Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-08-23


taxing laws. II Is gooo TO 1Ove weaTrn
and all that wealth can bring, but it is
better to love the republic more than
all the trappings of outside pomp and
circumstance. From this good hour
let these men fight their battles of life
without handicapping their less fortu-
nate brothers. Let them hang pictures
Of Nathan Hale in their bedrooms and
as each days light reveals his features
unto them let them VOW that as this
old hero thought more Of men than he
did Of British gold so they will dedi-
cate their lives and consecrate their
efforts to bis splendid ideals.
An Hour For Charity.
Upon whom does the hour call for
charity7 There are thousands of us
who have not reached the land over
flowing with milk and honey. Still.
we wander in the wilderness Of indus
trial despair. Still, are we able to
gather mamma only for day, and still
we look with longing on the flesh pots
Of Egypt. Discomfort and bitterness
have entered into our souls. So long
have we been impressed with the
iniquity of special privilege, with the
arrogance of some rich men, with the
power of money to produce peace or
war, plenty or famine, that we have
come to hate all those who have, and
to believe that the possession of mon
ey is the mark Of infamy and the
badge of dlshonor. If you be one of
these, my brother, this hour calls upon
you for charity. Many have succeed
ed honestly In this land; most have
succeeded as they thought-honestly.
There are but few who have not cared
how success has come to them. Let
US not condemn until the sheep have
been separated from the goats. Let
US understand that 1t is possible for
the man in broadcioth and the man in
holden gray to be brethren In Anieri-
ca. Let us await the developments of
brief time lest perchance the judG
ment of misfortune upon fortune may
be injustice, not justice. Let US be
sure before we strike. Let US condemn
no man unheard. and let US give to
every man his advocate in the forum
Of American brotherhood.
II will be observed that the sum of
the justice and the charity for which
L am contending Is the revival of JEFF.
ferson's idea of equality before the
law, not equality in muscle or brain or
will or energy. but that equality which
mn t.of Mt 10 hpnnct nj I'm
trious man his life, his liberty, his hap.
plness and his chance. Justice and
charity are always needed TO enforce
this guaranty. Get into the bread line
II you will, but beware in so doing not
TO drive out weaker brother.
l see a people the most marvellous
which has ever sprung from the loins
of time and the womb of destiny.
Among them are all kindreds, tribes
and tongues. What are they to be-
come In the melting pot2 They are of
like passions, men with hopes. fears,
ambitions. prejudices. Are they to
evolve into castles, not of birth and lin
cage, but of success and failure? Out
of the crucible of these years, heated
with the fires of both seeming and real
injustice, is newer generation to be
poured forth to the vassalage of the
paternalistic system of government
born under Republican misrule or to
q socialism where success depends not
upon merit and honest endeavor. but
upon the mere drawing of the breath
of life2
Playing the Ostrich.
1t is idle for a thoughtful man In
America, whether millionaire or pau
per, to longer play the ostrich. Safety
does not consist in hiding ones head
In the sands of either sentiment or
hope 1t Is foolish for the vastly rich
to keep on insisting that more and
more shall be added to their riches
through a specious system of special
legislation ostensibly enacted to run
the government. In reality enacted to
loot the people. 1t is worse than igno-
rance for them to smile at the large
body of intelligent Americans who re-
gard themselves fortunate IL the debit
and credit accounts of life balance at
the end OF each year and to assume
that the mighty many who are becom-
ing convinced that that social system
which we call democracy is but gilt
tering generality will long endure the
Industrial slavery being produced. The
hour has come when patriotism must
consist in something more than eulo-
Cies upon the flag. Whether voting
the ticket or not men everywhere,
looking upon the awful injustice OF
this economic system, are becoming
sociHlistic IN theory if not in conduct
And shall any fair minded man say
that, If it rebounds to the interests Of
the people of this country that hun
bred men should control its business
to the good of every one, there is
anything fallacious in the theory that
government, instead of transferring
business to favored few for the ben
eft of all, should discharge that busi-
ness for the benefit of all? / have