The Washington herald., 1911-07-30

IL save this republic, still young and
| needy, for yet time in the cause of
peace and growth? Many devoutly hoped
1t. Many devoutly espoused the cause of
compromise merely for the sake of gain
| Ing time. As neither Of the great politi-
| cal parties Of the day filled its ranks
from either section, so in both sections
, ,, there were many who espoused, as many
who denied, the right of men to own
| slaves. We speak Of slavery as the one
great question Of that day. 1t was not,
and never has been. the greatest. The
question Of democracy-that was even
then, and 1t is now, the greatest question.
Here on the deck Of the steamer at
the little city of Pittsburg, then gateway
| Of the West, there appeared men of pur-
poses and beliefs as mixed as this mixed
country from which they came. Some
were pushing out into what now is
known as Kansas, others going to take
up lands In Missouri. Some were to pass
South to the slave country. others North
to the free lands; men of all sorts and
conditions, many men, Of many minds,
that was true, and all hurrying into
new lands, new problems, new dangers,
new remedies. 1t was a great and splen-
did day, a great and vital time. that
threshold, time, when our Western
traffic increased SO rapidly and as
suredly that steamers scarcely could
date 1t, and the young rails leaped west
ward at a speed before then unknown in
the world
Carried somehow, some whittier, for
some reason on these surging floods were
these travellers. of errand not wholly OBJ
vious to their fellows, yet of such sort
as to call into qnery alike the nature OF
their errand and their own relations. 1t
is easily earned repetition to state mat
mn
to be concealed. Even such boat as
the Mount Vernon offered a total deck
space so cramped as to leave secrecy or
privacy we'll out of the question, even
had the motley and democratic assem-
blage OF passengers been disposed to ac-
cord either. Yet there was something in
the appearance Of this young woman and
her companion which caused all the het-
erogeneous groups of humanity to make
way for them, as presently they ap-
preached the gangplank.
Apparently they were not unexpected.
The ships clerks readily led the way
to apartments which had been secured
in advance. Having seen to the luggage
OF his charges, whom he disposed in
good double stateroom. the leader OF
the party repaired to his own quarters.
Tarrying no longer than to see his own
luggage safe aboard he commanded one
of the men to fetch him to the office of
the captain.
The latter gentleman. busy and i'm
portant, dropped much of his official
way when he found whom he was ac-
costing. This is quite unexpected, sir.
he began, removing his cap and bowling.
Capt Rogers" began the other.
you have been advised to some extent
OF my plans by telegram from Wash
ington."
The captain hesitated. rs this with
the ladys consent? / must consider the
question Of damages"
There will be no damages. Your own
ers will be quite safe. and so will you"
Are there any charges of any kind
against
That is not for you to ask. She IS
under my care. and must not disembark
until l say the word. You will kindly
give her a place at my table. There
must be no idle curiosity to annoy her.
But tell me. when shall We reach the
mouth Of the river? Is II not possible
to save some time by avoiding some of
the smaller stOps?''
But our freight, our passengers
The captain passed a hand across his
brow, much perplexed. The other showed
a sudden frmness.
My errand demands secrecy and speed
alike. There must be no communication
between this boat and the shore, so far
as this young lady is concerned. Mean
time. If all is ready. ii would please me
nightly If we could start"