Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-05-18
The Young Mon of Virginia

One Of the most encouraging signs OF the
times, in the present con,es, in Virginia, consists
in the zeal and enthusiasm with which the young
men Of the State are rallying to the standard Of
the Opposition. Not only those who have votes,
but many Of those who have not Yet attained
their majority. are found earnestly interested in
the success of the Opposition ticket. and battling
with all the ardor of youth for the triumph of cor
rect principles.
This is an auspicious and an encouraging cir
cumstance. The impulses Of youth are always
generous, unsel6sh, and disinterested. Ne cow
ardly fear Of being in u minority restraints them,
in taking a position. No apprehension of defeat
reprcsses their energies or wcakens their faith
They 20 into a contest As the Roman youth did Of
old-to return ruth their shields or upon them.
1t is only when age, accompanied with hitter
experience OF the world, roots out Of II mau's
heart the glowing aspirations and generous scnti-
ments which animated his youth, that he is pre-
pared Cor the narrow, illibcral, and selfSh creed
of modern Democracy. AS one grows older, he
becomes, generally. more cautious. more selfish,
more timid, and less build and adventurous in the
utterancc and maintenance of his opinions. Thus
do we zee it so often the case that Democrats. in
middle age, were Wings in their youth. Thus do
wcsee It so often the case that men have strug-
gled long and hard in n minority party, and Mt
last have discarded their pride and their consis-
tency. for the purpose of shcltcring themselves,
in old age, under the protecting banner of the
majority.
There is no sympathy whatever between the
,u,r;k &C rnoHoro naum,r,,v ,pl al. l,o,,,t
m%anliness of thought and action which character
iscs every intelligent youth of correct principles.
The radicalism of Democracy stands out, fist of
all, in bold contraven,ion to the conservatism and
the Unborn ~chivalry Of n high-spirited youth. The
injustice Of deciding every question by the mere
force Of numbers, without regard to intelligence
or nativity, gals his pride aud sickens his spirit.
He has an innate consciousness that there is
something radically wrong in the morals of De.
mocracy, and it takes him but n short time to dis
cover it.
Unfortunately, in this day. n great many men
are more controlled by sslfshness than high priil-
ciple. Edmund Burke announced, years ago,
that the "age Of chivalry had passed" In the
days Of chivalry it was accounted nm honor 10 be
upon the weaker side ina contest-but in the pre-
sent day men rash from the weaker to the stronger
side, a. If it were a disgrace to be found except
under q victorious banner. Young men just en-
tering upon the responsibilities of citizenship are
told that there is no safety-no satisfaction-no
chance for promotion-except under the protect
ing ~gis Of the majority. Perhaps they resist the
appeal at 6rst-but, very soon, the feeling Of sell
6shness grows gradually into their hearts; and il
they are not possessed Of an innate nobility Of
spirit, they waver, and hesitate. and tcmporise
and finally yield and fall.
But, in the present CONTEST, besides the instine
tive rspugnance to Democracy which every intel
1igent young man feels in his heart, there is ais,
"a sentiment Of manly resentment among then
against the unparalleled oppression whic'
has been. svisitsd upon the minority in thi
State. When thy see nearly one-half the peopl
Of Virginia in numbers-and more than half i
wealth and intelligence and patriotism and every
thing else that constitutes the good citixen-tro
down BY q numerical majority. and kept down b
the iron he'd Of the oppressor-it is no wonde
that their sensibilities are aroused and their ind;e
nation stimulated almost beyond endurance. The
can hold no parley with a party which plays tb
ftgid role OF . tyrant with 40 relentless a persecu
tioni
Al honor. then. to the young Wings Of vireir
iefM frightening prizes Of Office dazzle thej
.s-y1e-aoas Of the ilLgottsn pelf Of the mercen,
=rxtsApes them TO tura from the path Of hone
! ea1iel<pendencei Like the Roman youth. the
70 = The tcga r1ais which desienas.
tk6Enet elone tho man in physical stain,
an1pssppe1cRR, BIT The man In Ill thas = mob