SOUTHERN PATRIOTISM, TRADITIONS AND DUTY.

When the call to arms was given for a war with Spain the southern states proved their patriotism and won the applause of the civilized world. The exhibition of purpose and power made when, by a solid vote, the representatives of the people in Congress assembled voted the sinews of war, won for this nation a world prestige and brought that confidence of which success is born, to the heart of every citizen. To a foreign foe the republic stands as a unit for the defense of the honor and integrity of its people. There is not a man in the South who does not feel proud of his share in the onward sweep of the nation to its greater sphere of influence and usefulness.

True patriotism will stand ready to destroy domestic, as foreign foes. The victories of war are brilliant as the stroke of lightning, but the victories of peace are as glorious as the full-born day. Opportunity has come for a victory of peace that will serve the domestic welfare of the country for a century. Men who do not hesitate to sacrifice their lives should have sufficient courage to disregard traditions when the issue is a service for the best interest of the country, instead of a defense of the flag. A southern father wrote from the deathbed of his son, killed by a bullet fired by a Tagal insurgent:

"We pray for the sake of all who have fallen there

(in the Philippine Islands) in defense of our country's honor that the flag under which they sacrificed their lives may never be pulled down."

With equal fervor and no less patriotism, there are men and women all over the country who are praying and working to prevent the adoption of unsound public policies, which, if adopted, are certain to smother the glowing life of our prosperity with the black mantle of despair. He loves his country best who serves its welfare best. Shall the patriotism of the South prove itself unequal to the defense of the country's prosperity, in which the South is sharing so bountifully? Why this generally accepted assumption that the South is governed by traditions and not by reason? The leading papers of the South are replete with evidence of the prosperity that section is enjoying, but no evidence is given that the vote of the South will be in favor of maintaining the policies that have made this prosperity possible. General W. H. Jackson of Tennessee says: "If Bryan is elected business will go to hell, but I am going to vote for Bryan, anyhow." There is not a leading paper in the South that has not given evidence showing it knows the theories of government advocated by Bryan are not best for the welfare of the country, and are not in harmony with the teachings of the fathers whom they honor. They are making the mistake of following the shadow, the name of Democracy, and forsaking its substance, its principles. They know

that Bryanism will destroy the prestige of the nation abroad and its prosperity at home, and yet they say no words of sincere power to dissuade the people of the South from voting for Bryan and honor, Bryan and calamity.

THE SOUTHERN STATES SHOULD MAKE THE ELECTION

UNANIMOUS.

We have no interest in the selfish ambition of men seeking office. It is our duty to know what is best for the people of the United States. Love of country is a good foundation for political judgment. The success of Bryanism is the greatest danger that now threatens the welfare of the republic. It will be opposed by a solid North and West. Why not by a solid South? The best Democratic element in the North is now cherishing the one hope that this election will finally remove Bryan and his specious theories of government from future consideration, and that the old Democratic party, grandly arising from the wrecks of two consecutive defeats under Bryan's leadership, will represent once more the principles which will solidify the true Democracy. If the traditions of the South mean loyalty to the Democratic party, then, by all the force of logic and the genius of party prestige, it is made the duty of the South to correct the error of following those who have divided the party and made the North solid. By boldly making the election of McKinley unanimous, and it has the power to do

so, the South will not only crush Bryanism and reunite all Democrats; it will bring into existence a new Democracy that will draw to itself strong men from all sections and create a controlling force in national politics that will make for the public welfare.

Dropping the purely political aspect of the subject, we ask the people of the South, in all seriousness, to estimate the tremendous possibilities for the prestige and prosperity of the republic abroad and at home that can reasonably be expected to result from the unanimous election of Mr. McKinley by the electoral college. Such an action will clear the field of all dangerous issues and open the way for a future, the greatness of which none can estimate. It will demonstrate that the American people, North and South, East and West, are governed by reason, not by traditions and prejudices. It will establish the success of government by the people so firmly that every monarchy and empire in the world will see the day of its transformation into republics fast approaching. Will the people of the South fail to interpret rightly the trend of events and miss the opportunity to do a service for themselves and their country that will make not only the whole country, but the world, their debtors? Their patriotism, their traditions and their duty unite in commanding them to vote with the East, the North and the West to uphold all that is good and discard all that is vicious in the public policies that are to be perpetuated by the action of the people at this election. By doing this

the South will again become a factor in national politics. It will cease to stand for a class. It will speak for the nation.

No stronger plea in this behalf can be made than that uttered by the Hon. James H. Eckels:

"Fellow citizens, in the interest of good government, conservative administration, sound economic laws, full and fair regard for personal and property rights, the elimination of class distinctions, the wiping out of class prejudices, the dignity and power of law, I ask you to sustain the administration and defeat a Bryanized and emasculated Democracy. In such a course lies assurance of preserving for your children's children, untarnished in all their integrity, those best traditions of the republic which in the past have added splendid luster to American citizenship and people, and in the future will gain for them a still greater weight of glory."

THE VOTE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SHOULD BE UNANIMOUS.

No human mind can fully portray the immediate, far-reaching and enduring benefits that will accrue to the people of this country if the presidential electors of every state are instructed to cast their vote in the electoral college for William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Such action will so settle grave questions of public policy as to make an enormous gain for domestic welfare, national prestige and world civilization. It will demonstrate the ability of