Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-20
PUBLIC OPINION.

1t is really too bad that the first for
midable symptom of the revival of democ-
racy should occur in Mr.. Harrison's
town.-Washington Post, Ind.
The people of America, harassed by
all the forms of legislative folly, may
well pray the Lord to so turn the hearts
of their governors, senators and repre-
sentatives that in time they may give US
fewer laws and help us better to enforce
those which we have.-Chicago Times
Herald, Ind.
General Campos, the Spanish COM
mander in Cuba in a formal statement to
a World representative, declares that he
has given orders that prisoners shall not
be cruelty treated and that wounded cap
tiveS shall be cared for. This is not, OF
course, the according of bellgerent
rights, but 1t may be regarded a a step
a very short step-in that direction, and
though 1t may aid the Cubans it will
at the same time do the Spanish cause
mush more good than harm.-Philadel-
phia Record, Dem.
Lord Sackville is plainly a disappointed
man, nursing old grievances. His med
ding in American politics very properly
resulted in his being given his passports
by President Cleveland in 1885, His pres
ent pamphlet is the act of private per-
son no longer in public life, and is scarce
ly worth attention either from this gov
eminent or Mr. Bayard. The noble lord
has plainly written himself down in
word of three letters, and he might very
we'll be let go at that.-Philadelphla
Ledger, Ind.
Evidently the teaching that righteous
ness exalteth a nation" Is playing out.
We have tried for century to maintain
this against the world, and we have been
nattering ourselves that we were doing
something for civilization But civiliZa-
ton is only a barren ideality Washing
ton and jefferson and Monroe and the
rest of them were old fogies Let us go
back to the barbarism from which we
.ame, to the ancient idea that self-inter-
est, real or apparent, is the only guide to
political action, and power the only
Times
The democratic party. never dreamed
of substituting a continental Sunday of
pure festivity for the peaceful and rest
full Sunday ordained by all the churches
and acknowledged by statute. The dem
ocratic party believes in the spirit of the
statute that commands saloons and re-
tail dealers in intoxicating drinks to keep
their premises differently, on Sunday
from the mode in which these are MAIN
tanned on a week day; in such, keeping
to respect outwardly by closed doors the
religious feelings of the whole commune
ty and to refrain from publicly selling
intoxicating drink.-New York Mercury.
OF late we have heard and read a great
deal about the importance of teaching
the school children to be good American
citizens. The truth Is, the schools have
always taught patriotism and have given
a skeleton of history. There is no need
of any new departure. We do not want
the schools disturbed with conflicting in
terpretations of the constitution. Their
purpose is to impart instruction in a few
important subjects and furnish the frame
work to which the items OF an education
may be attached as they may be gath
cred after leaving school. In only a very
few things is there time for broad or
thorough work.-Washington Post