Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-04-24
A GOOD TIME FOR MANHOOD
TO ASSERT ITSELF.

No keen observer of the times can
fail to detect the disappearance of
the old and vital issues that have di-
vided the two great parties in this
country for half a century. The
fight for human rights has been made
and won, and only in some of the
most benighted sections of the South
is there any denial of the privileges
opportunities that have been secured
for all men of whatever color or creed.
There is no difference of opinion as
to the policy of economy and honesty
in the administration of the affairs of
the Government, State or National.
All parties profess these principles,
though their servants do not always
carry them into practice. The ques-
tiov of the just balance of authority
between the State and the Nation
still gives rise to some fine-spun dog
matising, but the country accepts as
settled the doctrine that the States
are supreme within their local limits
when limitations are not expressly
set by the national constitution and
laws, and the Nation is supreme
where the grant was not expressly
denied by the people when they es-
tablished the national constitutinn.
Even the tariff, reappearing as an is
sue in the last election, is likely to
become subject of legislation by
commission, all being agreed that the
duties should be revised and nobody
asking that they should be abolished.
Verify, the old issues have largely
passed away, and the question occurs,
"What new issues are to take the
place Of the old ones?"
Looking for a candid answer to
this question, it is difficult, of course,
to say what the issues of a given
time may be. 1t is easier to say
what they should be. Looking at the
development of public sentiment both
within and beyond State lines, it is
evident that right laws and their en-
forcement constitute a powerful is
sue. 1t has overturned some of the
Westeren States and threatens to re-
volutionize more of them. Its force
is striding towards the East, and is
already commanding attention. 1t is
seen on every hand that too many
laws are dead letters, and too loose
and dangerous notions prevail where
sounder views should be inculcated.
This is vital issue and takes hold
of the very foundations of govern
ment and society. Ignoring it for
half a century enabled Mormonism to
fiaunt defiance at the national gov
ernment until it has built up an i'm
peri0 IN inlperium. Ignoring it at
the East hos s1uflafied several neces-
sary and wholesome laws, until at
last it is boldly preached in high
places that it is nobody's duty take
the initiative.
Another issue that is of vital i'm
portance to people who prize their
birthright is the question of honest
elections. This question goes to the
roots of things, and involves many
other questions of vast Importance
in the administration of the govern
ment. The extent to which money
and patronage have come to decide
elections in this country is alarming
to every man who knows anything
about our politics. The evil is grow
lug rapidly, and no man can longer
be silent as to it without ignoring his
duty as a citizen.
Still third issue of growing mo-
ment is the legal limitation of COM
bined wealth and capital. AS the
case stands to-day, the few million
aires who own the bulk of the rail-
roads and telegraphs of the country,
and whose Unsuitable greed and am
bition are constantly seeking new
worlds to conquer, in defiance of the
limits of reason and the highest well
fare of all, are largely the masters of
the country. A specimen of this is
sue was recently seen in the State,
where a powerful railroad combina-
tiOn brushed aside the plain letter of
the law and was only brought to book
by the Intervention of the court. ALI
such issues demand the attention of
the people. They demand action, and|
unless the old parties will array them
selves squarely upon them. They
demand thai the people shall assert
their manhood independent of parties
if parties fail to secure the ends of
justice and progress for which alone|
they deserve to live at all.-Ndshudi
Telegraph.
e MEN AND WOMEN.-Men lOyd
/ things, as facts, possessions and es-
T tates and women, persons; and
while man regards only abstract sci
: entiffc fact, a woman looks only a
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