The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-30
SENTIMENT STILL THE SAFE
GUARD.

Within the past weeks two United
States Senators from the South have
made public declarations that must
shock every high minded man who
puts principle above appropriations. in
a recent speech at Newport News,
Senator Martin, of Virginia. gave his
political creed as to what a Senator
should do in this brief paragraphs:
II believe that Southern statesmen
have spent too much time in talking
about sentiment and the Constitution.
Sentiment will not provide food Tor
your family or raiment for your wife
and children. l have tried to get for
Virginia part of what is going.
And that commercialism of the low
est order comes from Senator from
the Commonwealth of Virginia, State
that has won imperishable glory be-
cause it's statesmen have been teach
crs of sound governmental principles,
rather than devoting themselves TO
get for Virginia part of what is go
ing" Can the widest stretch of imag-
ination conte mplate Washington, JET
ferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason, or
Lee sneering at the craftsmanship
that is talking about sentiment and
the Constitution" and declaring that
these things "will not provide food for
your family or raiment for your
wife or children 1t is to be
hoped that the context will relieve the
cold-blooaed dedication of the states
manship that has no higher convic-
ton than log-rolling to get money Tor
ones State If that expression repre-
sents Senator Martins deliberate con-
ception of craftsmanship it is clear
that his place is in a factory or rail-
road office rather than in the United
States Senate. The thoughtful men,
who understand the inner workings,
understand that the talent necessary to
get appropriations consists chiefly In
being an expert log-roller, with the
ability to help other congressman get
"a part of what is going" and then TO
nut his States name in the pot ana
ladle out a good share for himself
In the past. the Southern Senator who
has been instrumental in getting
$1,000 out of the National Treasury
for his State has succeeded because ne
has voted 100000 to some Northern
state. 1t requires brains and tact to
log-roll so that the Senator gets
larger share for his State than goes
T. those States that have elected SEN
ators who are talking about senu-
ment and the Constitution '-an occu>
patton that Mr.. Martin evidently
thinks has no place in the United
states Senate in the year 1905, how
ever appropriate it might have peen
in 1905.
What is meant by sentiment!
1t is mobile, tender. or artistic, OF
susceptibility to much feeling; also It's
verbal expression.
1t is the manifestation of ten
dency to judge by feeling rather than
by reason IL by rule"
Against these apt definitions comes
into the ring Tillman, of South. Caro-
lima, and says:
my policy has been 20 get every
thing for the South when l saw
chance. and l tried to get it. right or
wrong. honestly or dishonesty, be-
cause those people up there have been
stealing from us long enough.
Which must the South follow
Must it fawn to a man who is con-
fessed trader, with eyes set alone upon
the bargain and willing, according TO
his own confession to sell out, honest
" or dishonesty as he gets his pay
or are we to be-or rather continue
to be-sentimental?
Sentiment is something more than
it is put down in the dictionaries as
being. Dictionaries concern them
selves with a personal description OF
the word. Sentiment, in the South al
least. is a racial characteristic. we
fought for sentiment. we have pros
pered in it, we will die by it. Senti-