Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-01-19

did, and accepted, what would be exc
/ pected of me is also clear. They
would expect me to abandon my prin-
ciples and that course of conduct
which 1 conceive to be best for the
country. Therefore / should have TO
/ accept ii under false pretenSes and
take their yoke upon me. Would you
think the needle pointed that way?'
No" I answered.
Immediately he turned TO his desk
and wrote the telegram which fixed
his place in history. 1t said no.
Into the lives of few men has such
moment fallen. l looked at him with
feeling of awe. What sublime calm
ress and serenity was in his face! AS
if it were a mere detail in the work of
the day, and without a moments fall
tering, he had declined q crown, for he
would surely have been nominated and
elected. He rose and stood looking
out of the open window. Always l
think of him standing there with the
morning sunlight falling upon his face
and shoulders. He had observed my
emotion and I think it had touched
him d little. There was a moment of
silence. A curious illusion came to me
then, for it seemed as if l heard the
sound Of distant music. Looking
thoughtfully out Of the window he
asked:
Bart, do you know when our first
fathers turned out of the trail of the
beast and found the long road of hui
manity? l thrSl it was when they dis
covered the coihpass in their hearts"
SO now at last we have come to that
high and lonely place where we may
look back upon the toilsome, adven-
turous way we have travelled with the
aid of the candle and the compass.
Now let US stop moment to rest and
to think. How sweet the air is here!
The night is falling. / see the stars in
the sky.
Just below me is the valley of Fer
nal silence. You will understand my
| haste now. / have sought only to do
justice to my friend and to give my
country Il name, long neglected, but
equal in glory to those of Washington
and Lincoln.
Come, let us take one last look to-
| gether down the road we have tray
eled, now dim in the evening shad-
Ows. Scattered along 1t are the little
| houses of the poor of which ! have
written. See the lights in the win.
dows-the lights that are shining into
the souls of the yOung-the eager,
open, expectant, welcoming souls OF
the yOung-and the light carries many
things, but best of all q respect for the
old, unchanging way of the compass,
After all that is the end and aim OF
the whole matter-believe me.
Ny life has heightened into these
days when most Of our tasks are &C.
complished by machinery. We try to
make men by the thousand, IN vast
! educational machines, and no longer
by the one as Of old. 1t was the low.
ing, forgiving, forbearing, patient
ceaseless toll OF mother and father on
quickened that inextinguishabie sense
OF responsibility to God and man In
these people whom l now leave to the
| judgment of my countrymen.
have lived to see the ancient plan
of kingcraft, for self.protection, com
| ing back into the world. 1t demands
that the will and conscience OF every
individual shall be regulated and CON
trolled by some conceited prince,
backed by an army. 1t cannot fail, ]
fOreSee. to accomplish such devasta
ton in the human spirit as shall Inn
peril the dearest possession OF man.
II one is to follow the compass he
can have but one king-his God.
am near the end I rode back to
Baltimore that forenoon. They had
nominated Mr.. Polk OF Tennessee for
president and Silas Wright for vice
president, the latter by reclamation. ]
knew that Wright would decline the
honor, as he did.
hurried northward to keep my APP
l
| pointment with Sally. The boats were
slowed by fog. At Albany was day
behind my schedule. i should have
only an hours leeway II the boats or
the upper lakes and the stage from
Plattsburg were on time. / feared tC
trust them. So / caught the west,
bound train and reached Utica three
hours late. There l bought good
horse and his saddle and bride and
hurried up the north road. When he
was near spent traded him for well.
knit Morgan mare up in the little vii,
lage of Sandy Greek. Oh, l knew q
good horse as well as the next mar
and better one than she / never
owned-never. was back In my sad,
die at six In the afternoon and stopped
for feed and an hours rest at nine and
rode on through the night. l reached
the hamlet Of RiChville soon after day.
break and put out for a rest Of two
hours. ] could take 1t easy then. AT
seven o'clock the mare and / started
| aQaln 8Wail fed and on par RI oo m