Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-05
THE RED BROOM OF WAR.

Despite predictions of the New York
Herald, Congressman Hobson and the
California sand lot orators and agi-
~tators, the next war is not to be with
Japan at all, but is to be a civil wal
between the classes and the masses,
and when it is finished there will not
be enough left of this nation to make
a greasy spot on the map. This fore
cast is made upon the authority of
Hon. JEFF" Davis, United States sena-
tor from Arkansas, who has figured il
all out and has issued his warning,
in a modest $4,000 word speech, de-
livered in the senate.
Some students of history and events
have been wondering why Senator
Davis had been keeping SO quiet. His,
voice has not been raised in behalf
Of the down-trod for many months
and 1t was begun to be feared that
he had abandoned the cause. 1t is
evident now that he has been spend
ing waking hours and sleepless nights
considering the appalling conditions
Of the nation and is finally pointing
the way to rescue and salvation. He
has a bill pending in congress to pre-
vent trading In futures in the products
Of the soil on the exchanges of this
country, and to penalize the use of
the mails, the telegraph and the tele-
phone for the purpose of conveying
these gambling operations between
buyers and sellers. If this bill is not
passed, Senator Davis predicts that
lin some evil hour, in some un-
guarded moment, a match may be
touched to the fuse that connects with
the hidden mine of discomfort and dis
may that is planted beneath this re-
public" and, naturally, he shudders to
think of the consequences. Be it said
to Davis credit, he does not want to
scare anybody, but he wants his warn
ing needed. In the course of his pas
sionate address, he said:
1 would not be an alarmist, sir. but I
predict here and now that unless conditions
change, that unless the congress of the
United States turns a listening ear 10 the
lamentations of an outraged public, within
ten years there may be another Shenan-
doah valley, there may be another Gettys-
burg; the red broom of war may sweep
this government as it has never been swept
before; and when that day shall break in
all it's fury, woe to the crowd working the
field OF legislation that have laid these
s~rievous burdens upon the backs of the
crowd working the field OF human en-
deavor.
Nothing p~rettier in the line of woe
full predictions has been uttered since
the days of jeremiah, always except
ing, of course, the pictures painted by
Mr.. Bryan and Senator Teller of what
was going to happen If the sacred 16
to / ratio was not re-established.
Davis, however, offers one remedy
he urges that the toiling masses Of the
south be given some recognition and
that the south be restored to a place
in the political affairs of the nation.
The south, he contends, is still hon
est, pure at heart and loyal, and If it
can only be given a commanding in
fluence in national affairs it may save
the country from the distinctions that
is certain to follow IL the ~"tradesmen
and gamblers" of the north are not
checked in their mad career. There
may be something to that latter sug.
gestion and the South would do well
to try it by sending mea to Washing
ton worthy of their country, rough al
that plan might be on the Tillman,
Davis-Vardaman brand of southern
statesmen.