The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-01-26
Gbe Marietta 5onrnal.
REPLY TO MR. MORRIS
BY Mr., R. H. EARLE.
He Thinks He Assumes Too
Much for One Scion.
He WAS NOT IN MIND.
Thought he Had a Right to Express an
Opinion as a Free American
Citizen.

EDS. JoURNLL-When a short while
ago expressed an humble opinion in
these columns that the last Legisla-
ture were chargable with some errors
Of judgment, but not in any sense pre-
Stunning to dictate to or advise them in
the discharge of their duties, was Ia
boring under the impression that that
august body was composed of more
than two hundred persons whose DELHI
erations are held in the city of Atlanta.
1t seems, however, that was mistaken,
and that we have here in our quiet
town, the whole law-making body, con-
centered and concentrated in single
individual, embodying all the authori-
ty, the wisdom, the infallibility of the
aggregate whole. This dreadful truth,
breaking upon me with all OF its terri
BILE force when / had the law so sum-
marily laid down to me in your last is
sue, almost took away my breath; and
/ wondered at my hardihood in pre-
Stunning to exercise my rights of an
American citizen and have any opinion
at all on public questions, overshadow-
ed as am by that paramount authori-
ty just alluded to.
In my criticisms of the legislature,
Tin which l only followed the tenor of
the press comments on the subject
throughout the state). / had no in
tention of rejecting upon any individual
or set OF individuals entering into the
composition of that body All of my
remarks were in opposition to the cor
porate and official actions of that or
ganization and not to the expressed
views of the individual members, which
do not make or unmake laws.
Itseems. however, that our Scion
considers the matter from very diff
ferent standpoint from mine. Please
read this from his pen: son Novem-
Der IA, 1898, the Atlanta Constitution
published an interview from myself on
the financial question, portion of
which reads as follows: Il shall vote for
a radical change in our present pension
laws; under the present system thou
sands ofpoor men are helping to pay
rich men their annual pensions / shall
favor the bill introduced by Hon. Nor
ris Brandon of Fulton county, etc."
AS l said at the outset. l was under
the impression that the legislature con-
sisted of over two hundred members,
and as had reference to their action
as whole, l cannot discover upon
what principle your correspondent in
terJects his ostentatious interviews, !"
etc., VASTLY important, no doubt into
the question, unless he considers him
self the general assembly. or its most
influential member, one capable by
the responsiveness of his: eloquence, the
magnetism of his personality and the
forcefulness of his logic of swaying his
Neutrality-suspicious. to his way of thinking
Ii this is his idea in defending that
body, beg leave to assure him that
for all its sins of omission and COM
mission readily excuse him; for the
idea of considering him as an effective
factor in the legislation and want of
of legislation to which have referred
never once entered my mind Indeed,
his whole attitude in this matter re-
minds me Of the story narrated by
Aesop, that old philosopher of ANTIQUE
ty: An OK was one day grazing in a
meadow, when fly in passing lighted
upon its horn. Having sense of po-
likeness and delicacy, which even fly
may possess when it is a question of
needlessiy assailing the rights and feel
ings of others, that insect began to
apologize and offered to leave if the OK
so desired. "My little friend, !" replied
the great beast, "give yourself no trou-
BILE whatever, for until you spoke l did
not know you were there" Moral
insignificant people, in their conceit,
often imagine that they are of great