The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-30
THE rr,sl 70 HELP.


In the mtSzs Of an awful calamity
like that which has just befallen Mo-
bile. Pensacola and other Gulf cities.
the mind stands appalled, before tho
extent Of the catastrophe. The full
measure OF damages cannot yet be
known. but enough Is already known
to arouse the, active sympathies of the
be in the path of destruction which
swept these old cities of the South.
We know that millions in value hav,
been destroyed. that many precious
lives have been lost, and that in many
homes there Is mourning for dear ones
who went to their deaths through one
Of the m@st terrible visitations that
the Gulf coast has experienced; and we
know that many families are left
homeless and desolate where but few
days ago they were in peace and hap
piness.
Only day or two ago The Adver-
tiser had something to say about the
recuperative powers of the American
people and their facility for rising
from the very depths of desolation
ard again placing themselves on firm
ground. Little thought had We az
that writing that before the week was
out calamity would come almost to our
own doors and that our near neighbors
would be victims Of such grievous ca
families. We were writing of what
had occurred at a distance but the
papers were hardly distributed before
the bosom of destruction was sweep
in over our own coasts. So little can
human beings foretell what the flu
ture has In store for them.
1t is hardly necessary for The Adj
vertiser to point out to the more for
tunate ones the duty OF giving aid to
how assistance can be rendered most
effeetual and to whom II can be sent.
The stricken cities have not recovered
from the stunning. paralyzing effects
Of the blow. but as soon as they can
look about them the authorities and
wise plans and ways to bring about
order and to. begin the work of clear
ing away the debris. Then the
good work of helping them must
begin, and we have too much
faith in the American people to
fear that they will be laggard or par
simonious We have seen too many
evidences Of American literally after
great calanities to fear failure now.
Both Mobile and Pensacola are near
and dear to Montgomery and to all
Alabama and AIabamians. They are
our own ports. so to speak. and give
us our chief outlets TO the great world
beyond the seas. We feel that we
have a neighborly and family interest
ir their sufferings and a personal rea-
son for helping them in their hour of
need. There is no fear that Alabama
and Florida alone will have to bear
the burden of aiding the suffering. but
there are good reasons why home peo-
pie should be among the first to re-
spond to the call of humanity.
That Montgomery will respond no.
bly, is not to be doubted for this old
city would be faithless to her record
and her reputation II she failed in this
urgent need. Charity begins at
home" is an old saying, and another
is that "he gives twice who gives
quickly" These sorely stricken cities
are at home to us and when we help
them we are helping our own people,
Something should be done as quickly
as 1t can be done effectually, and wa
have faith in our people to believe
that there will be no unnecessary de-
lay in sending help why're we all know
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