For it is certain that a natural result of our hectoring, bulldozing, overlord attitude toward countries like those mentioned will make them our bitter enemies. South America already hates us, and has cause to hate us. The manner in which we sanctioned the collection of claims against Venezuela, by the warships of Europe will not be forgotten. This feeling will be intensified by Mr. Roosevelt’s recent utterances, and will spread through all the peoples affected by it. If we are to compel these governments to knuckle down to every Asphalt Trust, or other speculative syndicate, which enters the country for the purpose of exploitation, the time will certainly come when our attempts to make them conform to our standard of what is decent and orderly in dealing with plundering corporations will be resisted. What then? Our navy can bombard the cities of the coast, but will our marines leave the ships and defeat the land forces of the interior? Evidently not. What, therefore, must we do? Send army against army, as we shall have sent navy against navy. Consequently the same policy which logically requires a powerful navy will likewise require a powerful standing army. _And our masters know it!_ * * * * * Mr. Roosevelt: Do _you_, also, laugh at young Garfield? _Please_ don’t give us any more of that silly boy. * * * * * More than one-half the voters of Colorado cast their ballots for Alva Adams, candidate for Governor. But Adams did not get the place. Less than half the voters supported James Peabody, and Peabody acted as Governor for one day. Not a soul voted for Jesse McDonald for Governor, yet Jesse gets the whole term of office, excepting the one day given to Peabody. The voters of Colorado evidently enjoy self-government about as much as it can be enjoyed. _The Lady’s Slipper_ BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY _Author of “The Two Captains,” “The Corner in Coffee,” “A Little Traitor to the South,” “The Southerners,” etc._ I THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT What happened to me the night before? I was not certain as to details, but I recalled the main facts with singular distinctness. I had lost every coin that I possessed. A hasty search of my pockets in the morning disclosed the absence even of that one louis which, on account of its markings, I had resolved never to part with, save in the gravest emergency. I was stripped bare, “down to a gant-line,” as old Bucknall would have said. That much was obvious. I had possessed no jewels save the ring I had filched when I took the Frenchman’s purse. That, too, was gone. I suppose I played it away with the rest.