The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-14

to do too much. and he did it" So we of today are constantly, almost hourly, entoined to be doers ana builders. But, pray, where are true examples to be found? Who are the doers and builders the Hills and Morgans who have opened the great west to civilization and won for our country the commercial supremacy of the world, or the Rooseyelts and the Brydns, who from the beginning of their manhood have divided their time between offce-holding and office-seeking, and seem to consider their sole mission in life to be the regulation of the affairs of others?
 Cause for Condemnation.
 But it is demanded. What hath our king done that he should be condemned?" Rather I should ask, What hath he not tried to undo that he should be praised! The actual accomplishment of either good or i'll may be balanced by feather. The roaring of the Hon invariably subsidies into the coong of the dove. It Is not the vainglorious boastng, as in the latest speech at Cambridge of much already done, but the supplementary threat of "girding up loins to do more" that has caused havoc at home and apprenension abroad It is not the enforcement If old laws, however unwise, nor the proposal of new ones, however socialistic and un- constitutional that alarms. Despite ex- ecutive assaults upon honest judges, we still have an independent judiciary. and the time may come when even congress itself will cease to be supine. It Is the llimitable volume of violent fulnlnations from the source of power that is 'chck- ing up the fountains of industry and dry ing all it's streams Already great un- dertakings have been abandoned, new en- terprsfs have been halted; tho business world looks apprehensively to the future, and all who hay anything at stake or aught In anticipation thank God in their hearts for the promise to foreso third term, and devoutly pray, though with no little misgiving for the keeping of the pledge.
 I say with no little misgivinS," be- cause signs are mapffes. that the spear that knows no brother IS again to be hurled into the arena. My policies" is the battle cry, and who but Me per- sonifes them? All corporations should be accountable to some sovereign" was the language of the message of Decem- Der 5, 1905. immediately followed by 'he gracious phrase, "I am in no sense nos tile to them.' Now comes the unprece- dented and arrogant declaration, insult ing to free people, of the right of pres ident of these United States to name his own successor-the violent denunciation of those venturing to question that prerosa- ave as "conspirators" engaged necessar- fly in treason against usurping authority the raging of the revolutionary instinct of a laWless mind, And thoughtful men look on. shocked and terrified. yet non resistant! What does it all mean? That the American people, deluded by the mar velous spectacle of blatant probity yawp- ing from the pinnacle of self appreciation, stand ready to welcome the destruction of the very fabric of free institutions? Then, woe. indeed, to the land;
 Yet so in truth it seems
 Mighty MeIodrama.
 In place of the calm, sober government by men oppressed by, rather than reveling in. grave responsibilities. we are now in the midst of a mighty melodran1a. Rather call it game, q great game; "a bully game,' some would say; a game so far reaching, so pregnant with possibilities that it involves the well being of eighty millions, the salvation of whole world of human beings still looking hopefully to this marvellous asylum for the helpless and dstressed; a game upon whose result depends the cute come of the greatest po- ltlcal experiment ever tried. that of prov ing the abiity of a free people to rule themselves successfully In the communi- ties in which they live. instead of sub- hitting to Inc despotism of centralized au- thority, whici even now, everywhere else is becoming relic of past ages.
 It Is in no spirit of partisanship, but In infinite sadness that we foresee aban andon- mont of principle In a national campaign led by two false prophets striving only to determine which may raise banner most attractive to the multitude.
 But oh, the pity of 1t all' The menda- cious duplicity of those holding power! The noxious demagogy of those seeking it. The sordid trafficking in votes to be bought in exchange for influence to be won! The shameless breaking Of tacit pledges in the name of uprightness. The t, noly alliances of n,ainrion and sancti- irony in time O need Their ruthiess dl- voro ement when ambition has been real lzed. The daily almost hourly. exhibl- ton of roaring caiaracts of twaddle! The lava streams of invective turned on to wash away obnoxious evidences of dou- ble dealing! The cowardice Of those who resent. but dare not speak! The wretch e1 fear of personal consequences mani fested on every hand! The refusal to &C., cept manfully and with gratitude the pen-