The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-05-08
TRICE'S TRUMPETEER
ARTICLES Published under this Heading fur
nished by n. p. A. Bureau. jacksonville
BITTERNESS UNSAFE GUIDE
BY Which to Shape Our Views on
Governmental Policies
John C. Trice)

John C. Trice)
| He who enlists under the banner of
a general who is actuated by bitter
ness of soul invites ignominous de-
feat, and fate seldom declines to hand
out that which his action asks for
| If / had no better excuse for living
go Jump in the river and drown, leav-
ing a note for my distracted people
saying: "Grieve for nothing, search
for nothing; in the realm of crea-
tons great plan it is fit for nothing;
maybe in the belly of sharks it will
find fit place." Hate is the ever
ready weapon of the arch-demon of
perdition, and bitterness its only
spawn. When hate flares forth into
existence bitterness radiates from it
| like sound waves from wireless sta
ton, exulting in the blasting, of hu-
man ambitions, and. caring little how
much sunshine it shuts out of count
less lives. Hate is narrow. 1t sees
only the oasis belli Of it's own exist
ence, and bitterness is it's abject
slave. Hand in hand they march
down the sands of time, utterly obliv-
ious to the justice of every other of
the plans of creation. determination
is its slogan, and of the righteousness
of civilized warfare it makes hollow
mockery.
/ A few days ago | met the recent
importation into Florida journalism,
who sees demon spooks lurking be-
hind everything do, and who reads
meaning more fantastic than the
Arabian Nights into everything 1
write. Normally he is so gentle in
spirit and pleasing in appearance
that at once concluded there was a
skeleton behind the screen and went
in search of it. Taking advantage of
the first opportunity, introduced my
self, explained who / was, and then
opened UP on the subject / felt sure
would smoke him out. Reduced to
as few words as possible, here is his
story:
He admitted that among local OPP
tionists there are good men. In fact
some of the best friends he ever had
were saloon men, but good citizens.
He had worked, as mayor, hand in
hand with them for regulation, but
one man in the town had refused to
be regulated. Therefore, regulation,
according to his theory, Is impossible.
His brother had cultivated a thirst.
Three times he had taken him to a
Keeely institute and "cured" him, but
as often he had gone back to the lure
Of the thirst This had so "imbitter-
ed" him that he would devote his life
to fighting rum, and determination
was the only remedy. He could not
go to Mexico to fight for his flag as
long as the rum demon stalked in our
own land.
Pathetic? Yes. Earnest of pur.
pose? Why, certainly But the laws
of the Creator are not founded upon
pathos, nor is bitterness the star OF
hope by which the footsteps of men
can be guided. The fiery eloquence
of Patrick Henry may plunge a ma
ton into war, but it requires the tran
quill mind of Washington or Jeffer
son to bring order out of chaos, and
direct the people again to the paths
OF virtue, peace and prosperity. Out
OF the mire of bitterness there never
was fiecked a diadem to adorn the
crown of mans matchless achieve
ment. Out of the maelstrom of hate
there never trilled an anthem of trib
ute to woman's virtue.
Upon the turbulent sea of life hui
man wrecks are being buffeted hither
and thither by the violence of thei,
own passions, but they are not normal
men or women who deserve the best
efforts of the people, or the substance
OF the toiling masses. He VINO res
cues one of these derelicts is indeed
hero, but it is not proper that a ma
ton should be put in bondage be
cause OF their deplorable condition.
The eternal principle of law is "the
greatest good to the greatest mum
ber." not the enslavement of the many
for the protection of the few.
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