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The Commoner,
JTJLT 28, 1905
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9
"APOSTLES OF SWEETNESS AND LIGHT "
The biographers of John Hay seem generally
to dwell upon his accomplishments in public life;
and when we remember tliat Mr. Hay was by the
world regarded as a "cold" man it is refreshing
to read from the pen of Senator El. :lby M. Cullom,
an intimate, personal friend, the statement: "In
private life to all who knew him Mr. Hay was
the most companionable of men, of wonderful
yersatility and particular information, but so
modest and unassuming as to te within the
reach of all. He was a supreme master of English.
His conversati n overflowed with apt stories, al
ways clean and always vital. He was an apostlo
of sweetness and light, with a nature as tender
and affectionate as a woman's and a man's strong
and hearty approval for that which appealed to
him."
That is a fina side light thrown upon the
character of the late secretary of state, and while
it may seem strange to those who formed their
estimate of Mr. Hay by observing him in the field
of politics, it is wholly in keeping with the idea
one must have of the author of "Little Breeches."
It has often been said in the public prints
that In recent years John Hay was not slow in
manifesting his displeasure when referred to as
the author of the little poem famous the world
over and indissolubly linked with the memory
of the man who at the time of his death held,
perhaps, the highest rank among the world's
diplomats. Maybe injustice has been done Mr.
Hay, and maybe when he manifested displeasure
because he was pointed out as the author of
"Little Breeches" it was due to his modesty
rather than to his disinclination to stand sponsor
for that touching bit of verse. The man who
wrote that verse must have had within him much
of tho material out of which "apostles of sweet
ness and light" are constructed.
It is something of a coincidence that the late
Thomas "Dunn English did not take kindly to tho
fact that wherever he 'went and whenever his
name appeared in public print he was referred
to as "the author of Ben Bolt."
But if Hay's only claim to distinction was
that he had written "Little Breeches," and if
English's only hold upon fame was through the
authorship of "Ben Bolt," these two men would
be entitled to rank as "apostles of sweetness
and light."
While there is nothing classical about "Ben
Bolt" or "Little Breeches" these poems are sub
lime in their simplicity. If English and Hay
had continued to live as near the popular .heart
V later life as they did when they wrote these
THAT "GREAT SACRIFICE"
Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, James
Madison, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster were among the men who served
the American people in the high and honorable
office of secretary of state. Yet now that Mr.
Elihu Root has accepted that position the Ameri
can1 peoptcT-have been surfUited with extravagant
tributes to the wealthy man who has abandoned
a remunerative practice as a corporation lawyer
to accept the highest honor in the gift of the
president and to have his name enrolled among
those of the eminent men who preceded him.
The Baltimore Sun strikes a popular chord
when it says: "Unless money counts for every
thing; unless money making is the only honora
ble occupation, then the talk of the great sacri
fice which Mr. Elihu Root makes to accept tho
office of secretary of state is wrong. It is un
true, unpatriotic and harmful. The salary of
the office is $8,000 a year, and that should bo
sufficient for a family to live on. If It is not
sufficient it ought to be. Next to the presidency
the office of secretary of state Is perhaps tho
highest place in the service of the American
people. The secretary is next after tho vice
president in the line of succession to the office
of chief magistrate. The doctrine that money is
worth more than such an office as that of secre
tary of state and the opportunity it affords to
serve one's country and gain fame and honor
is a false and a harmful doctrine to teach young
men."
JJJ
STAMP TAXES ACAIN
In a speech before the Ohio convention Sec
retary Taft referring to the deficit said: "There
remains two alternatives, either to impose addi
tional internal taxes or to readjust and revise
tne tariff. We have repealed the war taxes,
."Which afforded a large revenue, and the eight
years of tho present Dingley tariff have seen in
pleasing verses, they would not have been offended
when public attention was dlrectc l to the best
work of their hearts and brains. It may have
been that, mingling in later life among those who
are either ashamed or Incapable of appreciating
simplicity's majesty, these gentlemon had for
gotten that "simplicity is nat .re's first step, and
tho last of art."
The "Little Breeches" of John Hay appeals
not only to the heart of the parent but as well
to the heart of every man and woman who loves
little children. Likewise It appeals to tho hearts
oi those who have not become so thoroughly
practical as to dismiss the notion that thcro may
be, after all, some power that tempers tho wind
to the shorn lamb.
Tho "Ben Bolt" of Thomas Dunn English ap
peals to those who are not too busy to dollght
in the renewal of old acquaintances, who are not
so averse to sentiment that they turn their backs
upon Auld Lang Syne, who are not so wholly
wrapped up in the things of to-day that they
must overlook tho boy of thirty years ago and
reject the delightful reflections which reminis
cence often provides.
Nearly every home has its "Little Breeches;"
in not all of them is this particular designation
made, but as a rule tlnre is some characteristic
that suggests an affectionate nickname for the
baby of the household; and in every homo whero
"Little Breeches" lives and Is loved the same
heartfelt gratitude which the parent character in
John Hay's little poem poured out to tho 'delight
of the world would be manifested under similar
circumstances by every character of flesh and
blood and heart and brain, in the real life of
to-day.
The little four-year-old child lost in a storm
on the bleak prairie was, after hours of painstak
ing search, found nestling among the lambs in
a fold "as peart as ever can be." It seemed to
tho distracted parent that nothing short of a
miracle could have saved "Little Breeches" from
tho terrible storm. The only explanation this
rough frontiersman could give was that it was
the work of "angels" who "just swooped down
and toted it to whar It was safe and warm;"
and this thought drew from the grateful and
practical father the eminently correct opinion:
"And I think that taking a little child and bring
ing him to his own is a denied sight better busi
ness than loafing around the Throne."
"Ben Bolt" was written in 1842; it was set
to the music of a German melody in 18-18. Its
publication by a music dealer of Cincinnati made
that man rich. It was tho favorite song in thea
ters and parlors for many yours, and oven .to
day there In no more popular air and no moro
delightful poem than the slmplo littles story of
"Sweet Alice" and the other characters and
things recalled In this communion between old
friends.
Doubtlcas In the memory of many a man
whoso hair is tinged with gray ihero is a "Sweet
Alico." Doubtless before the vlalon of many
a man rises tho "slab of gran Ho gray,"
in some old churchyard In tho valley, whero
somo Alice of boyhood day "lies under tho
stone." The hickory tree which Htood at tho
foot of the hill, and under which Bon Bolt and
his compnnion lay in the noonday shade doubt
less has its counterpart within the recollection
of many a full grown man. The cabin of logs, the
old mill wheel, the school, and "tho master cruel
and grim, the shady nook by the running brool
whore the children went to swim" suggests to
many a man of to-day memories, tender and true-
Where, also, is tho man with blood enough
in his veins to cultivate affection, who does not
cherish a friendship oven like unto that, of tho
Ben Bolts? Tho pessimist who has come to bo
Hove that thero is nothing true on earth may
find all over tho world men who, howover ac
tlvo they may bo, have not been too busy to
cultivate the old tlmo ties. Doubtless In every
community and In every block In ovory vlllago
of tho land thoro aro men and women who can
echo tho tributo paid by Thomas Dunn English
to tho durability of human friendship when ho
wrote:
"Thero is change in the things I love, Ben Bolt,
Thoy have changed from the old to tho now,
But I feel in tho depths of my spirit tho truth
Thero never was change in you.
Twelve months twenty Lave passed, Ben Bolt,
Since first we wore friends yet I hail
Thy presence a blessing, thy friendship a truth,
Ben Bolt of the salt sea galol"
In spite of tho alleged preferences of John
Hay and Thomas Dunn English, "Little Breeches"
and ""Ben Bolt" will bo favorites among the men
and women of to-morrow us they woro among
tho men and women of yesterday. "Man are only
boys grown tall, hearts don't chnngo much after
all;" and the things that have touched the chil
dren of the long ago will appeal to tho children
of the future.
RICHARD L. METCALFE.
this country a prosperity never before witnessed
Id the civilized world. If the deficit continues in
serious amount, then in one way or the other,
either our taxation on Imports or our internal
revenue system must be changed to meet tho
shortage, with every effort to cause tho minimum
of business disturbance."
It is noticeable that while Secretary Taft sug
gests tariff revision as well as stamp taxes he
seems to stand, so far as republican statesmen
are concerned, practically alone.
The deficit for last year amounted to $24,
000,000 and it is estimated that at the present
rate tho deficit for tho present year will amount
to $40,000,000. The party in power must do
something to meet the emergency, and influential
republicans" one after another suggest the ad
visability of resorting to the stamp tax. The in
fluences that were powerful enough to send Mr.
Taft into retirement as a punishment for "the
Taft Free Trade Order" will be sufficiently power
ful in republican councils to see that the shelter
which the trusts find in tho tariff is not destroyed
oven though the restoration of tho obnoxious
stamp tax be tho alternative.
JJJ
GRAVE AND INCREASING COMPLAINT
In his message to congress in December, 1904,
Mr. Roosevelt said: "Of recent years there has
been grave and increasing complaint of the diffi
culty of bringing to justice those criminals whose
criminality, instead of being against one person
in the republic, is against all persons in the re
public, because it is against the republic itself."
In tho same message referring to railroad re
bates Mr. Roosevelt said: "We must strive to
keep the highways of commerce open to all on
equal terms; and to do this it is nocessary to
put a complete stop to all rebates. 'Whether the
shipper or tho railroad is to blamo makes no
difference; the rebates must be stopped, the
abuses of tho private car and private terminal
track and side-track system must bo stopped,
and the legislation of tho Fifty-eighth congress
which declares it to bo unlawful for any PERSON
or corporation to offer, grant, give, solicit, accept
or receive any rebate, concession or discrimina
tion in respect to the transportation of any prop
erty in Interstate or foreign commerce whereby
siich property shall by any device whatever bo
transported at a less rate than that named in
tho tariffs published by the carrier, must bo en
forced." But in the Paul Morton case Mr. Roosevelt
showed that he would amend the law by striking
out tho word "Person." In throwing a protecting
arm around his secretary of the navy Mr. Roose
velt gave a striking demonstration of "the diffi
culty of bringing to justice those criminals whoso
criminality instead of being against one person
Id the republic is against all persons. in tho repub
lic, because It is against the republic itself."
JJJ
RAILROAD8' MISREPRESENTING OPINION
Tho Chicago Tribune's Washington corre
spondent says that the railroad magnates have
advised their confidential agents that the rate
crusado has subsided and that they will be ablo
to prevent any legislation objectionable to tho
roads. The Commoner has already informed
its readers, of the methods employed. The roads
established bureaus and sent out news items and
editorials for reproduction and many of the coun
try papers wittingly or unwittingly fell into tho
trap. Tho purpose of the roads was not to con
vert the voters but to fortify the representatives
and senators who want to favor the railroads
and at the same time escape the wrath of tho
people.
The railroad managers may fool the public
men in the coming session but if the president
does his duty the Issue will be made so plain
that tho next congress will be immune to rail
road influence. Railroad regulation can bo de
layed but it can not be prevented.
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