The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-14
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
VARIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED BY
THE PHILOSOPHER.
People and Affairs of the Day Handled
In Vigorous Style.

One time there was generous, big
he, rted man by the name of Colonel
Griffin living at Gainesville, Ga, and
his hearts desire was to see peace on
earth and good will among men. His
hand was open as the day to charity,
but his chief delight was to reconcile
those who were at enmity and make
peace between Majors. He worked dill
gently along this line for several years
and was called the peacemsker, but in
course of time he seemed to lose his
influence, aud if he succeeded in smoth-
ering q quarrel it broke out again.
Politics got rampant and church mem.
bers got at outs, and it took good
deal of his time visiting around and
pleading for peace. At last he pom
dered over the matter and, like old
Rip Van Wrinkle, he ''swore off" 81
emit do it, judge" he sadly confessed
TO his old friend, Judge Lnmpkin, 81
can't do it. thought I could reform
mankind; but can't They get worse
instead of better. Society is like q
mill dam. 1t is always springing leak,
and as fast as you stop one hole it
breaks out at another. Nothing but
the grace of God can keep peace among
the people, and even that does not seem
to circulate in this region, and SO
have quit"
The Judge comforted him and told
him not to despair, but Griffin retired
from the contest sadder and wiser
man. The strife and SANDER and
backbiting went on, and it took peace
warrants to keep the peace. No one
man can reform society, and with
many resormers it is soon discovered
that they need little reforming them
selves.
Henry Ward Beecher was great
preacher and q reformer of social con-
duct, but he fell from grace just as
Solomon did. Most of these reformers
are in earnest, but they are cranks and
are righteous overmuch. Parkhurst
brought schism and discord in his
church by excessive zeal. Tom Dixon
isrdoing the same thing by dabbling
into politics. A respectable minority
of his members are silver Democrats,
and his pulpit talk has insulted them.
When a preacher assumes to know it
all he loses his influence. Humility is
the best credentisl man of God can
have. Vanity and conceit may not be
sins, but they are traits that nobody
forgives. Political preachers may get
office, but they make enemies and that
is bad sign. Drawing crowds and Great
ing sensation is one thing. but saving
souls through the power of the gospel
is another. wish that every preacher
would let politics alone, for when he
abuses the Democrats he makes them
mad. and it does not reconcile them if
he abuses the Republicans and the Pop
ulists, too. It is as if he said: every
body is rascal but me-" OF course
we all get more or less excited about
politics and let our prejudices get the
better of our judgment, and at such
times it becomes the preachers to be
calm and serene and tolerant and to
keep the peace. I see it charged in
the northern press that we have no
fair elections in Georgia. deny the
allegation and defy the alligator. I
have been on the watch for years and
have had no reason to suspect that any
man, black or white, has been defraud-
ed of his vote in my county. I believe
that men have voted who were not en-
titled to vote, but it was no part of q
scheme by the officials or managers,
and was wholly unknown to them. /
believe that the elections in Georgia
are as fair as in any state in the Un-
ion. The defeated party always cries
fraud, but never proves it. SANDER is
a cheap solsce, but is hard to undo,
and the further from home it travels
the deeper it settles in the public
mind.
Intolerance lie the bane of society,
both in church and state. was read
ing today some bitter things agairst
women riding bicycles, and in the
same paper temperate sensible article
in defense of the sex. 1t was written
bya woman--a lady-and concured in
all che said. can see nothing i'm
modest in a girl riding if she is mod
estly dressed in skirts and deporis her.
self modestly. A fast girl will be fast,
whether she rides in skirts or l. oom-
ers, or don't ride at all. There is Ii ore
immodesty in promiscuous surf bath
ing and in the round dances OF .as