Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1907)
m'i. '.s'fswfvyflir'1" fraW'' v ! i rk' .w: ' ..-i-3- F! k.rT ,; JANUARY 4, 1907 The Commoner, IS and admired especially those he had .delivered on the compromise of 1850. "The broad sweep of philosophical reasoning, and the boldness of state ment and prediction I found in them, as well as the fine flow of their lan- .gnage had greatly captivated my imagination. I had pictured him to myself, as one is. apt to picture one's -Heroes, as an Imposing personage of overawing mien and commanding presence. "I was much disappointed when I first saw that quiet little man who, as lie moved about on the floor of the senate chamber, seemed to be on as friendly terms with the southern sen ators as with the northern his speeches were always" personally po lite to everybody and whose elocu tion was of dull sound, hardly dis tinct, and never had a resonant note of personal attack or defiance in it. "But he made upon me, as well as upon many others, the impression of a- man who commanded hidden, occult powers which he could bring into play If he would. Indeed, I heard him spoken of as a sort of political sor cerer who knew all secrets and who - commanded political forces unknown to all the world except himself, and his bosom friend, Thurlow Weed, the most astute, skillful, and indefatigable political manager that had ever lived. "My most distinct recollections are . of the senate. The most conspicuous ' figure in that body was Douglas. He was a man of low stature, but broad- shouldered and big-chested. . .' "His head,, sitting upon a stout, strong neck, was the very incarna tion of forceful combativeness; - a "square jaw and broad chin; a rather large, firm-set mouth; the nose ' straight and somewhat thick; quick. ' plejcing eyes, with a deep, scowling 7 menacing horizontal wrinkle between i them; a broad forehead; and an i abundance of dark hair which at that period he wore rather long, and which, ; when in excitement, he shook and - tossed defiantly like a lion's mane. r "The whole figure was compact and - strongly muscular, as if made for con ; stant fight. He was not inaptly called the Little Giant by his partisans. -"His manner of speech accorded ex , actly with his appearance. His sen- tences were clear-cut, direct, positivet They went straight to the mark like bullets, and sometimes like cannon balls, tearing and crushing. There was nothing ornate, nothing imagina tive in his language, no attempt at z beautiful speaking.' "But it would be difficult to surpass his clearness and force of statement when his position was right; or his skill in 'twisting logic or in darkening the subject with extraneous, unessen tial matter when he was wrong, or his defiant tenacity when he was driven to defend himself, or his keen and crafty alertness to turn, the de- fenso into attack, so that even when overwhelmed with adverso argument he would issue from the fray with the air of the conqueror." GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIHP IN A DEMOCRACY w Grip Pains It would be utterly Impossible to imagine anything more distressinp than La Grippe pains. They are simply indescribable, and seem to be composed of all the misery sensa tions known. ., , . . !,,. Yet they can be relieved, and in a very short time by talcing -u Dr. Miles1 Anti-Pain Pills . , When the opponents of government ownership theory need a thirteen Inch gun to finish their antagonists they admit that Germany has been success ful in running its railways but that its ability to do so is to be credited to its monarchical and bureaucratic rule, things which are wholly incompatible with American institutions. Natur ally such an argument puts something of a damper on the government own ership enthusiast who does not want to surrender American institutions no matter how great the consideration. But the fallacy of such an argument is proved by the success which Switz erland, the most democratic country in the world, has achieved. Germany's success is made despite monarchical institutions rather than on account of them. The Swiss venture is only five years old but Carl Vrooman, an Amer ican student of the railway problem who has just returned from an eigh teen months' tour for the study of railway conditions abroad, vouches for the great success achieved by the Rusnnll Tins f1nnt hnforn him. I He found that Switzerland, which is a more democratic government than the United States, has given govern mental ownership a severe test and the experiment has been a "wonderful success." In Germany the earnings of the railways go into the general treasury, but in the mountain repub lic the surplus has been used to cut rates, increase wages and improve the service. At the same time the bonds issued to pay for the roads are being provided for and will all bo redeemed within sixty years out of the earn ings, leaving the roads a clear asset of the republic. The public has been benefited and the hours of employes have been reduced. And the republic's test has been made under unusually difficult condi tions for the cost of construction is higher because of the mountainous character of the country than in any country. The success of this demo cratic country, with its party govern ment, has been so great that Russell in his series of articles on the "com mon Good" holds it up as a model for the world. So that the theory that monarchical and bureaucratic govern ment is essential to successful gov ernmental ownership has not a foot to stand on. And to show that the experience of the Swiss is not unique under modern governmental condi tions-, there is Vrooman's reference to conditions in Belgium, a constitutional monarchv with an extremely demo cratic government. Belgium Is the pioneer in government ownership and has achieved noteworthy success. Bel gium has a greater amount of mileage in proportion to its territory and lower freight rates than any country in Europe with the consequence that its great port of Antwerp is rapidly forg ing ahead of the rival French port of Havre, which has been dependent on the service of private ran way cumul ations. And Belgium's industry is greatly benefited, too. Sioux City, la., Tribune. Let Me Quota You My Direct Prii On Split Hickory Bugyiem I unwilling to toko nil chances on roar not Uklng one of my KpMi Hickory Tiihtefa. i,ujct tobrin(rrtrtDrmsi,r)(lrfiindlnirflTryo3n rr. Mr iilKKr&talGforHnllt Illekorv tlnir-rlr mtimr r ltfilltrcrtmtBtylnt of bnirtfiM,Jid complete line of HlRh-OrauoUArzw. lrrnl jo Kterr Iniitxr ImII iroen out on trial. utlct to I otnino7,ifnotMtljirctorr. My I'KKK cUIgi; of Hpllt I lick or to have this hook. Ko matter wheroyou buy. ym one tit tread wiwn imTo w tny n ix) ti i my airoi mewoa ot toiling at prices that am from 30 to Uff, lower than you onn buy a, XmirvT ot aa high quality etrewhera. All my Spill lilrkory vthfelc are IjTiarnnUfKl S rear. The nnpjry Hown In this picture l mjr ituf .-unit uicKorr nracuu. i iiaYoannnure factory cm vmca totlio tnaklntrof thin ano Job. Write today f rent loir. A (xs hu-nuw nu you (font ny return maii.wun low price onuut teat uug glM&nd IlAraewa made. Addrom mo jwmonollr. U Phnlne Praaldeal Ohio CarrUp Mlg.. Ccmpiny, m awawv Btatln IE OH Cfnctanall, Ohio. J n nuiMiiiaTMO itf9JM Marl' NAMIgj ZThm cpoococooocxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Watson's Mersonian Magazine Published Monthly at Atlanta, Ga. Subscription price $1.50 a year HON. THOMAS E. WATSON, Editor. By special arrangement with Mr. Watson wo aro able to offer a year's subscription to Mr. Watson's Jeffersouian Magazine and a years subscription to The Commoner fl -Qaf5 BOTH FOR .... N "oa oi88Sl THE COMMONER, "woBRASJfA OCXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)COOOCOOO 8&V . m -'.tiaAS'JL. "fin- YPWliftjmMt,mtmmm0t A lump that (.'Iron more than Twlcu th Unlit of city Kav n Whlto IIkIiI, aliuohtmi 'nny to rami, wrlto or bow by ha dnriiKiit. a km JiKni controlled vy no uan Company or pnbllofiervlco corporation, a complete irwr plant wiililii tno lamp Itxoir uutoiuatlcuiiy n-uiiin , ItK own suiiply, bnrnliK Mtcndllr. without In-fit, tulor , orllrt. Tiiln modoni udnptution of Acotylono n MlKhllnu to hotiNohold iikq prorl-oH a hottor nfur, nnd '? uioro oconomlcal llKht for city or country houtoft thun , 'nnr othor yolnroduci'd. For doftcrint on method of -"'.- lojicrtitloii, coht und all partlcnlarn, wrllo for booklvt w .. mv o. iu, ajivi yiiorsi; i,a.u r i-u , ""'9m W UnJvorMtr I'lac.u, Now York". . "yr- 7K"Bfc!TV aiMi Aioniruni, i iinu, n Free ! the irreatest remedy on earth for pains of any IriSdf Their soothinsr Influence upon the .nerves Is felt throughout the entire system. ?SqLb Grippe palna all over me. and I was to such dlalrwB I thoujrht I could not en IS. it i thouffht of Dr. Wiles' Anti-Pain Pills. SSd after taldnp 3 doses the pain disappeared, and I SeS peacefuUy. My brother has a KwellinK on his neck, and uses them, as they las" the pa n. and leave no bad effects like quieting PALIA LANE Portage. Mich. If they fail to help, your druggist will refund your money on first PackaKe. 85 doses, 25 cents. Tever sold in bulk. Perfectly Familiar Minister Are you sure you .know your catechism, my boy? BoySure! Dere's four ink spots on-ue front cover an' de back's lore off. I'd know it anywhere. Judge. Three Points of View "When a boy has a fight, mother rivs 'Did you get hurt? Father says, 'Did'you spoil your clothes?' Brother says, 'Did you lick him?"'-"A Cheer ful Year Book." Spectacle -wearers 1 Listenl I want to prove to you pos 'Weljr that the Dr. Haux famous Perfect Vision Spectacles arc ever bo much Letter than any you have ever uhcJ before. That is th reason why I am making the following very extraordinary offer. Send me your name and address and I will mail you my Perfect Homo Eye Tester, free. Then when you return me the Eye Tester with your tett I will Bend you a complete five dollar family set of tho Dr. Haux famous Perfect Vision Spectacles for only $1, and this will include a nantwom pair of Kolled Gold Spectacles absolutely free of charge. t i Wni, n,;iivAW 5ifrrp.fi to return vou your dollar willingly if you yoowelE don't find them to be the moat perfect-fitting, clearest and best you have ever boof hfc o, at anv price. Send for my tree Eye Tester today. Addr, jttrf WANT AQEMTM ALSO afVLm imtiSkk anywhere, at any price DR. HAUX SPECTACLE CO 8T. LOUI, Mo. LETTERS TO J CHINESE OFFICIAL" BY William Jennings Bryan Being a Reply to "LETTERS FROM A CHINESE OFFICIAL" "A superb vindication of Anglo-Saxon civilization and ideals, wit ten by Mr. Bryan in answer to the famous "Letters From a Chinee Official," an inspiring and eloquent confession of faith in the standards and purposes of our race, and more particularly those of the American people, permeated with a wise and serene.optiratsm. There are pas sages that no man can read without elevation of his moral nature, SUBSTANTIALLY BOUND, POSTPAID 55 CENTS. address THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Nebr. i J iii ? jrftfeM-?