Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-05-22


terests to engage in the work Of mould
ing the destinies of a commonwealth.
Cities and towns are generally consid
cred as the peculiar workmanship Of q
people, and are supposed to indi-
cate its individual characteristicts
the old adage. you know, God.
makes the country and man makes the
town. In this light, Wyoming-in the
array of her active and growing com
munities-need fear comparison with
no country on earth, though ten years
would be far too large an average to
allow for the term oftheir past existence.
All flourish, and the capital Cheyenne,is
typical.
This city stands, without suburbs or
surroundings evidence of support,in the
midst Of that Great American Desert, =
which in the biographies of our fathers
stood for the very abomination of desc
Iation. Yet to day it shames the theo-
ory of the past, just as a progressive
future may shame in the eyes of our
children, the ideas and beliefs many of
us regard as beyond cayil or doubt.
To enumerate few salient character
istics Of this growing city: Two systems
of eclectric lighting, in addition to gas
Cheyenne being the first city in the
world in which electricity preceded gas;
improved streets and ample waterworks;
an extensive sewerage system; hum
dred and fifty thousand dollars worth of
commodious school buildings, with mod
ern improvements and ornamental
grounds,t to serve the uses of an educa-
tional system of the most advanced
character; numerous churches with val
liable and well built places of worship;
three daily and four weekly newspapers:
property valuation giving larger per
capita than any other in the United
States; five strong and solvent banks,
with an aggregate capital of twelve hun
dred thousand dollars, all fully requir-
ed by the financial needs of business
and trade; q large number of palatial
residences; forty thousand dollar opera
house; three magnificent hotels; brew
cries; cigar factories; and fifty thou
sand dollar club house.
Capital has been wisely used to lay
foundations for future growth, and
on a basis capable Of expansion; in
fact the city seems aglow with
vigorous youth, unfettered with OBJ
structive traditions of the past,
and progressive to the point of re-
garding the inevitable needs of what
must become, in the near future, great
and growing State. So much for the
Territorial Capital with its active pOpu-
lation of 10000 souls-and it is at once
the example and the type Of halt dozen
hourishing towns.
THE PRESS: MS RELATION TO PARTY.
But have already consumed more
time than had intended-led away by
The tempting facility Of the theme-and
must recolect that am not here to lee
ture on Wyoming and its resources,
however matchless the one or marvel
Gus the other, but to discuss some topic
Of general interest to TIE members of
this Association.
Such, | apprehend, is the duty of the
hour, and have chosen for my subject,
The Press: It's Relation to Party; and
wish to consider it from as high stand
point as can possibly attain. To do this,
| assume in the very beginning, that no
matter how partisan in teaching and
tone the press may be, it should In all
essentials be thoroughly independent,
and self-controlled, otherwise its opinion
becomes as worthless as hired advocacy,
and its testimony little better than that
of a suborned witness.
In the mysteries of ancient Egypt,
truth was represented as veiled image,
and curses were denounced upon Kim
who with profane hand should dare to lift
the veil, but in this unfettered age and
this free land, the metaphor ceases to
apply. Whatever is, must be seen and
known, nor is there any priesthood to
interpret or explain, but every beholder
must think for himself. The right of
opinion must remain inviolate even to
question, for who can think Alright or
need to think at all, who does not recog-
nize it as duty TO follow his intellect
to whatever conclusion it may lead.
Political parties are the inevitable
consequence of free institutions, and, to
acertain extent, form guarantee of their
safety. The stagnation of despotism is
uniform; not so, the active life of a re-
public, bringing out diversity of thought
and of purpose, but, of necessity, failing
to regard the common good. This agi-
tation prevents stagnation; Just as from
the troubling of its waters came the in
fluence of the blessed pool.
khAs there cannot be fewer than two
sides to every question, it follows that
there must be at least two parties in
every State, ranging themselves gem
orally, according to recognized com
moaplace, upon the respective sides of
order and stability on the one hand, and
progress and reform upon the other.
Each must allow to its opponent the
honesty claimed for itself, so long as
there is any attempt to carry out the
principles professed, and SO long as fine
sounding phrases are not-half iron
icalIy--used to cover rapacity and greed.
The great historian, Macaulay, him.
Continued on fourth page.)