The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-07-02
THE HOUR AND THE MAN.

There is tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the food leads on to
fortune
Omitted, at the voyage of their lives
Is bound in perils and in miser:es."
The shifting of the scenes in times
kaleidoscope comes crowding on
with such variety, novelty and real
ism th2t the mind has almost ceased
to wonder at any phenomenon in
the field Of art, invention, discovery,
or politics; after the first ripple
OF surprise the question that
presents itself is "Well, wha. next"
Our quadrennial conventions have
come and gone with assuring regu-
larlty tor about century, On which
each have We'd with the other in
advocation Ct, and doing homage to
the goddess of liberty, and in making
heroic efor1 to rescue and save the
country from the errors. crimes and
blunders of the Opposition" by
sacrificing on the altar of patriotism
members of their own unwilling
statesmen, troops OF friends" and
poor relations beyond compute.
With the exception OF :he conven,
ton at Charleston, of ominous
memory, in 1860, perhaps none have
furnished an incident more portent-
Gus and far. reaching in its signif-
canoe, however unsupported and
unappreciated fer the moment, than
that developed in the recent st.
Louis convention. There were facts
disclosed then and there which
ioreshadow controlling influence
ON this presidential campaign and
ultimately on the destinies of the
country. The first fact elected was
that the free and unlimited coinage
of silver was not trivial transitory
sentiment entertained by a few
uninfcrmed 'cranks' and "vision>
aries" but deep conviction, a vital
principle, espoused not only by the
instinct of the unlearned, but also
advocated tearlessly by cultured and
able statesmen-a sentiment as
profound and ineradicable as the
love of liberty and truth. The
second tact brought to light was,
that member OF that convention,
hailing from a state OF insignificant
political Importance, was destined
to be the most potent personality in
the arena of politics, and not the
gentleman the convention had as
sembled to honor.
Henry NJ. Teller had won honor
able distinction as U. S. Senator,
but, like Lord Byron, he walked up
one morning to find himself famous.
1t is no ordinary emergency that
prompts conscientious and upright
man to sever the ties that have
bound him to the party of his choice
and thro' which he has been honor
ed with positions of exalted dignity
end trust.
When Mr.. Teller announced
that she had formed conclusions on
the subject Gree silver coinage) to
such an extent that they became
binding on his conscience" that she
believed the morality, the ciyiliza.
tion-nay the very religion OF this
country were at stake in this con-
test" he voiced convictions that
give magnitude, depth, unmeasured
force to the cause he espoused He
is the Warwick (king Maker of
this political struggle. It is not at
all surprising that the Populist
party served him at once with
retainer" to hold himself in abey-
ance and make no entangllng ALI
ances, to preserve wise and mas,
terly inactivity so as to meet the
emergencies Of their approaching
presidential pow-wow, and become
their standard bearer. That party
has rendered signal service to the
country. Like the geese of Rome
10y their ceckling,) they have arous.
ed the sleeping guard in time to save
the Eternal City, 1t has also
been conspicuous in two essential
matters, for the success of political
party. First, dearth of presiden-
tlal timber within its own party
lines, and second, dearth of votes
on election day. True enc defc-
'ency IS readily accounted for,
through the agency Of a reckless