The Atlanta constitution., 1896-08-31
The Salt of the Earth.

has declared that che VINO pr"PS'S "
change from existing methods must H"'
ONLY give a reason for his course put mus
nropose method that is better Iheo-
roticaIiv that may be all right. but there
is no more sound reason in that dictum
than I'm another the author of when was
rot called a philosopher. but VINO @aiH ''''''
when a man has his head IN a non
mouth his first duty rs TO get it "u'- II
is not ONLY conceivable. hut is claimed not
without reason. as an existent tact 'h"'
politicaI conditions may be 50 ike the
Iion's mouth. with the victims hand there
I'm. that the first duty OF the rtlorner
is to get the hand out-change the poiu-
cal conditions. with reasonable asS"l
ance that any change Will be better 'u'i
uo change. When a descending "hlec1 I'9
reached the bottom, "a can only move up
yyard So may conditions be 50 bad that
having reached the bottom, they can chly
he changed for the better. OF course II
would Dee better If every rcformer could at
once suggest methods that would PLAINLY
De for the best interest OF the people, the
state or the nation. but if man has a
,-cutiuc,Ic fastened On his hand. shall ne
go about hunting an antioote before ne
shakes IN OFT and stamps 1T Under his feet.
such "a one would he called 1901; ana Vet
I'm politics there are not wanting those
who dcprecate any change. declaring thal
tits better to bear the ills we have taan
better to hy from the ills We have, ana
take the chances on those we know not of.
The reformer should go on with his work;
If he uuails i'm the presence OF opposition
and Coutumely. then he is no rcformer,
but simply a prctender Reformcrs. like
saIutary reforms never go backward With
out rcformerS there would he no progress;
without progress there would be no anne
Iteration of conditions. But the rcformer
must expect opposition. just now our po-
Htical r. formers are catching the pungent
odors Of denunciation. What say they.
Change the customs ana traditions OF a
century? Anarchists RevolutioniStSl Put
them down They crticise the president
AID. OH horror of horrors. they oppose
a life tenure Of Office for judges OF the
federal courts and would even elect au-
gust senators by direct vote of the people.
aud some would even have the constitution
changed so that Incomes may bc taNedF
And conservatism holds up its hands i'm
holy horror at the cnormity of these prop
ositious. And yet it is evident that q large
ma jority Of the people of this country
favor these propositions ana many others
that tend to just administration and the
pcrpctuity Of the rights and liberties of
the people. The fact iS the masses can
not hc too Jealous OF their rights. nor to
determined i'm their opposition to any eX-
aggcration of the just powers Of those in
authority. But al public movements r1ust
have leaders. and an campaigns against
existing evils must be led 10y rcf0rmerS.
men who are not afraid OF hot shot from
flank or rear. and who viii not skull, when
the hour of trial comes. The greatest
mon the world ever produced We're re-
formers. They can't Dee put down. Slay one
and siN arise to take his place. They can-
NOT Ice aunihil3ted even 10y deuouncin-
them as cranks Long live the true re-
former Conservatism is not match for him
ON amy part OF the ground. He VIII he de-
, nounced now. hut will be glorifed not lone
| hence. Such is the history of all reformers
| Earrl and Eranch