Oxford Democrat., 1904-02-02

Reading sermon of MinOt j. Savage
sharpened our appetite for something
more of his, and we went 10 the library
in quest of il. We found one book
Life Questions. While many works of
fiction wear the marks of much usage,
this one seems not to have been used at
all, but it is literally packed with good
things from cover to cover. Ii is good
easy reading-profound problems in
everyday language-no technicalities OF
style. 1t is all plain English, as life
questions should be.
These words he puts into the mouth
of merchant millionaire, and then he
comments: DO you know you are
not very wise to find fault with me for
what | am doing? The fact of the matter
is, you ought TO know, that don't know
how to do anything else, and haven't
any taste for anything else. I've just
made three dollars ON this barrel of
sugar, and you'd take away from me the
only pleasure that is left me that | can
appreciate The old man was right.
Let him go on rolling his sugar barrel.
But, after all, isn't it pity that man,
son of God, living under this won
drous dome of heaven, bright with sun,
curtained with Clouds, pillared by
mountains, gemmed with stars that are
only lamps along avenues leading to
infinity, living on this old earth, with
rock-record of millions of past years
right under his feet, whose surface is
covered with ruins and monuments that
whisper their wonder stories of buried
civilizations, that is crowded with mys
terry and marvel, beautiful with trees
rivers and lakes that copy the upper
heavens, living in the midst of men anG
women by whom is played an age-long
comedy of laughter, or tragedy of tear,
with angels for spectators; isn't it ar
infinite pity, say, that man so situat
ed, should, for the sake of little NOR,
money, have so Stunted and warped anC
narrowed down his life that the only
thing he could be interested in should
be making three dollars on barrel o.
sugar."
There lies before me an old OxforC
! Democrat bearing the date Septembe
? Is, 1861. In it is an editorial on Ere
mont's proclamation, the returns from
the election when Washburn was re
elected, etc Bucktield gave WashburI
POP votes, Jameson l02, Dana l26. Pari:
gave Washburn 3S3, Jameson Isl, Dan;
is. RumfOrd gave Washburn l73, Jane
son 62, Dana 20.
The New York Tribune of August
1855, speaks at length of Rarey's meth
DDS of horse training, the laying of tn,
submarine cable, no message having
then come back, etc. Mr.. Greeley
speaks at length of 1.-TWO widely diver
gent policies that now solicit the Ameri
can people, the policy of steady anC
sure development by internal growth
the policy of light taxes, prosperous in
dustry and the continual improvement
of our own soil and means of inter-cOm
municatiOn, ETC., and policy that seek:
greatness through the acquisition o
foreign provinces and states-througl
the wileS of diplomacy and the weigh
of the terror of our arms-through the
acquisition of Cuba, the purchase OF
theft of Sonora, and the general triumph
of that system of bullying, robbery ant
subjugation which seeks to conceal il:
demOniac features under the haze o.
Manifest Destiny. This policy is from
A to Z swindling impOsture. Ii con
stantly prOclaims itself distinctly, in
vidiously American, when it is in truti
Identical with the time-wOrn track where
on all the great republics of Greece
Rome, and in modern times of Revo
lutionary France, were propelled to then
inevitable ruin"
1t seems that Manifest Destiny is moi
new combination of words. We have
become familiar with them in these las
days. Wonder if Mr.. Greeley would
hold to the same opinion to-day that he
held then? 1t is in evidence that the
highway to Manifest Destiny is lined
with recruiting officers. We are on the
big turnpike, and must pay the toll if il
be the price of blood. The fellow who
monkeys with Manifest DeStiny-if he
be not too broad in the back-muSt fee
the prick of the bayonet. Well, what's
the odds whether one is shot out of life
or dies of heart failure? We shall all gel
there Just the same, only give US time
covered with dust and devOured by
worms And the earth will still GO spin
ming around on its own invisible axis
will still 90 fiuking on it's high pathway
round the sun, with the stars and stripes
still swapping in the breezes, when Oul
eyes are filled with darkness and Oul
ears are dull of hearing. At least we
will hope SO. And we will indulge the
hope that Manifest Destiny will sweep
under the wire" with colors flying
clad all in white with every stain scour'
ed away. But, by George, it's far cry
and long look. JOHN.