Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-17
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between these two.
 There is no more wretched condition of things for the human race than to say that, as man between man, con- fiGence is lost or confidence is lacking. Confidence enters ns an element into nearly everything. To say that con fidence IS restored when 1t really is, then you place humanity in its best condition, and man toward man in their very best attitude. Men condone and forget many offcnses, and it is down long hill to the bottom when confidence is lost. It is up and up long, slick weary hill back to where confidence can be said to be restored.
 The trouble with our country to-day is that the people have lost conf- dence in the party in power, and the party in power has lost confidence in itself, and hence the paralysis that rests upon the country to-day, the condition of things which calls forth the most distressing message ever sent from the white house to the legislative halls. Mir. Cleveland pleads like pen itent and philosophiEcs like a states man in that paper. This thing we call want of confidence seems to get in the mir; we inbibe it as we breathe, and, like the subtle thing we call malaria, It creeps into every fiber of man and paralyzes his vital forces, rattles his brain and makes him do the wrong thing at the right time and the right thing at the wrong time. It is bad for the creditor and worse for the debtor; 1t cripples and hurts commerce, stops the machinery of manufacturers and throws upon the country idle worlsmen by the thousands. Confidence lost either in the ability or willingness of men to do what they have prom ised to do, or ought to do, prom isc or no promise may have confidence in mans ability to pay or to do, but it takes both ability and soa1 ingness to do, to restore confidence be- tween man and man. Many men are willing to do and willing to pay, but they are not able. Many people are able but not willing
 There is no phase of human life that Is not affected in times like these, our national life is affected involving our national credit; our commercial life Is involved and the great currents of trade are checked and checAmated. Social life is involved; the church life Is involved, the individual life is in- volved. These various currents in which the human life flows, each is af- fected, and will make man lose faith in man. It hurts the social life and the church life just as 1t hurts the commer- cial life. Whatever restores faith in humanity iaua blessing to the social life and bcnedietion to the churches themselves. Human nature at its best Is not always sweet and good and ami able. Whatever produces resentment, crossness and meanness affects charac- ter, and the character of the people de- termines the character of the nation. If every man knew that every other man was honest; if every man knew that every other man was true, if every man knew that every other man was pure, such knowledge as this would not only change the relations of men, but it would change conditions and make life worth living.
 To go into the sacred precincts of tho homes, as many business men do, care- worn, with business trials staring them in the face, never made a man better husband, better father or better Christian. We worry more than we work, as there seems to be more worry on hand than there is work to do. To worry every day and to have to worry every day is discrcdit to our religion and our hopes. Rats never carried corn into their abodes and dons with more selfishness than the capitalists are talr- ing gold from the treasury of the United States.
 The average citizen looks upon the depletion of gold in tho United States treasury for the last few months with much curiosity and much contempt. This is what cuts the foundation from under the structure; before the build ing is finished the superstructurc falls. Wheat has touched its lowest point; cotton lower than ever before; the staple products of. the west and south have already reached point that de- mands the attention of all our people. I'he cry is: less cotton to be planted, less wheat sowed; but tho OK. changes. in Chicago, and Wall street, and London, and Liverpool all settle the price on every pound of cotton and every grain of wheat raised by the sturdy, honest farmer, all the same.
 We want work for the laborcr, GUS toners for the merchant, traffic for the railroads, demand for the products of the manufacturers, converts for the preachers. Along these lines when the farmer shall be paid price for his product that will enable him to meet expectations of the merchant, and the laboring man shall receive wageswhich will make him good customer to the merchant; when tho interchange of traffic shall keep the railroads busy and men will be guided to conviction of the right under the voice of tho minis r.,l h