The gold leaf., 1901-07-18
Most UnkindeSt Gut"
SWEEPING CHARGE AGAINST POLITICIANS
AND PREACHERS OF THE SOUTH.

AND PREACHERS OF THE SOUTH.
The Conservators of Outworn Opin-
ions and Creeds, They Have Sup
pressed Thought and Prevented
Growth, Thereby Causing the Loss
to the Nation of the Old Time South
ern Force and Character, Says the
Editor of The Worlds Work-Dr.
Eugene Daniel Replies to the Article
Presbyterian Standard
Senator McLaurin believes that
expansion, the gold standard, pro-
tective tariff and shipping subsidies
are the politics that will make for
Southern development. The merit
or the demerit of this programme is
of less Importance than the fact that
it is radical departure, by man of
character and influence, from the
solid programme of these forty
| solid years; for war, poverty, litter
| acy, epidemics and tornadoes have
all done less hurt to the South (be i.
said with respect to all men of readth
and tolerance) than the politicians
and preachers. For these have been
the cOnservators of outworn opinions
and creeds, and they have suppressed
intellectual independence. 1t is they
who are to blame for the loss to the
nation of the old time Southern force
and character since the war They
have suppressed thought and prevent
ed growth-thess unscarred colonels
who wear long hair and white ties and
frock coats, and these doctors OF
divinity who herd good women by
the most stagnant waters of the
ology. - Walter II. Page, IN the Worlds
Work
When | saw these words in news
paper, l felt sure that the accom-
plished editor Of the Wort0's Work had
been imperfectly quoted and in this
way had been misunderstood and mis-
represented. Sincerely hoping that
the original article from which the
extract was taken would sustain my
impression, sought it and read it in
full. And my hope withered. The
quotation is fair and includes an en-
tire paragraph.
The only hope now left us is that
the editor may be brought to see
that, whilst he has received no in
justice from others, by one of those
unhappy blunders common to men
who do much writing, he has done in
Justice to himself. The criticism of
the extract which | now offer has
nothing to do with the writer as he
really is but, with regretful hesita-
ton. deals solely Y with his own un-
happy misrepresentation of himself.
1t may be doubted whether in all
recent literature it is possible to find
more conspicuous instance Of ones
writing himself down.
The extract under consideration is
taken from an editorial Of The World S
IForh for June, 1901, and the editor
is widely known as Walter II. Page,
of North Carolina, now in New York
City.
The editorial discusses the ques
ton, us the Solid South to Yield at
Last?' The affirmative indications
are set forth in more than three col
umns, with especial emphasis upon
The Secession of Senator McLaurin'
and The Presidents Expansion OF
Thought" The extract given above
is one of three paragraphs under
The Secession Of Senator McLaurin.' ,
The reader needs to bear in mind
that the words found in the extract.
give all that the writer has to say OF
.'preachers," of .'theology" and oi
good women" All that precedes
these few lines has reference to
matters purely secular and largely
POLITICAL The author in the next
paragraph, passes from these '''hard'
she'll types of men and resumes his
treatment of things secular.
D | shall now, with studied judicia
calmness, give my impressions of this
remarkable quotation just as it lies
in this peculiar and unnatural con
nection.
/. The editor misrepresents him
self as lacking sympathy with the
South. He sees her 'ssince the war
as forceless and characterlcss in the
nation. He regards her as lying il
the stupor of suppressed intellect
usl independence" under the econ
J servators of outworn opinions and
creeds;" and this bloodless form is
CHASTITY with wounds which the edi-
,. tor uncovers, pointing to their lip.
so mute and, with no word Of pity,
saying to all the world, come and
see ''war, poverty, illiteracy, epide-
o mics, and tornadoes;" but when you
shall have looked upon all these, il
your eve be keen and cold enough
you shall see something ghastliel
still; .'hurt" that surpssses them
). all.
Not even an alien should represen,
himself in this attitude Of almost
complacent crl lty.
,. The charge that there has beer
1.-The loss to the nation of the ole
time Southern force and character
since the war" is as unfounded as i
appears malignant. 1t can be safely
affirmed that in all American history
- there has never been period wher
Southern force of character wa:
greater or more useful to the natior
than the period embraced within ths
past forty wears. Out Of the great
= ness of her heart, throbbing strength
in every beating, the South felt th'
first throbs of the nations coming
birth May 20, 1775; bore full part IL
the agony of the Revolution; con
spicuously helped to establish thu
nations government and to shape it:
developing Jurisprudence. For foul
long years the South's ''forcs and
character" held her in stern resist
ance to the nations attemp to injurt
itself by disregarding some of the
vital Constitutional principles Of its
| government and by subjugating ths
citizens of it's States. The social ruiz
in which the nations mistaken policy
would have involved millions OF hel
people, white and black, was averted
by the South's force and character
Eorca shows itSelf in DatieuC6, IL