The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1898-12-30
THE NOMINEE FOR 1900.
A Visionary Suggestion for
the Year of jubilee.
BY ROBERT STEIN.

GLOW far that little candle throws hi
beams
SO shines good deed in a naughty
world.
The heart of humanity is beating
with emotion at the approach of the
new century. We feel as if the year
! 1900 ought somehow to be different
from other years. The immensely o.
time, rendered palpable, as it were, by
the approaching landmark, upbraids
our animosities with their smallness.
In the year of jubilee, if ever, we
ought to bury our quarrels.
New Years Day is a day of good
resolutions for individuals. Nations,
being longer lived, may appropriately
make their good resolutions at the be-
ginning of a new century. All over
the world this feeling manifests itself.
The resolution generally proposed is to
stop cutting one another's throat. 1t
has been suggested that the reconclia-
ton of France and Germany be cele-
brated in 1900 as an impressive ex-
ample to the world by the restitution
of French-speaking Alsace. Lorraine to
France. Most sign ficant of all, the
Hsar invites the nations to take the
first step towards disarmament, which,
he says, would be, by the help of
God, happy presage of the century
about to open" Peace, reconcilia-
ton, are felt TO be the proper watch
words fer the year of jubilee.
What monument shall America set
up to stimulate her good resolutions
throughout the new century? OF
course there will be fireworks, sound
ing brass and tinkling cymbal, dances
aud flowers and speeches galore.
There may be marble statues, gold and
silver medals, perhaps postage stamps
to gladden. the wstiul philatelist. But
wherein do we find the real spur to
noble conduct? Not in words, but in
deeds. Terba m0rent, erempla trdhunt.
Nelson's real monument, perpetual
spur to patriotism, is his great deed at
Trafalgar. Can we not make this year
1900 conspicuous by a magnificent deed,
not by q few meh, but by the whole
nation, that may cause ourselves and
cor p9Sterity ever after to exclaim:
So n6DM was our nation once; let us
not deteriorate.
An arbitration treaty with England,
as a step toward alliance, would be
glorious beacon-ight to the new CEN
fury, and with the reorganized Senate,
in the present state of good feeling to-
ward England, American peace societies
can initiate the work with practical
certai"'Y Of success. But more i'm
portant than peace without is peace
within. Is the brotherly feeling alike
in all directions in our country, or are
there wounds that still rankle, and
whose perfect healing might now be
our nation is rqha enough?
The reader knows the answer The
south does not feel quite as the. North
or West. The South is reconciled but
not consoled. First Of all, it is not in
the nature of man to remember defeat,
no matter how long past, with eqpanim-
ity. Britons still smart at the defeat
of Boadicea eighteen hundred and
years ago. Thus for
centuries to come the story of APP
pomattox will be read 10 the South
with feelings OF modification. Other
causes still contribute to swell these
emotions. Thousands now struggling
to earn livelihood on the brink of
penury,a and foreseeing no better lot
for their children, look back to a time
when affiuence reigned in their families.
Wherever they turn they are sickened
by the sight of once stately mansions,
surrounded by perfect villages Of out
houses, now desolate and decaying.
They goomily contrast the black,
lense network of railways at the North
With the white spaces Of the wide
neshed net at the South. The census
ellis them that the single State of New
Y DIRK exceeds the entire ex-Confeder-
ICY in wealth by five hundred millions.
they note that their section, once
lominant,in the Union, the nursery Of |
Presidents, has become mere corner
# the commonwealth, largely outside
he current of development. All the
reat educational institutions, endowed
With constantly swelling millions, are
t the North; very few donations 90 to
outhern colleges. Nor does the
lture premise large amends to land
there half the laboring population is