The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-15

"
upon the simplicity of the lamented
Mckinley managed to endure for
three days the strenuosity of Roose-
welt. By recounting IN affectionate
terms the achievements of the one
they evoked an enthusiasm which
they Immediately credited to the
other. Through tears that were
shed for the noble dead they saw a
large outline of the living.
"Driven by lash and lured by
luck. they called on all the sacred
dust to keep their spirits up. Set
to run three full days, the pendulum
petered out, the hands stuck fast
and only a strenuous shake could
make the wheels 60 ronnd. Spirit
less in the sullen task, they worked
uphill against the grain and gravity
of the hour. Without the master
whom they had learned to love they
fingered lIstless under the whip of
one whom they have learned to fear.
Stripped of premeditated pomp and
shorn Of soothing phrase, the occa-
sion meant no more or less than an
era of boots and spurs. Take away
the tribute to the dead and all that
is left is horseman on the slopes of
San Juan. Remove the reverent
black that tells of a nations grief
and underneath is khaki uniform.
Withhold the record made by hands
and hearts now still and all that is
left is unsurpation's account. Pull
off the mask that wears the kindly
smile of peace and see the grim and
firm-set teeth of war. 1t was the
change from sure and certain ways
to the shifting, eddying currents of
the wild unknown. 1t was leap
i'll the darkness of Republican
eclipse, and four years hence will
find them vainly looking for the
light. 1t marks the place where a
party, rich in years of service, for.
sock the beaten path and on a wind.
ing way of untraveled roads. II
marks the gap between the era OF
the conservative and the radical.
1t looks good now because they dc
not see where the old force ends anG
the new begins. But as they drive
away to see the overwhelming spar
twix craft and land will set many {
lifeboat toward the shore.
FEThere is much talk Of twisting
tendons in the race of life, of run
ming out of breath toward the oper
grave. The old and honored way
is still the best: but not so strenuous
as to strain yourself notyet SO. sim
pie as to fall asleep.
"There is much said by those who
sit on cushioned chairs about
towards and weaklings In the ma
toms life. The sunburnt farmer il
just as brave as the star-crowned
soldier. The man of natural peace
is hero a hundred times to where
the man of artificial war is hero
once. Somehow of late the atmos
phere of our national life is filled
with spray of blood; somehow the
march of progress sounds of ham
mered steel; somehow, although the
sunlight of peace is all about US,
there is now and then the CLEAN OF
bayonets in it's radiant fire and a
fash of swords as in it's silver beams;
somehow, although the constitution
is still in force there is a sense of
failing power and growing disrespect
which makes US feel that the ven.
venerable old man-so to speaks
halt and blind with years and bur-
dens the strenuous household of his
grandchildren. Somehow, at times,
there runs sort of shock down to
the foundations of this Republic
which makes the structure tremble
and all the country pauses and lis
tens and then returns to work.
Somehow, although the future well
comes US, it does so with a mailed
hand; somehow, although you can
not put your finger on the cause,
there is a universal fear; the mother
watching while her children sleep,
now and then she hears the bugle
call, the tramp of soldiers and star
ing In the darkness of a dream, she
sees the rigid upturned face.
"The toiler, turned all his time
and sinew into gain which others
get, begins to doubt that the Gov
eminent is just. The man of means
who puts it out in the active cur
rents of the tide and sees the peril
of this doubt and the Governments
promise with both, begins TO feel it
is better hoard.
''The North and South each
wearing scars that tell of war almost
forgiven and forgot, feel, the fear
again that problem which only
time can settle right, will be forced
upon them wrong. These fears and
doubts and startled dreams and
vague misgivings in many hidden
cause. But over them is one at
least revealed. For Lincoln said in
the sadness of his great soul, with
malice toward none, with charity for
ALL and Roosevelt said, in the glory
of his self-contemplation, tread
softly and carry a big stick
"And between these, the be-
ginning and the end of Republi-
can growth, in time and temper, is
all their wild, descending flight.
With all they know and feel of the
question of their course,
The Republican party yet claims