Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-01-18

The frccst Government" says Webster. "can
NOT long endure, where the tendency OF the Laws u
10 create rapid accumulation OF pr3pefty IA a ne"
hands, and 10 render the masses Of the people poor
and dependent
Universal suffrage and great landed estates can
not long exist together for either the owners OF the
estates mus, restrict the right OF suffrage or that
right OF suffrage will In the end, divide their
estates.
Is it not time we paused in our career aud re
viewed our principles:
FreehoIds.
our institutions were founded upon equality. or
rather grew out of equality. that condition OF com
narrative equality. 10 property that characterized
The early settlers of New England They brought
with them me- great capitals and .fortunaiely for hu
mantN there nothing here productive, Z"
TEMPT investments. II one millionaire hal come
over In the Mayilowcr he would have blasted thec
prospect, of a continent: for ours, then, would
have, been a government Ia protect capital not Ia
l.or. capital would have shaped ". our ancestors
came herr all upon an equality a. a. property, or
rather - ." poverty. But the lands were all open
AMI free Ia ihcm. They entered into possession
and established The town :, stem, the hundred
acrr l"i -y-trm. thu district school system; and
upon thu foundation they hniidcd their Tree AMI
Christian republic an we've iillers of the -0il
fArmcr~-nut tcuaut farmers but frveholdcr-, hay
tug absolute omin alton over Their acrv>, rccognL
Ing no man a. lord or master No power between
Ih,m AMI the God they Wnr-hiprl They Werc
lords and sovereign, the u-rlyV~, and II We az a
nation uf sovereign, today u 8. only 80 Tar q, ~
an nation 81 ipchnllcr-. When these snNCi
e
Kind Of a government cuuli they fu0ns Only that
under which all were equals, all were >"ycrcigns
The, could not have formed any other u they had
tried 10 Ms this uc'c~~arN act ui IatrrHnS "ut
The anI into small free holds. .ays Webster, THAT
hNcd the future frnmr and form II their govern
m"nt.'
Dur New England ancestors not only began their
sV.trru ~ government under condition ~ com
paraiiyc equality 10 property. Tut all their laws
wcrc of nature to favor and perpetuac that equal
It's. This 1, undoubtedly the true principle OF Tex
!.laton. ANY system of legislation therefore that
tends To destroy this happy equality, wipe out The
small free holds and ccniraliLc The ownership oI
land. In the hands 81 the few no; only destroy The
nrn.pgrttV and Independence OF the people, but
-triAc- nj the very foundation ofourrrpubc. There
Z. nothing In this country 30 sacred a the free hold
IL wa. the immediate parent ui our Tree school SIS
tenn aud con ,tituts> the essential condition ~ 10,
i,ancc Tor In q county, u great landed estates the
district school stem Is ~ Impossible - 1t In uh
known.
Conclusion.
Al the foundation Of our free system therefore
Nr- the principle ot lot NLiTi, and II T. only upon
that principle II can b. preserved for II can rest IN
the love al only IL rect, IN the interests OF All
Move n from this Ia is ~ equality AMI our temple
~ IhcrN fall. aud then who -hal raise up u
stately columns again IL wa- only 10y the happy
,uncurrcncc 81 hr most fortunate CTCutu- thnccs,
our Con .iitutiou was framed aui adopted. NJ 9th
rr people no other country, no other age was equal
10 the work. How far bcy onl the power Of the
American people TO day g. such M achievement
We should know. since w are not able "a supply
L. one iic defect IN relation 20 counting TIE eie'
tnral votcs The wisdom and patriotism " Con
e,r.ss T. unequal 10 the task though urged % II b.
ever consideration of public safety. w. II our ~
pertinent of free goycrum. at shall fail nom the
earth. u will he tie kncll % popular liberty the
wurld over aui Tor all time.
tircru. Nu one 81 hl> OgHuOu-. j. lcd on mo 4
paue.,, ne upon the Roman Constitution. How apt
an hi- wori, when applied 70 our Immaculate
charter that cruwuing glory 90 the Rcyoluu"n,-ihr
master piece II human invention, n once the won
der aud hops. ~ the world,the Constitution under
which We live for. saN, the great orator. ~
wonderful system and discipline OF government
which We have received from our father, only
lei a. preserve IT." HARRIS VI. PLAlsIED