West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-03-07
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Old Line Democracy.
4 Ne1o Party In and For West Vir-
gina0.

Ed. KEENAN, nave always
been Democrat. | am one yet,
that is if the party is what it used
to be in principles and practice.
But like Gen. Robert E. Lee, am
not one that plows toward the red
heifer, ''no matter to what part of
the field she may wander, before
the furrow reaches its end
Historically, the Democratic par
ty has always been the friend of
the people-of the common peo-
pie of the masses, however poor or
ignorant. 1t has been friend of
this kind, so firm and true, that it's
opponents have jeered it thus to
newsboys and Others: "Tm a Dem
oorat, ] can't read"
When, on that 18th day Of June,
1915, King John "Lochland," was,
at Runnymede, made to set his
signature to the words: unless by
the legal judgment of his peers"
the tree was planted. 1t has been
growing ever since. In 1858, when
Lord Leicester secured a council Of
twenty-four Barons, to regulate the
Kingdom, it sent forth its first
great branch. But larger and
more fruitful bough sprouted from
the main trunk in 1865, when the
boroughs or towns were allowed
representation. The tree with
these two branches, has become ex-
ceedingly great, casting a refresh
ing influence upon every land.
However, above both these giant
boughs have grown multitude of
lesser limbs bright with leaf and
flower and rich with fruit, that so
far surpass in splendor of array and
intrinsic value, their strength and
excellence as to leave them com
paratively out of popular view and
praise. And this wonderful upper
and better growth took form and
prominence on or about the Fourth
ofJuly, 1776, when the immortal
Fifty five said:
1--WE mutually pledge to each
other our lives, our fortunes, and
our sacred honor" in defence of the
principle 'that all men are created
equal that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalien.
able rights; x x that to secure
these rights governments are in
stituted among men, deriving then
lust powers from the consent of the
governed"
THE TREE OF LIBERTY.
Since then all 9kindreds anc
tongues have sought the re
freshing shade of this wonderful
tree, and have eaten of its life-giv
ing fruit. Thomas Jefferson, the
justly renowned patriot, was cult
vat,p Of the arbor when this fines
OF aN %rowths was attained
have beard that he was a Demo
erat; Also that he wrote, SIN ev
cry stage of these expressions, VIZ
have petitioned for redress in the
most humble terms; our repeated
petitions have been answered only
by repeated injury" Indeed, it i
said that his ffty-four colleagues
signed this statement with him.
There was a sanguinary struggle
of eight long years, during which
our fathers, half-fed and half-clad
fought beneath burning summer
sun, or trod with bare feet, the
frozen roads of our common coun
try, leaving, as tokens Of theil
zeal for liberty for themselves ane
us, their bloody footprints or deac
bodies upon hill and plain!
LiGerty perched on their ban
ners. Thirteen separate hands
could not carry the banner steadi
iy, ard the bird threatened to fly
away In 1877 Constitution was
formed and sent out to steady anC
to direct the thirteen hands which
held the banner, supporting the
bird Of Heavenly plumage so deal
to every citizen of this Republic
But it took two years to get the
writing agreed to by the necessary
majority, and three years for all tc
accept it. Even this Jefferson OPP
.>ospd II hacause ahuSeS were like.