The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-31


the revelations of wrongs is the spirit Of
true patriotism. This word has almost
ceased to have meaning and was often
used as synonymous with war. We~&fe
now learning that there may be asi.faqcI
patriotism in giving ones tinlef ts athe
betterment of civic conditions andlan get
ting good men into office, as IN barring
ones breast to the bullets of a. public
enemy In time of war. Tne shighestpatri-
otism is the patriotism of sffNice, The
people are commencing to appreciate the
fact that the government bf city, state
and nation belongs 10 hem. and that
they can take the gpVernnentSin their
own hands whenever The swish. No gov
eminent was ever better than the peo-
pie made it, or worse than they suffered
1t to become. 1.-THE public life of a ma
ton is but reflection of its private life.
This government is mo- better than any
other, except as the virtue and patri-
otism OF the people make 1t SO. The peo-
pie are beginning to understand that
when they undertake to be their Kings
they assume the responsibilities as well
as the privileges of sovereignty. This
awakening would go on for a while re-
forms sometimes die, revolutions never
go backward and this is a revolution
/ that is Being wrought in the hearts of
men,
This movement against wrongs is not
a CRUSADE against WEALTH.. w tditl Ill IL
self is a blessing; the abuse of wealth is "A
curse. Wealth gained by honest industry
is commendable. The poverty of indo-
lence is contemplate. This government
does not rest upon the idle rich nor the
idle poor, but upon the industry and patri-
otsm of the middle classes There can
be no objection to honest riches, but
there is objection to the crimes and privi-
leges out of which tainted riches grow.
There is no disposition to injured corpor-
ations that obey the law, but the demand
is that corporations even the greatest,
obey the law just like anyone else. Spe-
cial interests should be made to respect
the law regulating their conduct, as they
ask others to respect the yaw protecting
their property. The need is not so much
for news laws. as to enforce those laws
we have. There has been too much of
making of laws to please all of the peole
and too little of enforcement of those
laws, to please special interests.
Attack Evil of Privilege.
1.-THE regenerated conscience of the peo-
pie has been assailing these abuses one
by one and has now commenced to attack
the deeper evil of privilege. Graft is a
privilege which Is exercised either against
the law, or one which the law itself
may give No one ever heard of legis-
lator being bribed to give equal rights to
all the people. 1t Is always for the pur-
pose of obtaining privileges for the few.
Graft cannot <be fully done away with
until special privileges are exterminated
and the doctrine of equal rights becomes
the standard for governmental action.
1t nSltters not whether this privilege be
in the form of a tariff arranged as
to foster monopoly trust to control
the price of the necessities of life, or re-
bates to favored shippers. No protection
.
new born patriotism. AS monopoly is
founded on privilege, without privilege
monopoly must fail. The platform of
privileges for the few is opposed by the
platform of privileges for none. The doc
trne of protection for monopoly as
against the people. is opposed by the
doctrine of protection for the people as
against monopoly.
'The light is breaking and good men
and true will say. let there be light and
yet more light. that we may escape the
snares set for our feet, and walk in
safety along the highway of a larger
freedom to more equalized national ex-
istence and higher life.
Neither Radical Nor Conservative
LET us. in this crisis. be neither rad-
cal nor conservative. Rather let us be
conservative in charging wrong doing.
lest injustice be caused in charging where
. III does not exist. Dlll ~ . sure OI Ine
evil let us be radical its extermina-
ton Let us have neitser conservatism
nor stagnation nor the radicalism of
indiscriminate destruction. We want
progress along right lines. States and
/ nations. like men, should never be sat
isfed. but ever strive for higher devel-
opment.
''In this epoch so important to Ameri-
can liberty, we ask the people to set up
no new gods; we ask them to follow no
new paths which may lead into the quick
sands of dishonor and despair. Our safest
and surest guide is still the old maxim.
that there shall be equal rights to all.
special privileges to none. With this axiom
i as our chart, we cannot lose our course;
with this rule for our guidance. the in
famies of privilege in every form will be
destroyed and unto all men there will be
restored the equal right that belongs to
each; the fair and equal opportunity of
each and every man to live and labor
upon the earth which God has given to
, all. and to enjoy. untrammeled and un-
restricted. the gains of individual indus
try.
Sounds Death kneII of Privilege.
"The gospel of equal rights sounds the
death knell of privilege and means that
,,oronotv fhrOughOut the