The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-22

own tGat. they have pOlI1Cat principles
by which they are willing to live and
die, to hear the cry Of the children. put in
living and burning words by Mrs. Brown
ing:
Do you hear the children weeping, OI
my brother?
They are weeping bitterly:
They are weeping in the playtime of the
others.
In the country Of the free
They look up with their pale and sunken
faces,
And their look is sad to see,
For the mans heavy anguish draws and
presses
Down the cheeks of infancy
Your old earth they say. lis very
dreary,"
"Our young feet" they say, ''are very
weak"
For co. say the children, eve are weary
And We cannot run or leap"
For all day the wheels are droning, turn
ing,
Their wind comes in our faces,
Till our hearts burn, our heads with
pulses burning
And the walls turn in their places,
Turns the sky in the high window blank
and reeling,
Turns the long light that drops adown
the wall.
Turn the black flies that crawl along the
ceiling,
All are turning. all the day and we
with all.
And all day the iron wheels are drOning,
And sometimes we could pray
80, we wheels" breaking out in mad
moaning)
"Stop. BE silent for the day"
Ay BE silent! Let them hear each 9TH
er breathing
For moment, mouth to mouth;
Let them touch each others hands, in
fresh wreathing
OF their tender human youth.
Let them feel that this cold metallic mo-
ton
Is not all the life God fashions or
reveals;
Let them prove their living souls against
the motion
That they live in you or under you, O
wheels!
Still all day the iron wheels go onward,
is calling sunward
Spin on blindly in the dark
/ have no respect for any party organ
that lacks convictions. and is ready to
edvocate that the world is ri>Ecr round
or fiat as the party platform has de-
clared. But I have infinitely more re-
spect for such journals, which submit 10
the arbitrament Of their party conven-
lions as counselled by Mr.. Cleveland,
than FOR those journals, that, pretending
to be Independent, cry aloud on the house
! tops and spread broad their phylacte
ries and say, 20 Lord we thank thee that
. we are good-not bad as those party or
gans," which are never tn be found light
ing for any cause that cffends the domn-
ant dollar, and that have no ears TO hear
the cries of humanity.
The press is the leader-the greatest
leader of all modern forces 1t is the re-
flex of public opinion as we'll rs the
mouldef; tells the thoughts and aspira-
tions of good men and thus brings to-
gether and strengthens The moral forces.
The press speaks for all interests IN its
columns-editorial news AMI advertising.
1t is the flag of morern civilization. Show
me the leading paper Of any community,
State and county, I'll tell you what sort
of people compose that community
Shall the press be independent? indie
pendent of what? OF whom? The press
can no mode be Independent than the in
dividual No man can act for himself
and by himself and of himself. He must
unite with others in religion, in society,
in moral reform. in politics. in govern
ment Down the ages comes the cry:
Under which king, Benzonian?" Even
Christ, the gentle the perfect, the master
leader of men, the most Independent OF
al beings, declared the necessity of
loyalty. He that is not with me is
against me-" 1t was so then. it is 50
now, it will be so forever
How is it in North Carolina? Is there
room here for Independent journalism
What does it mean? Does it mean silence
concerning questions of vital import to
our people if these questions affect the
interests of great corporations or OF
great aggregations of capital? Does in
dependent journalism here mean silence
on the temperance question? Is it indie
pendent to be silent about child labor
About the Tyranny Of railroads refusing
adequate depot accommodations for pro-
gressive towns or cities which pay thou
sands of dollars in freight and passenger
fares?
Real independentism is to belong tC
party and to work for the adoption oil
the best principles and policy of the
party.
MY party right or wrong,
If wrong, to be set right.
No soldier. no patriot is found between
the lines. Where the flag flies is The
place for all honest and sincere independ-
/ ents.
THE Independent Press-When Witt
isis the toast to which l have beer
invited to respond. l have left out ''wheI
with u.s. 1t is always with you in help
ing to win ard celebrate such victories
as you now celebrate, and in honoring
worthy and capable representatives, OF
the people, like the gallant young gen
tleman you honor tonight.
Section Fifty Does This.
(Justice Brewer of L. S. Supreme Court