The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-11-11
For the anderson Intelligencer.
Political DemaqOqueS.

The article on elections, published in Fri
days issue of the Greenville Ne,rs, induces
the writer to make some comments, not on
the article, but on political demagogues,
who, he conceives, have been the means, in
great degree, of the recent Republican
gains, and who, whether Radical or Demo-
crat will eventually work the ruin of our
government, unless there is q reaction on
the mind of the American people North and
South.
It is conceded fact that no government
from the days of Nimrod, the mighty
hunter of men, down to the republic of
America, has ever existed without imperfec-
tons. However powerful it may, at some
period of its existence, seem to have been,
yet ruin and overthrow was Il e final doom
of all, when the vital support of the people
was Withdrawn. Every form Of government
has had its palladium, around which clus-
tered heroes and patriots, but whc% callous
indifference seizes upon its supporters, no
longer it stands o beacon light Of national
pride and glory, but soon totters into an OBJ
livious nonentity. But the ruin of almost
all governments has been the work, in most
instances, ofpolitical demagogues. They are
the vampires that suck up the vivifying or
life-giving principles of the people, and are
the begetters of stupefying Indifference,
ruinous to any form of government. ALI
national evils and sins are brought about by
demagogues. 1t is by and through them
forced measures and bad Laws are lobbied
through Legislatures, which engender o
want of confidence in the government. 1t
was so in democratized Greece, and the i'm
pregnable walls of republican Rome, that so
long defed the laundering charges and on
slaughts of the ruthless hordes of barbarians,
fell beneath the emptiness of her own name,
when it was discovered that she was politi-
cally dead-sucked to death by demagogues.
The distinguished jurist and patriot saw
the fatal whirlpool into which republican
America wa, fast fastening. 1 refer to the
lamented Mr. Justice Story. Who can re-
call his prophetic words on demagogues and
not feel shudder for America. 'In
America" said he, "the demagogue may
arise as well as elsewhere. He is the natu.
raj, though spurious growth of republics ;
and, like the courticr, he may, by his bland
ishments, delude the ears and blind the eyes
of the people to their own destruction. If
ever the day shall arrive, in which the best
talents and the best virtues shall be driven
from Office by intrigue or corruption, by
ostracism of the press, or the still more un-
relenting persecution of party, legislation
will cease to be national. 1t will be wise by
accident and bad by system"
Have words ever been more truly spoken
Have not much of the best talents and the
best virtues Of our people been ostracised
and prescribed from office by intrigue and
corruptionP Else, why all the narrow
minded legislation beneath which the coun-
try has groaned, at least, during the last
decade National legislation has ceased,
and if there has been any wise legislation
lately it was wise purely by accident and
the policy and system bad in the extreme
For example, lake the Civil Rights Bill.
Where is the wisdom in trying to force
equality on man when there is no equality :?
Time alone can obliterate the differences of
races and make them equal; and then it
will be in a restricted sense. Arc men so
ignorant rs not to know that this must be
the work of time alone? They did knowit,
but the "negro issue" was one of political