The age-herald., 1901-05-19

The powerful provinces of Canada and Australia are unrepresented in the Brit ish Parliament. They are remote In dis tance yet steadfast in allegiance Ire land separated by a narrow water from the seat of power. carries into Parliament approximately one-hfth of tie whole membership Nevertheless, Ireland is bur dened with a chronic discontent and Is employed in vain yet ceaseless endeavor for relief
 There are some problems of represen- tatiye government overlooked by MT. William Garrott Brown in recent ar raignment of Alabama and the South, supplemental to an article in the current Atlantic Monthly on the "Kuklux Move ment.'
 Having observed this phenomenon in- dicated in British constitutional govern ment. we turn to the United States, the other constitutional empire of the earth, and find geographical areas with greatly varying relations to the center of power. We have, In this century. the Solid North, which controls the degree and nature of general taxation and distributions, which controls. beyond peradventure, the Presi- Gency and therefore the Supreme Court and which has at least a presumptive control of Congress. Next in order of fn- portance we have the Solid South, of quasi provincial character in the govern- ment, the organized territories. actually provincial, and certain islands In the Att lantic and the Pacific which are at pres ent mere military districts likely to re- main as they now are for an indefinite period. Thus we find our facts and our 4F--- k-a.. realizations by which the aptitude and op- portunities of people to participate in a representative government are determ ined. Yet MT Brown sets up Alabama before the world, besmeared with charges against her character in the past and with prophecies of her character in the future, irreconcilabe. 1t Is true, with evidence albeit marketable charges as literature now stands towards commerce. Quoth MT. Brown:
 For thirty years they (the Southern Democrats) have continued to set one question above all others and thus have debarred themselves from full (sic) par ticipation in the political life of the coun- try. As they rule by fear, so by fear are they ruled. It is themselves who are now befooled and robbed of the nobler part of their political birthright~
 MT. Brown need not be denied the use of rhetoric that is sarcastic or rhetoric that Is polyglot Let us all take heed of the elementary rule of sarcasm, how ever, and that is that a jibe to be effective In its purpose must be less of an inspfra- ton of temper and more of an illustra- tion of truth. Alabama is not given to spells of monomania. For thirty years, and, as to that mater, to near three times thirty years, we have participated 'in the political life of the country" to the limit of opportunity If MT. Brown will keep his finger on the place fin our record, even most recent, he must see that we have sent at least two of our eminent citizens, Senator Morgan and Representative Wi ley, exploring SO far into the policies of the Republican party in control Of the political life of the country that many of us begin to doubt if they can ever get back to the starting point. There, too, is General Wheeler Another example of the readiness of Alabama to partici- pate in ''the political life of the country" In the last Congress, when the question was up as to where to get coal for our warships in line of battle on the coast of Cuba, Senator Pettus betbought himself of the supply in Alabama and how 1t could be reached at Mobile. So the Sena- tor offered an amendment to an appropri- ation bill to the effect that S200,000 (only that and nothing more) should be used to cut through the lower bar of Mobile bay by which, being done, our great ships could coal in still water at Mobile wharves Was Alabama allowed "partci- patton in the political life of the country" in so palpable case of willing spirit and capable resources? o. no. One Of the cabinet assured Congress 1t would never do to cut a channel through Mobile bar, for the fleets of Cervera were reported not far off and they might CD get up to the city! Pettus took fire, as any man Of common sense and a sense of sworn duty might have done. but the next best thing he could do for the participation of Ala bama in the political life of the country was to witness in silence from his seat the passage of that very bill amended 10 appropriate 5,OO0000 to build canal In the interest of the commerce of the lakes of the west!
 No. sir. Alabama is not "befooled." and is not governed by fools. This State has never ruled by fear" nor been ruled by fear" That is the aspect our affairs as- sume from close contact. Thank God, they are affairs of our own little while longer, at any rae we are now with ut most candor and solemnity purposing to revise and reform our civil polity word coms over the winds trumpeted from afar | .e.1~