The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-05
aUsRss;ssllisssai;S;iils..7,.,':

oemlc. LIZ 16 making havoc with copsti-
tutsonal liberty everywhere, and win
continue its run zof folly. of Bplendor
and squalidness, Of magnificent preten.
tions and hollow deceptions. of arbitrary
repression and stern oppression and CO.
eroion. till interests and numbers enough
have been injured, to enable them TO
+SFm . o0m5ination powerful enough to
undertake IN armed resistance. The
crisis in human affairs which produces
aniarmed uprising for the decentraliza-
tlon Of capital and power is one that oil
classes of people and every interest is
deeply interested in preventing. But
such is the lnfatuation of those whose
ambition and aggrandizing schemes place
them in the lead of Capitalization of in
tereet, capital and power, that they
VIII not heed the cry Of the suffering
masses. -
The questions in this country OF issue
are, in fact. the same upon which Jcffer-
son rallied the people in 1898. There
are other Questions, but they are those
pertaining to policy, and such as arise
between the ins and tho outs Away
back of questions of reconstruction,
tariff and revenues, lies the deep ques-
tion Of constitutional liberty rersus CEN
tralized nationalism; of the liberty of
the people to govern themselves Demo
cras;callJ 0e5,SuS.imperiai despotism. Ii
this question was decidedly settled in
favor Of the people, there would be no
great Difficulty in adjusting all other
questions, but none of them can be per-
manently or satisfactorily settled as long
rs Capitalization insidiously robs the
people of freedom to govern Themselves.
No one doubts but that there is gen
eral strong tendency to Capitalization,
that the limited is giving rapidly away
to an unlimited general government
over the State, and the spirit abroad in
business, moneyed circles and upper
class" society rejoices in the consumma.
tion which buries State rights and es-
tablishes the ''new nation" Meantime,
the Journalists and political leaders pro-
tossing Democracy, with few bold and
sterling exceptions, are utterly oblivious
to the danger engulfng the liberties of
the people. They know, and the people
know, that Capitalization means the final
destruction of Republican institutions,
and the abiect enslavement of the toiling
masses. Yet these recreant leaders, so
far from bending all their energies to
arouse the slumbering passion of liberty
IN the hearts of the Democratic people
everywhere, are solely occupied in try
ing to assume conservative alignment
to the politics of the "new nation" It
1s astonishing, horrifying, that the
masses suffer themselves to be deceived
to their own degradation. But it is not
Never yet has the perverse bias of hu-
man nature led free people from free
dom to despotism, from Independence TO
degradation, from watchful, Jealous vigi-
lnnce to stupid indifference; but they
owed it quite as much to their own folly
and ignorance as to the corruption and
venality Of their leaders. The breath
that made them can unmake them, and
1t IS the business of the people to pro-
vide Just such leadership as they de.
sire. If they are not yigilant in the dis
charge of this dnty, self. constituted
leaders will soon assume the air and role
Of masters.
We dwell upon this phase of our poll
tics, and mean to refer to it continually,
instead of exhausting the vocabulary of
epithets In denouncing political oppo-
nents, however wicked they may be, be-
cause it is the only way to get at the
remedy for the evils affecting us. The
people, the Democratic people, must
turn their eyes within, and learn to de-
pend upon themselves for help and lead
ershlp; and then, indeed, will they be
strong. There is no help from without;
no arm that can save. A free people are
in no danger rs long as they are self-re-
liant, and watchful of their public SER
wants. Consider, oh Democratic people,
that resolution and cooperate among
yourselves, and with those who cry aloud
to. warn you, is the only means given
whereby the epidemic of Capitalization
can be arrested. The politicians and
upper classes" have caught the infec-
tion, and nothing can stay them in their
scramble after power and wealth but the
breath of the people. You have the
sovereign power to make and unmake
leaders. Exercise it! Unmake your
would-be masters; undo them; retire
them; put men, tried men, from the
ranks, into leadership; sustain them; rally
to them, and thus compel them to undo
the devilish work of Capitalization.
Louisville (Ky) Jefersonian Democrat.
. IynchbnrO {Viroinia\ halle NOM IN