The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-12-09

piled some Of the best and strongest
elements of that little, but how heroic.
nation that in q high day of old 'staked
it's very life to free itself from every
entanglement that had darkened the.
fortunes Of the older nations and set
up new standard here-that men.
of such origins and such free choices
or allegiance would ever turn In
malign reaction against the govern
ment and people who had welcomed
and nurtured them and seek to make.
this proud country once more O hot
bed of European passion. A little,
while ago such thing would have
seemed incredible. Because it was
incredible we made no preparation
for it. We would have been almost
ashamed to prepare for it, as IL We
were suspicious Of ourselves, our own
comrades and neighbors! But the
ugly and incredible thing has actual
ly come about and we are without
adequate federal laws to deal with 1t.
l urge you to enact such laws at the,
earliest possible moment and fe1l that
in doing so l am urging you to do
nothing less than save the honor and
self-respect Of the nation. Such crea-
lures of passion, disloyalty, and an
archy must be crushed out They are
not many, but they are infinitely
malignant, and the hand Of our power
should close over them at once They
have formed plots to destroy property,
they have entered into conspiracies
against the neutrality Of the govern
ment, they have sought to pry into
every confidential transaction of the
government in order to serve interests.
alien to our own. 1t Is possible to,
deal with these things very effectually.
| need not suggest the terms in which
they may be dealt with.
Are Disgrace to the Nation.
l wish that it could be said that
only few men, misled by mistaken
sentiments Of allegiance to the govern
ments under which they were born,
had been guilty Of disturbing the self
possession and misrepresenting the
temper and principles Of the country
during these days Of terrible war,
when it would seem that every man
who was truly an American would
instinctively make it his duty and his
pride to keep the scales Of Judgment
even and prove himself partisan of
no nation but his own. But it cannot.
There are some men among us, and
many resident abroad who, though
born and bred in the United States
and calling themselves americans,
have so forgotten themselves and
their honor as citizens as to put their
| passionate sympathy with one or tho >,
| other side in the great European con
| Eict above their regard for the peace
and dignity Of the United States, They
| also gpreath and practice disioyalty.
| No, laws. suppose, can reach cor
ruptions clAthe mind and heart; but l
should not speak A6f others without
also speaking of these and expressing
| the even deeper humiliation and scorn
| which every self-possessed and
| thoughtfully patriotic American must
feel when he thinks Of them and of
| the discredit they are daily bringing
| upon us.
While we speak Of the preparation
| OF the nation to make sure OF her
security and her effective power we
must not fall into the patent error of
| supposing that her real strength
comes from armaments and mere safe.
guards Of written law
What is more important is, that the
industries and resources of the coun.
try should be available and ready for
mobilization.
The transportation problem Is an
exceedingly serious and pressing one
| In this country. There has from
time to time Of late been rnason
to fear that our railroads would
not much longer be able to cope with
IL successfully, as at present equipped
ana co'ordained. | suggest that II
would be wise to provide for a com
mission Of inquiry to ascertain by
thorough canvass Of the whole uues
tlon whether our laws as at present
framed and administered are as serv
iceable as they might be in the solu.
ton of tho problem. 1t is obviously
problem that lies at the very founda.
ton Of our efficiency as e. people Such
an inquiry ought to draw out everv
circumstance and opinion worth con.
slaering and we need to know all Bidee
oi the matter II we mean to do any
th'ng IN the field of federal legislation.
Regulation Of Railroads.
no one, am sure, would wish to
take any backward step. The r.sula
ton OF the railways Of the coun
federal commission has had adn,lrabls
results and has fully justifie3 i
hopes and expectations of the 3y
whom the policy Of regulatio, ,,a
originally proposed. The quest
not what should we undo?
"hether there Is anything else v ,
40 that would supply us with eff
means, in the very process Of ragpl,
ton. for lettering the condition