Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-10
sa CHAPTER u.
Political corrsctIves-Pulplt Perver


1 don't like serials any more than
some persons like serious articles in
newspapers or serious preaching In the
pulpit: and really had no thought
of falling into this practice. proper,
Of course, in novelette,, but not best
In essay, when began to write for
the Journal a previous paper on the
manifest decay Of courtesy among the
American people. The discussion is
limited to them, not because of my
partiality for the foreign over the do
nestle, which disease Enthusiastically
affects some OF our countrymen, but
because I'm not travelled, and have
enough regard for propriety TO write
about nothing haven't seen.
hadn't got to the subject when
the proper limit was reached. 1t sug-
gested a scene during a great dis
eussion in a church assembly, some
years past, when the speakers were
limited to ten minutes. A great man,
OF intense convictions, was arranging
to demolish his antagonists by that
form of reasoning which states the
strength of the opposition before as
saulting II. He did that, step by step.
and the array Of argument was like
the Macedonian phalanxi when he had
marshaled It. But just then his time
expired and the hammer fell.
''Afr Presidentr' he protested, and
begged--''Ndr. PRESIDENT I haven't
begun my speech yett' But It was in
vain and mad as hornet whose nest
boys have rocked, he sat down to
grow madden amid the roars of laugh
ter that rocked him from every side.
1 had not gotten to my subject when
/ imagined Editor Cohen's hammer
began to rise with the half uttered
warning: Times out; long enough
for one articleP' Still the subject re-
mains, barely touched beyond its perl
phery, and it's big enough for another
article. Indeed.3 for more than anotq-
er, and 1t Is fertile enough for gener-
al search by the pulpit and the press.
The fact arises in disagreeable obtrus-
iveness, and it's existence calls for
explanation, its evils for remedy. Why
the decay of courtesy?
The European critic will naturally
attribute this fact to the principles OF
Republican government. 1t is. per-
haps, undeniable that American re-
volt from the doctrine of aristooracy
and kingship has flung us so far from
respect for these shadows of greatness,
that we are apt to overlook greatness
in anybody and worth in all. But the
contrary touches a wider field for
cans declare that the common people
are kingly, or aristocratic when they
are deserving; and the feeling that de-
preciates men. and fails to duly hon
or them can hardly come out of that
equation. To rate our citizens as the
equals OF Englands iaristocrats can
hardly compel the reduction Of the
first member of the equation TO that
approach to nothing a lack of courtesy
implies. Amerieanism ought to be the
handiwork of polite and gentlemanly
bearing.
Besides a republican system of gov
eminent bears In its elective machin-
cry the influences that make many
men decidedly well behaved. Be 1t
understood that the writer in his con-
tention for the decay Of courtesy,
specifically expels from call to the
stand for witnesses, all candidates for
office. Want of courtesy must not be
implied to theml They see the babies
of the ballot sovereigns In even the
distance, and cross the streets, ankle