Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-13
No Cause for Alarm,

indianapolis News
So good a friend of this country the
London Spectator, and one that under
stands US so much better than most if
not all other English papers, is yet SO far
miSled as to believe that the Haywood
trial presages civil war. 1t thinks the
best Americans are respondent as to the
possibility of reforming the great force
to which they must look to prevent actual
by the Haywood trial must end if this
force is not created. The root of the mis-
chief, it seems. is the system through
which we distribute Justice. Law is as
just with us as in Great Britain but there
are SO many influences of corruption,
terrorism and class prejudice that de-
fleet justice that our confidence in the
action of our courts is destroyed. This
diStruSt. 1t tells us, makes Wor<men hate
miilionareS. makes them combine for
purposes of menace; makes the verdicts
of cOCrta worthless as instruments for
preserving or Grating peace. We see all
this, it seems, and yet will not consent to
any radical reform; will not raise our
judges above pecuniary temptation; will
not have an incOrruptible class in the
jury box: Will not accelerate trials so that
corr upton and terrier shall be reduced to
a minimum.
1t is amazing how mysterious and in
comprehensive this American people and
its institutions are to its hest friends
among foreign observers. There has not
been decade since the wransling Ameri-
can colonies formed an unwilling and
semi-Guarrelsome compact against n COM
mon aggressOr that Europe has not, fear
fully and confidently predicted that we
We're dashing straight on the rocks. our
constitution ''all sail and no anchor as
Macaulay wrote to Randall In 1851 That
clear-si2hted student to whom the history
of the whole world was an open book.
predicted that we would be ravaged iE
the twentieth century as Rome was in
the fifth. our Huns and Vandals being
generated from within by our own institu-
tons; The Spectator manfcstly thinks
n mn @ ut bn rl
All of our good friends-and their
name is legion-think that we receive
these warnings in spirit of levity. 1t is
not 50. 1t is simply that there is so much
to explain that explanation were hopeless.
They do not understand the stuff of which
American institutions are made. nor do
wild ard hoisterous people who have
made these institutions, who live under
them. and who have attained in 50
brief n period the greatest material snc-
cess that history records. The reason IF
this inability to understand Is the in
ability to comprehend the human mind in
full plav: mankind ut liberty to do as it
will. The spectacle presents to orr critics
only terror and the sure presage of bloody
war-presents it as we have said at least
once a decade.
and exceedingly imnotent ccnfederacy: vet
we did not. hut formed our union instead
Then New England discomfort and tho
Hartford Convention were to rive US
| IL
f1cation We're certain to do for us next
Our avarrious attempts on Cuba for the
slave power. the Mexican war, the Kan
sas-Nebraska struggle were each the riS-
ing curtain for the last act And when
our Great civil war car,e-that was tho
end once for all. The vast railroad strike
Of 1S1l-following the electoral dispute
W 0Sdr me hea pre- h S,dency the year before
the rataclvsm. Glass war by Macaulay's
HUNS anr vandals was then upon MS
And now 1t Is the HAYWOOD trial and the
events out of which 1t grew are 70 come
to a head and make the great RepubIic
end as splendid mirror broken into
fragments. rs some other wise man has
said ' 80
But here we are. and rs Macmahon
SAID. here we remain. Our good friends
SIMPLY do not understand America for
me reasons that we have set ont They
never Will understand it, because from,
their point Of view they can not know ali
he forces in Dlay. They see the dastruc-
tive ones. the surface disturbance: thew
20 NOT see nor feel the constructive onns
ne deem keel of the ship that holds all
right side mp. no matter how the frame
work sways or what tor-hammer is car
RED awav IN gale now ard then Our
friends will he incredulous. hut this shin
Of state. this America. iq the rnupdest
craft in the whole world TODAY. We know
i've all Of ns know it. The reasons
for It arc simnlv sn many that they can
not he told. Moreover they must he felt
not merely cataln,,gued. Rut trust tho
good ship America.
We know what Master laid thy keel
What Workman wrought thy ribs Of steal
Who made each mast, and sail and rome
What anv;|c rang. what hampers beat
IN what forge and what heat
We're shanHd tn" anchors of thy hone.
Fear not each sudden sound and shock.
lis Of the wave and not the rock:
Tie hut the f1appinr Of sail
nd rot ront made nv the calai
IN snite Of rock and temnrst's roar.
IN snite If false lights on the Shore
Sail on. nor fear to breast the sea-
Cur hearts, our hopes are all with thee!