Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-20
The Young Men OF Virginia

One Of the most encouraging sll,u., o..
times, III the present contest ia \ir,,
consists in the zeal aud enthusiast a..
which the young men ot the STATE Arr p.
ing To the standard of the Opposition q.
only those who have votes, but many on :.
, who have not yet attained their ma,r,
are found earnestly Interested IN IN. ,uc. ~,
Of the Opposition ticket. and battling ~.
all the ardor of youth for the triumph If ...
rect principles.
This lis an suspicious and an rncours,.,
circumstance. The impulses Of yourb 49,.
always generous, unselfsh. and ,ii,iu,..r...
ed. No cowardly fear of being in a MIN
ty restraints them, i'll taking position
apprehension Of defeat repre,srs their An.
gies or weakens their faith. They ,u H.,
contest as the Roman youth lid Of ,t ,
return with their shields or upon them
Ii is only when age, ACCOMPANIED ,,..l
bitter experience Of the world. root, On, a.,
mans heart the glowing aspiration. -,
generous sentiments which animated b..
youth, that he Is prepared for the narr.,
illiberal, and selfish creed Of modern Dem.
racy. As one grows Older. h. brror,n.
generally, more cautious. more selfish Mot
timid, and less bold and adventurous IN H.
utterance and maintenance of his opinion.
Thus do We see il So often that Den
Gratis, III middle age, were Wings IN tn .
youth. Thus do We see it so often the "a.
that men have struggled long and hard IL
minority party, and at last have discard.
their pride and their consistency, Tor H.
purpose Of shelteriGg themselves, ia old a..
under the protecting banner of IN" majorin
There is no sympathy whatever brwrr
the spirit of modern Democracy and O.
buoyant manliness of thought and net.
which characteristics every intelligent ypq,
of correct principles The radicaIism u h.
mocracy stands out. first OF all, in bold cr
PREVENTION u the conservatism and the o.
born chiyalry Of a high-spirited youth H.
injustice of deciding every question by T.
mere force of numbers, without regard p,
intelligence or nativity, gals his pride al.
sickens his spirit. He has an innate en-
sciousness that there is something radic.l,
wrong in this, and it takes him but ,hg-
time to discover it,
Unfortunately, in this day, a great mar,
men are more controlled by seltishneSs tia
high principle Edmund Burke announ,e,
years ago, that the age Of chiyalry h.|
passed" In the days of chivalry it Wa
counted an honor 10 be upon the veal
side in contest but in the present b,
men rush from the weaker to the strong
side, es if it were disgrace to be found c!
cept under victorious banner. loul.
men just entering upon the responsibIlIu.
of citizenship are told that there is no safe
no satisfaction-no chance for promote
except under the protecting 9gis of t.
majority. Perhaps they resist the appesI
frst-but, very soon, the feeling Of self.
ness may grow into their hearts; and
they are not possessed of an innate nok
ty of spirit, they wayer, and hesitate, d
temporise, aud finally yield and fall.
But, in the present contest, beside, Il,
instructive repugnance TO modern new is,
toned Democracy which every intellgs
young man feels IN his heart, there is al
sentiment of manly resentment an o..
them against the unparalleled oppres,i
which has been visited upon the minority
this State. When they see nearly one.Ls
the people of Virginia in number--s:
more than half in wealth and intelliga:
and patriotism and everything else that ,'a
stitutes the good citizen-trod down by
numerical majority, and kept down by d.
iron heel Of the oppressor--it is no WON'T
that their sensibilities are aroused and the
Indignation stimulated almost beyond e.
durance. They can hold no pgrley with
party which plays the rigid role Of tyrsnn
with so relentless a persecution!
All honor, then, to the young Whig'
Virginia. No gIittering prizes Of Office d..
zle their eyes-none Of the ill-gotten peIi
the politicians tempts them to turn from to.
path Of honor and independence, Like 70.
Roman youth, they have put on ia. 10.
ririiiS which designatcs the man-not aLol,
the man in physical stature and propurlua
but the man in all that il noble, and gen
rous, and patriotic.-Ly"chb'ny r"y'"".