Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-10-08
True Democracy.
BIZ ION. I'm. q. wilson, Of Vest
ViTginia.

tattOn from others, but ~ MS own lutcllsent
and independent judgement identify himself 2
Where VIII he fnd sentiments andpolitics that
are worthy of hisadoption and ardent support
Surely not in the Republican party. That is
to-day the party of reaction, while he belongs
to the future. It's leaders afe generally men
past the prime of life. who naturally believe in
perpetuating the conditions under which they
wonleadership and their party reached power.
Their craftsmanship consists accordingly in eff
forts to maintain war passions as lasting SEN
tlment, and war taxes as permanent policy.
The young voter can ind neither glory for
himself nor benefit for his country by support
ing them in either effort.
The great sectional issues, slowly ripening
from the foundation of our Government. were
fought ont by the men of n quarter of cen
tury ago. Every question submitted to the ar
bitrament of war has been settled, and settled
so indisputably that search warrant could
hardly ind, In all the land, q corporal's guard
who do not understand and fully acquiesce In
that settlement. The exceptions, If any such
there be. are tonnd among the old and the nom
combatant. The generation on whom the storm
burst met its fury are constant and brave men.
Honor and abiding glory arewith themen who
fought real battles and made real sacrifces.-.
But for those doughty warriors who defy foes
that no longer exist, who delight to insult the
vanquishrd and to reopen wounds that time
has healed. and who fill the arena with their
yaporings and. imprccations, there sfiould be
only contempt to-day as there will be only
scora and derisiou in the future.
History is always on the side of the magnan-
imous. Her laurels arc lavishIy bestowed on
f,,t
generous in the victory, but she will waive into
deserved oblivion and disgrace the whole tom
gucvaliant, postbcllum heroes, who still vex
our ears with their sectional cries.
But if there are no titles or brevets in the
army Of tle bloody shirt, which self-respect-
ing young man should aspire or consent to wear,
are the general policies ofthe Republican party
worthy of support? There, too, he finds rcac-
ton. Phese policies may be summed up in one
word, Capitalization of political power in the
Federal Government. Capitalization of wealth
in favored classes. 1t is difficult to say.swhtch
portends more evil to free institutionE, which
is the surest corrosive of individual manhood
and individual freedom.
The history of the growth of free institution
is history of the development of local self
government. That is their vitalizing principle
Under no theory or practice do we reach the
goal of government by the people, that gov
eminent that belongs to the people, not the
government to which the people Belong. That
government that deals with a citizen at long
range becomes his master no matter what its
name may be, or how its machinery may work
That government which he can hold immedi-
ately under his eye. on which he can constant
ly keep his hand. that is his servant.
Orr constitution. growing out of lf!e volun-
tary union of independent States. made 1t pos
siblc to combine the two. sovereignty for Local
affairs-fedcral sovereignty for federal affairs
"a combination that has been weightily pro-
nounccd the highest reach of constructive
craftsmanship. The party that overrfdes, the
autonomy of the States. that seeks to have the
general government interfere with and assume
to control matters which the States should and
ought exclusively to deal with, wars against
the fundamental principles of our institutions.
the law of their life and of their health OK
pausion. Yet such is the steady. unrelaxing
gravitation of the Republican party, and to-
day we find It not only. as ever striving to
gather all political power to the federal gov
crnncnt, but even to bestuw upotT it that
81 worldly omnipOtence that annexed to the
power of dealing out wealth and poverty ;,
Its chief existence, as avowed by itself, is to
maintain system of taxation that hampers
national progress, represses production, clogs
trade and makes war on commerce, and that,
having in all these ways diminished the earn
ings of labor, intcrposes with cruel favoritism
to divert a part of those earnings into the pock-
cts of chosen bencfciarics.
And worst of all false pretenscs IT imposes
on ignorance and plays with patriotism, by
calling this policy the : American system"
when in truth it is but the cast-off garment of
British craftsmanship.
More than 40 years ago, whcIf England
sought to widen the bounds of freedom, she
decreed the extinction of her system of class
taxation. In lifting the burden of unequal
taxes from the backs of her Iaborors. she
lifted political and social pressure which was
equally as heavy, and to a freeman fur more
CALLING.
This so-called american system" makes
the Flserican laborer more of q serf than his
English brother. From the current earnings
It gathers not only the bulk of the taxes needed
for tho support of Government, but even
greater sums to be bestowed in free and un-
earned bounty on those who are already so
rich that they are his employers. Out of these
bountics arc springing up monopolirs. mon
ster combinations of capital, and the trusts
that wrap themselves about with the mantle
of concealmcnt while they WELD the power of
swelling millions.
The Democratic party appeals to fhc youth
of the country to rally to its standard and
fight against these sentiments and policies of
this Republican Yarty. Over against the ban
ner of the Bloody Shirt it plants the flag of
restored union and a rcconciled people; flag
that represents no primacy of section. no
grades or geographical distinctions of citizen
ship, but equality of States and equality of
people.
against political Capitalization, by the miss
ing of powers in the Federal Government, it
fights for vigorous and healthy local govern
mcnt as the safeguard of personal freedom
Against the Capitalization of wealth by unjust
taxation. it fights for equality of burdens as
the condition of equal manhood. In all its his
tory. and never more zealously than now. it
has champlUned the cause of the Individual
1t has not sought to add to the powers of the
Government. bGt to the stature of the men
not to circumsCrihc the citizen witfincrcasing
iterlerence. hut to widen the bounds of his
free untrammeled actions. Trusting to the Gu
pacity and virtue of the whole people TO gov
ern themselves, it has never permitted a few to
share in the power of taxation as a reward for
their administration of government or as a
bride for their support of party. Knowing
that under any wise and frugal government
prosperity and wealth would come by natural
laws to our people, its concern has not been
how it might increase trade or wealth, but how