The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-05


trimmed and burning.
Il have given no stern definition OF
citizenship and have not idealized pa
triotism. Who are the patriots of
America to-day. and what are they
doing for their country? Do any dam
gers menace, or have we reached a
period so perfect that patriotism can
slumber? The independence of the ma
ton was assured in 1916, and it's indis-
solubility in 1865, but what stands as a
guarantee Of its increasing greatness
and its perpetuity? L answer the hon
esty of it's citizenship and the fervor
of its patriotism.
Did you ever plant a fruit tree, and
watch with almost loving care its
struggles and triumphs? In the depth
of winter the winds wrench its ice lad
en- branches, the frost reaches for its
heart, and in treacherous springtime
all Of the elements of nature seem in
conspiracy toward it's undoing. eau
tiously IL puts forth it's buds leaves
and blossoms. Gentle rains and warm
sunshine work the magic of reincarna-
ton, and in the fullness of time the
tender fruit takes it's first imperfect
form and CLEANS between the leaves.
The skies are fair overhead. the winds
are soft with balm and the soil in
stinct with the thrill of life. All the
gifts of nature have been showered on
mat tree, ana with its background or
sheltering verdant hills 1t is a de-
light to the eve and to the senses.
Occupied with other cares you look
no more at the tree for a time, but
when you do. what a change has oc-
CURED. AS in the night an invading
army of worms has encamped in the
tender foliage. Their ugly webs and
crawling larvae blur the leaves and
encompass the tender frui:. They have
ufaIl ls~A I'D H.
communication, and seemingly have set
about the work of complete destruc-
ton. Here and there are branches yet
free from the contagion of their pres
ence, but even as you look a slender
web is thrown across, and the first
Shiny enemy has secured a footing AL
ready some of the leaves are riddled
and yellow. The ravaging army spawn
and increase at an alarming rate The
tree, so fair only a few days before is
now in danger of it's very life. If the
tree and its harvest are to be saved
immediate and heroic remedies must
be used.
Such an army is swarming over
the branches of the Tree of the Re-
public. There are two types of these
parasites. and they bear party names,
but when once firmly attached to a
leaf not even the most skilled natu-
ralist can distinguish a Republican
from a Democratic worm. Their APP
petite is so prodigious as to defy all
known laws. If not dislodged or de-
stroyed they will strip a branch clear
of any semblance of life. None but
heroic remedies are of avail.
Never since the foundation of tho
republic has so low a scale of public
honesty and morality been reached.
There have been corrupt men and cor
rupt eras in all recorded history, but
never before has a republic had to
meet so vast a problem as that pre-
sented by the organized venality in a
score of state capitols, and in the adj
| ministration of nnumerab BILE cities. Not
| one-tenth of the truth has been made
public or ever will be. The spoliaton
| of the public treasury has become O
| recognized profession.
There are thousands of men in this
country of ours who will join in the
observance of this day who should
blush with shame at the sight of the
American flag unfurled to the breeze.
And yet, strange as it may seem, these
are the very men most likely to be
vociferous in their expression and
demonstrative in their display of pa
triotism. The flag floating above the
property of a millionaire who has COM
mitted perjury in order that out of his
prodigal abundance he may withhold
his fair share of taxation-is not that
a sight to make a stole sweep? My
RAIDS of such flags wave in the breeze
to-day. School children are being adj
dressed by men who, through bribery,
have forced the passage of ordinances
and franchises, by means of which
they are enabled to rob their neigh
bors. Paid retainers of corrupt or
ganizations are posing as exemplars
of good citizenship and expounders of
patriotism. Leaders of thought who
know that what l am stating is more
than true, are silent in fear that the
expression of their convictions will
hurt them financially or socially"
Having quoted more extensively
from Col Monroe's notes than was Inc
tended, 1t is necessary to reserve his
deductions for the next paper.