The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-02

The independence of the nation was as
sured in 1176, and its indissolubility in
1865, but what stands as guarantee
of its increasing greatness and its per
petuity? | answer, the honesty of its
citizenship and the fervor of its patriot
ism.
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
laden branches the frost reaches for
its heart, and in treacherous spring
time all of the elements of nature
seem in conspiracy toward its undo
ing. Cautiously it puts forth its buds,
leaves and blossoms. Gentle rains and
warm sunshine work the magic of rein
carnatiOn, and in the fullness of time
the tender fruit takes its first imper-
feet form and CLEANS between the
leaves. The skies are fair overhead,
the winds are soft with balm and the
soil instinct with the thrill of life. All
the gifts of nature have been shOwered
on that tree, and with its background
of sheltering and verdant hills it is
delight to the eye and to the senses.
occupied with other cares, you look
no more at the tree for 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
tho fruit FTyboxy bova
established centers of distribution and
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. Already
some of the leaves are riddled and
yellow. The ravaging army spawns
and increases at an alarming rate. The
tree, so fair only few days before, is
now in danger of its 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 republic.
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 naturalist can distin-
guish a Republican from Democratic
worm. Their appetite is 50 prodigious
as to defy all known laws. If not dis
lodged or destroyed they will strip a
branch clear of any semblance of life.
None but heroic remedies is of avail.
Never since the foundation of the
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 problem as that presented by
the organized venality in a score OF
state capitolS and in the administra-
ton of innumerable cities. Not one
tenth of the truth has been made pub
lie or ever will be- The spolation of
the public treasury has become a rec
ognized profession.
There are thousands of men in this
country of ours 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 patriotism. The flag
floating above the property of mil
liOnaire who has committed perjury in
order that out of his prodigal album
dance he may withhold his fair share of
taXation-ls not that sight to make a
stole weep? Myrlads of such flags
wave in the breeze on Independence
day and other patriotic holidays. School
children are addressed by men who
through bribery have forced the pas
sage Of ordinances and franchises by
means of which they are enabled to
rob their neighbors. Paid retainers of
corrupt organizations pose as eXemplars
of good citizenship and expounders
of patriotism. Leaders of thought who
know that what 1 am stating is more
than true are silent for fear that the
expression of their convictions will hurt
them financially or socially.
Having quoted more extensively
from Colonel Monroe's notes than was
intended, it is necessary to reserve his
deductions until another time