In this, the first decade of the twentieth century, we find new
conditions confronting the people called by many in the political
sense, "Progressive." There are many conditions in both the commercial
and political orders of the time which are deemed by the leaders to
need a change. For instance, the control of cities through new
municipal legislation, and a Board of Control, or Administration. In
the national affairs: The election of Senators by the direct vote of
the people, and by the means of primary elections in the States in the
nomination of candidates for the Presidency, instead of the old modes
of by conventions and legislatures. Time will surely prove whether the
changes called for, and now inaugurated in some cities and States,
will be any improvement over the former system.
We are now living in an age of decided change and advances. Everything
that conduces to the progress and betterment of society, in its
general sense, ought to be given a trial in order that the masses of
citizens may be uplifted and conditions of living be ameliorated and
advanced, both physically and morally.
It has been asserted that the Confederate soldier was addicted to the
evil habit of emphasizing his ordinary conversation in a manner of
speech not admissable in a Sunday school room. As a matter of fact a
great many of the hardest fighters and most gallant commanders were
real profane men, that seemed to believe that an order accompanied by
an oath would be executed with more dispatch than if not so given.
Many soldiers were kept from using oaths before a battle on account of
the penalty accruing from breaking the Third Commandment, to-wit:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the
Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain." I do
not think there was more swearing among soldiers than there was before
the war. To say the least, the habit is very vulgar and unrefined,
aside from its wickedness, and should never be taught children; yet
there have been occasions when an oath seemed to give an order more
effect and vim; still it is not advisable and should be only, if at
all, used seldom in any company, but such is the frailty of human
nature that soldiers are prone to do that which they ought not to do.
I am opposed to cursing, and think it ought never to be resorted to if
possible to avoid it. The human family, if it tries hard so to do, can
abstain from the habit, and they can accustom themselves to speak
without violating the commandment of God.