The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-04-29

State, in day when high judicial position reesiTed
that respect and veneraton which it should always
be the delight of people to foster and the pride Of
the holder to deserve.
Preserving the ermine pure and stainless as its
legend he returned it to his people without sFot or
wrinkle, retired private life, retaining in full
vigor and strength the golden opinions he had Won
until he gathered to his fathers.
In recalling the events and considering the chsra
acter of the men OF earlier days, note
as among the prominent characteristics OF that time
the spirit Of personal independence, intense in
dividualism, and the almost universal recognition
of individual responsibility In all things. As
equally prominent characteristics of the present
time may safely affirm viii be found the
decay of personal independence, and the almost
universal absorption of the individual into combi-
nations corporations and joint enterprises and as
a resultant, the abdicaticn in a great measure OF
personal and individual responsibility andthe deTo-
luton of it on artificial concerns.
The one was day of great men. This Is Rday OF
great corporations This may be a natural
queDce of increasing population and the growing
demands of commerce, but, in the weakness OF
human nature, it almost necessarily involves
decadence of courage, and retrograde from the
purest and highest types of honor and morals.
This division of responsibility, corporate
spousibility, morally speaking, has virtually become
responsibility.
The simple definitions Of the olden time have
been supplanted by names under a
plicated system, less readily apprehended by the
common mind, and calculated 10 confuse dlttlnc-
tons between right and wrong Embezzlements.
defaIcations, hyi OcrisGs evRsions suppressOns ct
truth and suggestions of fssehood and betraysls OF
trusts imposed, under numberless forms aud
names have gotten into our vocabulary and
are in general use in lieu of much simpler terms,
Though not pleasant to pOlits,) which would
have been used for like oferses in the Gays be-
hind us; and what would be dishonesty in indl
vidual dealing with his neighbor, becomes, under
this personally irresponsible system, Oftentimes,
superior sagacity and commercial shreWdness.
And when observe the wonderful ceEtralizi1s
and aggrega'Dg tendencies of the past two decades
in ali departments of b siness well as in other
respects, Importance of this factor in social
and moral fabric will be readily seen.
In considering the different social and moral
epOchs of the world our modern civilization would
perhaps almost find its antipode in the OF
knighthood. I do not propose to elaborate tie diff
ference, and yet there is, in many respects. more
kinship between early days and the Of
knighthoOd, than with the present time, and The
Nineteenth Century would not be harmed by
graft upon its Code of some of the aDinatlng Pri2
eiples of the representative knights Of the dark
ages
Their swords rust, their bodies dust;
Their souls are with the saints we trust.
A people who could retain or appropriate the
virtues of both eras, discardng the prominent de-
fects of eachs would reach 8 far higher standard
than has yet been attained.
If our legislators and representative men would
Oftener recall the past and mbibe its teachings as
this Centenary suggests and recognize aud appreciate
that truth is polygon whose many sides should all
be examined by the statesmen with much free
dom from pre-judgment as possible they might thus
acquire and teach to that fairness Of judgment
and moral decision which is at last the sheet anchor
OF tree people and the test of how they have used
their opportunities; and thus could ''ProTe all
things" yet ''hold fast that which is good" in
which is included the definition of all that is really
valuable iu-thsiEFrogr or onserVatsm.-E/<E
Individual conduct, the test of merit, and Indi-
vidual responsibility, the foundation OF in igmsnt
was the basis of public opinion in the Of knight
hood and OF our early day alike. It should be the
rule now. Our wealth, in a great measure, is az
gregated in the hands OF corporations eOmbins-
tions of individuals The greater part of intel
lect likewise enlisted and necessarily, there
lies power; and, consequence, there exists re-
sponsibilty, for responsibility should always be
measured by capacity. Every man or set of meR
should be held to account, here well hereafter,
in proportion to the good or evil they can do.
The greater the capacity, much greater the
spousibility. And just surely the swing Of tue
pendulum exact compeIsation from right 10 lett
so surely will the rule of the commune render Es
compensation for the rule of monopoly worse indeed
even than the rule of monopoly, in all respects fave
that the former, in its violence, brings ultimate
puThca ion; while the latter 50 far, has only brouR
corruption.
As public opinion acts ordinarily the indVidus,
we should always adhere rule of the TespoRss
bilty of the individual. Identify the man with his
work, and judge him rigidly by his performances Of
it. Let no false sentimaty excuse crimes against
the public bat let the individuals such, be helg
Vigorously responsible and allow the plea OF
divided responsibility, joint action, corporate
seals to protect him from the consequences Of such
as would be fraud or dishonor the man.
All men in charge of other than their affairs
in a trustees.
Let public charity be as boundleSs the sea for
private frailties but when undertake to for
the public or for others, charity is sentimental
ism Positions of trust and honor should not be de-
fled and the men who take them, knowing their
responsibilities should forfeit any right to appeal to
public charity if they betrsy their trust.
few words in conclusion especially to the citi-
zens of Nashville.
the capital city of the State, you should be- and
you are prominently the leader Of public opinion,
and the centre of social, moral and political inhu
ence By means of the weight and position Of year
leading men, their personal influence, their Oppor-
unies of contact with all parts ii the State and iis
representative gatherings and assemblies you have
in your power much capacity for good. Through
honest able and independent press, for the moral
tone and social influence Of which you are and should