The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-07-12
S'SUmplUary E-aWs"-GOV. TiIden

The Democratic Convention acted
wisely in dcnouncing the growing ten
deucy Of the Radical party to pass strin-
gent laws, designed to regulate the appe-
tites of men, and to prescribe when and
where they shall be INDUCED, thus
trespassing upon the domain Of conscience.
Such laws are in keeping with the witch
burning theories and practices of the
Puritans in the early days of New Eng
land, but lily comport with the enlight-
ened spirit Of the present age Of religious
liberation ana non-interference in the
private concerns and rights of conscience
of the people. As early as 1884, Gov.
Tilden committed himself fully against
legislation of this kind, and in re
cent interview with New York Her
aid reporter, he took occasion to re-
produce from pamphlet what he then
wrote on the subject 1t is as follows
Such legislation springs from a mis-
conception OF the proper sphere of gov
eminent. 1t is no part of the duty of
the State to coerce the individual man
except so lar az his conduct may affect
Others, not remotely and consequentially,
but by violating rights which Legislation
can recognize and undertake to protect.
The opposite principle leaves no room for
individual reason and conscience, trusts
nothing to self-cuiture and substitutes
the wisdom Of the Senate and Assembly
for the plan Of moral government or
dained by Providence. The whole prog
ress of society consists III learning how to
attain by the Independent action or vol
untary association of individuals, those
objects which are at first attempted only
through the agency of government, and
in lessaning the sphere of legislation and
charging that OF the individual reason
and conscience.
OUR AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS
Have recognized this idea more complete
ly than any others, aud the Democratic
party has generally been the faithful guar
dian If their progressive development.
In most Of the great practical questions
of our time it has opposed the lnterfer
ence of government even for the best
objects, and, because it was solicitous for
those objects, it has preferred to trust
them 10 Wiser. safeF aq9 mere efficient
agencies.
Then again toward the end.
ASSERTING the freedom of voluntary
association, it (our party has refused
special charters, and established general
laws of incorporation. On all these ques-
tons, which have largely occupied the
public attention for generation, because
the Democratic party has favored the
ends, 1t has rejected the means By which
large parties and many good men have
enormously sought to promote them. To
day, while it is in favor of sobriety and
good morals, it disowns system Of coer- /
Give legislation, which cannot produce |
them, but must create many serious evils |
which violates constIt4 doual gqaran- |
tees and sound principles Of legislation
invadea the r'ghtful domain of the indi
vidual judgment and conscience, and |
takes a step backward toward that bar
baran age when the wages of labor, the /
prices Of commodities, mans food and |
clothing wbre dietated 10 hin b. COY
ernment calling itself paternal. | need |
not add that in this conclusion, as we'll |
as in the general course of the Demo |
cratic party on these former occasions, l
entirely concur"
''Fhat was nay opinion upon sumptqa
ry laws twenty-five years ago, " said Gov.
Tilden, "and l have seen no reason to
change it.