save the farm
ers OF the United States S500O,OOO year IN get
ting their produce to market or nearly IS TO each
inhabitant OF the nation, which Is fairer esti-
mate than to suppose the whole sum VIII ue ui-
vided among the farmers alone. Prof D. A
Holmes, state geologist OF North Carolina, In a
most valuable paper on road materials and road
construction, estimates that the present system
of making and working roads costs in North Car
olina alone more than sl0,OO0,OOO annually. He
says: "l am aware that many will question these
astonishing figures, but they are careiul est-
mates, not random guesses"
While Mr. Coxey's good roads bill may be the
best one yet proposed, l cannot indorse his
methods of getting 1t enacted into law IL Is
time that the people were learning that demands
and threats oil Congress have an opposite effect
to what is intended. If Congress had an inten-
tion OF enacting good road laws, anything
stronger than petition would have a tendency to
delay matters, and thus retard the cause OF good
roads. There are scores OF brave men In Con-
gress, men who Will not be frightened into max
1fafa M
son and petition. but not 10 menacing demands.
At the same time there are men holding Office in
Congress and various branches OF the Federal
and state governments whose places should De
filled by wiser and better men
The large majority OF the people are honestly
moving towards great attainments, desirous OF
needed reforms and the greatest good for the
greatest numbers. II is the duty of this majority
to look after their own interests by placing in
Office only honest and capable men
Away with demagogues, fanatics, and anar-
chists. The needs and desires of the people are
being taken advantage of to prejudice their
minds as well as their votes against all classes
in better circumstances than themselves. The
very money which the masses are working to
obtain is painted in colors for them to hate, so
that the sentiment of the people Is spurred On
to destroy the money power, without which all IN
dustries and enterprises for the public good
must lie dormant. Our people VIII do well TO
beware of demagogues with small brains and
great expectations, who FOR Office or money
would not hesitate to bring on revolution and
disruption of society.
To resort to threats or intimidation in free
country with n republican form OF government is
greatest folly and can result only in failure. Ii
is suicidal and opposed TO the very ends for
which this republic was formed
The fact of IL is, people too often in their excite
mont talk and act very unwisely. Hardly a day
comes but what We hear OF a mob somewhere In
the United States. The Constitution guarantees
to every one the right OF a trial by jury after n
true bill Of indictment has been found by the
grand jury. The Constitution should never be
violated. Its violators are worst enemies 10 the
rights and liberties of free people. Every man
who joins mob TO violate the laws and Consti-
tuition is an enemy 10 his country, and should be
looked upon such by all who love the Union
and the Constitution. How are we TO have
Union and a Constitution If men 20 on with their
deviltry and lawlessness? \ public sentiment is
needed that will scorn any violation Of law or the
Constitution Public sentiment ought TO be
made the most potent restraining force against
lawlessness of every kind.
Mobs and riots must be stopped. or many in
nocent people will be made TO suffer Truly
brave and good men will not bring needless
suffering on innocent men, women and children
/ say needless, because there Is no necessity for
riots or violence of any kind, no necessity for
punisning any one, until he has been given
fair and impartial trial according to law, no ne
cessity for threats,and disturbance of the peace,
rights and liberties of the law-abiding citizens
of any community or section Of the country
We constantly hear people complaining of bad
laws and the failure to enforce those that are
good, which brings us TO consideration OF the
first cause of many of the evils of to-day. When
we think of it, who are responsible for bad laws
and incompetent, dishonest, disreputable, dis
graceful offlcehoders? Is il not the fault OF the
people? II the people will only elect TO office
none but worthy and capable men the present
causes for complaint would cease TO exist. We
come now TO the inevitable conclusion that the
failure OF the people to select the right men to
serve them in Office is the cause of much
trouble II appears then that, after all, the peo-
pie are to blame, and having found the cause
they should look around for the best, surest, and
most peaceable remedy They will not have rar
TO look, 5r in a short time millions of our coun-
trymen can quietly make use of peaceful and
powerful little white ballots.
Many centuries ago n great and wise man
said, when the righteous are in authority the
people rejoice" Now, let all people who love
their country, truth, justice, liberty. peace, and
prosperity unite under one banner, with the de-
termination that none but the righteous shall be
in authority. Let them look well to the primaries,
for there is the place to do much effectual work.
Let them also look well To the state legislatures,
and especially SO long As United States Senators
are chosen by the general assembly, instead of
by the people
Let petitions continue, but let all threats and
resorts to violence and mob law everywhere
cease. Let the people GO quietly TO work as best
they can until those good times we are all look
ing for arrive, and which will come more
speedily and surely by proper use of the ballot
than by any other method. This is beyond all
doubt the proper remedy TO apply, and law
abiding people being largely in the majority,
all that is needed il for them to unite under tho
leadership not of selfish and ambitious office
seekers but of wise and prudent men-nen who
love their country, their God, and truth-and
they can sweep from Office all OF the dishonest
and Incompetent and in q short while have re-
form wherever needed, none but good laws,
obedience TO those laws and the Constitution,
and peace, prosperity, and happiness for all
people all over these Under States.
SAN. THoRNE NICHOLSON.
APRIL %, 1894.