Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-14

George c. Ball Nineteenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High lands. Telephone 9SS)
 The white tents gleam in the June sun shine at East Lake. The vibrant call of the bugle is heard at early morn and in the still hours of night. The martial mu- sic and the tramp of Alabama soldiery at that quiet suburb of our busting city awake the echoes of the red hills that guard this happy valley. It is season of pleasure and yet a season of grave re- responsibilities that teaches one of the se- rious lessons of this great government of ours.
 There is no conscripting of the youth of the land; there is no compulsory mil itary education, yet American men are pledged to defend American rights, and every encampment brings to our minds the ability of our people to protect our rights, and moreover, the growth of the sentiment of our citizens toward the one grand purpose to sustain the laws of the republic.
 Glad in the regular army uniform of blue, at these eneampments are men whose fathers fell wearing the immor- tai grey" and the first martial fire that was kindled in the hearts of these brave young soldiers came from the unquench- able patriotic blaze that burned in the souls of men whose courage and fortitude had no parallel in the history of wars And no braver soldiers could any nation claim-f there came a need for courage than these splendid Alabama men, who every year obey the summons of their su- perior officers and submit to the military discipline prescribed by the government
 
 Americans seem to be natural soldiers, just as they are natural politicians. Their lives are such, their habit of thoupbt iG c11ah ha coionna of poU ernment is a matter of every day concern to them, and they are usually prepared to meet the eXgencies of any crisis. The constant discussion in public journals, upon the platform and in every place where men congregate, familarizes even the most indifferent citizens with the questions of import which constantly arise for settlement and also prepares the minds of the people for whatever lies be- fore them for adjustment
 Perhaps the most surprising peculiarity of our nation to a foreigner is the quiet revolutions which sometimes sweep over our country from Maine to Texas, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and yet the people pursue the even tenor of their way, and the minority accepts the voice of the majority as though 1t were the voice of God. The perpetuity of our gov ernment Is due to the intelligent conserv- atism of our people,
 The Americans once feel that they are being deprived of certain inalenable rights and privileges, let them once real ize that a fortunate few are enjoying what has been unjustly denied the unfor tunate many, and as giant public opin- ion awakes from it's repose, asserts itself and lo in few months, perhaps, the governing power is altered in theory and dn practice, and yet the change has come so qiuetly that not a single tremor has been felt in the ponderous machinery of the nation.
 No people were ever so capable of self government as are the Americans. A century of absolute freedom has made us nation of intelligent, thoughtful pa triots; sometimes slow to appreciate the danger of threatened encroachments, but when once aroused never again to rest until the wrong is righted and the great masses dictate the policies which shall control them. The increasing advant- ages of education, the growing power of the daily newspaper as an instructor of the people, united with the natural pa triotism of our citizens. make of us na- tion capable of regulating our own af- fairs without danger to individuals or permanent injury to the business con- cerns of the country.
 The natural resentment of Americans at the suggestion of foreign assistance in anything that pertains to the we'll being of our country is one Of the most fortunate attributes of our people. With the constantly growing power of our na- tion, with the vast potentialities that the future holds, the average American mind sees no need of outside sugges- tions and declines to consider any req son for foreign dictation in any of our affairs. Each year finds us more and more imbued with the spirit of American ism, and as long as this continues there is little danger of our being incapable of self-government; there is less that we i. Ixra tntnc 1,nn mi ivlD
 No matter on which side we may be aligned in this financial campaign which is upon us we must each one of us be profoundly impressed with the power of American thought and action in the bat tie now being waged with such intensity all over the land
 Quietly the people have listened to ar guments, respectfully they have weighed the reasoning and awaited the issue, but having once settled the question to their own satisfaction, they have, with force like unto that of mighty wind, arisen in their might and swept aside all bar riers that stood in their way, and yet there is little outward sign of the tre- mendous revolution. At such a crisis, In the time of such an upheaval of public sentiment, the American can be depend- ed upon to take care of himself and of his government.
 The splendid Alabama soldiers, whose guns glisten in the afternoon sun on dress parade-a gentle reminder of dam gerous possibllities-who dance and f1rt with pretty Alabama girls, are a part and parcel of this great republic and have their share in the moulding of pub- lie opinion and in the direction of nation al politics. They are worthy of the trust that is reposed in them, for they are not only Americans, they are even more, they are Alabamians!
 Cards have been issued by MT. and Mrs. R. M. Greene to the marriage of their daughter, Mary Anne, to John AL len Jones, Opelika, June 23, 1896.
 MT. and Mrs. Arthur Ambrose Gaines of Rome, Ga., are visiting the latter's parents, Col and Mrs. J. B. Beall, South Highlands.
 MT. Hugh Merrell of Atlanta is visiting friends and relatives in the city.