Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-11-12
Letter From Far-off Japan.

From an interesting letter received
few days ago from our friend Prof.
Enoch Howard Vickers, Shepherds
town boy now engaged in university
work in Japan, we take the following
extracts:
have keen interest in notes about
many very dear and fondly remem bered
friends in that vicinity, whose achieve
ments win for them occasional record
in the REGISTERS columns OF fame.
Time has doubtless so traced burrows
and tinted locks that the dear images OF
memory are now poor likeneSses, but
bonds of affectionate personal interest
still tightly bind me 10 them. 1t is a
Joy each week 10 find in your paper
some record of success or usefulness TO
the credit of one or another OF them.
But cannot say how sad | am when at
times read those records Of death OF
those who were not only dear, personal
friends, but who also typlfy for me all
that is b .st and nOblest in region
which the fervent associations Of youth
have made for me the fairest spot on
earth. Those records have magic pow
er to chill and Sadden the hearts Of long
absent ones. They seem sue denly 10
create great desert spots Of emptiness or
of desolation in a region that was once
so beautiful. They are impressive re-
minders that the longer one is away the
less will the old place seem the same on
his return to it.
am delighted that better things seem
to come to old ShepherdstOwn as time
goes on. The new railway will give
many advantages, although it may not
be all gain for the quiet community.
am especially glad 10 see you per-
sistently advocating tax reform. The
existing tax system of the State is anti
quated 1t rests upon principles that
are rejected by present day financial
science. 1t was adopted for conditions
that have q together changed. The
minerals and oils, the natural wealth OF
the earth are eXhaustible. The right OF
private property in them is a concession
originally made by the people with a
view 10 secure their best interests, and
it is not a divine right. The people as
whole are willing for special indivld-
uals to possess and to use the natural
as that method may seem most advan-
tageous. But if the posSesSors Of such
wealth mistake the nature of their
rights, if they forget that they are to a
certain extent stewards Of the people, il
they use that wealth 10 Cypress the peo-
pie or to corrupt the government, if
Ibeing able to bear much of the bur
dens of government in the form Of taxes
pald) they refuse TO bear anything near
their Just share Of public expenses, all
the while eXhauStlng the public patrl-
mony-if they wantonly persist in such
an unwise and unjust course, they will
at last be rudely taught that there
is less ground to assert against the inter-
ests OF man and of nations the new dog
ma of divine rights Of property than
there once was to assert the old dogma
of "divine right Of kings. Short
sighted and selfish capitalists still at
tempt to evade just demands of the
people by crying socialism" But dis
corning persons now see clearly that
overreaching, oppressive and unre-
strained actions of selfish capitalists and
promoters are making socialism inevi-
table unless means are found to restrain
them and to regulate their actions suiii-
GENTLY to protect the broader interests
of the whole people. 1t is those who
pretend to abhOr socialism who are the
chief promoters of the movement to-
wards socialism. The effective way to
oppose socialism and other radical
movements IS to maintain justice and
equality for all the people, especially in
the payment Of necessary expenses Of
government. When justice and equal
ity prevail, there is the greatest guar
antec of happy, prosperous, contented
people-and a contented people may be
trusted not to "run after false gods |
cannot now develop these views or APP
ply them to the case in hand but shall
be very happy to see you do so.
With much kind regard for all who
may remember me, and with special
good wishes and cordial CARDS for
yourself, | remain as ever faithfully
your friend,
+. II. NICKERs.
~ lror'g +o,rao opl To m q Shan