Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-07
The Real Object of
Prince Henry's Visit

: As the readers Of The Journal will bear
me witness, that sale Of the three little
Islands By Denmark with a few square
miles of territory on each, was not pleas
ing to your humble scribe. Not that my
objection amounted to a row of pins with
the authorities, because 1t did not, but II
seemed preposterouS that we should pay
five millions of dollars for three little in
significant islands, which were Of no good
to Denmark and which we did not need
at ALL
l made my protest as strong as I could
to Journal readers and 1 confess 1 thought
I could "smen a mice" this far from
Washington city, because the whole affair
looked shady
But our tricksters are so clever at cover
ing up tracks that had no idea the
smell would betray itself in Washington
so soon-
+ Todays dispatches tell us that the scan
dial exposed itself over in Denmark, where
an agent claimed he used $780, 900 to pass
that sale through congress.
1t is grievous that the dead presidents
brother, Abner Mckinley, is mixed up in
the affair. 1t makes the smell" of the
transaction peculiarly odious to all Amerf-
cans.
But the affair should be thoroughly ven
tilated. No matter who shared in the
"swag," let the offender bear the odium,
and if 1t is possible allow Denmark to keep
the islands and also allow the tax payers
TO keep their money.
1t does seem as If honest men are not
plentiful when such congressman cannot
be satisfied with the honors Of the posi-
ton and Sc, 900 per annum. That is fine
salary and should support the position
comfortably. And It does suffice for all
the people who go to congress with honest
purposes and resolved. to do their duty to
the people at home.
Any man can live like "a gentleman
should live on nearly $I4 a day with his
clerk hire extra and his mileage paid at
the treasury. When man concludes he
can't live on that salary let him come
down south and wrestle with free mig
gers" and a poor farm while.
That will bring him to his senses, very
common senses, too.
There is simply no excuse or apology
for such men accepting brides to vote
for such schemes. They deserve to stand
in the pfllory or be drummed out of town.
I look for a big tub of white wash to
be rolled out and a fine coat of IL daubed
on the offenders. Catching a rabbit and
skinning it are two different performances.
Let every mothers son of the bribery
gang be branded by public opinion and let
us wash our hands of those Danish West
India Islands. We may look out for scan
dals galore when so much waste OF pub
lie moniesiis carried on.
I may be mistaken. but that $50, 600, 900
purchase of the Philippines has never
been harmonious to my sense of proper
dealing with a confiding people.
And three "jaylarks" have been SEN
fenced to the penitentiary within the last
week for stealing postal funds in Cuba.
When they turn states evidence we shall
know more than we do now about the
atrocious thefts and objectionable extrav-
agance Of those pets Of the administra-
ton.
The government is finging away mil
lion dollars a week every week the oc-
cupation of Malina is continued. Fully
half the Congressional Record is filled up
with new pensions and increase of PEN
slons, passed over the protest Of Pension
Commissioner Evans.
We will see what we will see. for this
scandal with Denmark is but one swallow
in the making of a summer.