Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-10-12
TRUE DEMOCRACY.
An Article that Young Men Should
Read.

man, who takes his politics not by
inheritance or by dictation from
others, but by his own intelligentand
independent judgment, identify him
self? Where will he find sentiments
and policies that are worthy of his
adoption and ardent support ?
Surely not in the Republican party.
That is today the party of reaction,
while he belongs to the future. Its
leaders are generally men past the
prime of life, who naturally believe
in perpetuating the conditions under
which they won leadership and their
party reached power. Their statese
manship consists accordingly in ef-
forts to maintain war passions as a
lasting sentiment, and war taxes as
permanent policy. The young voter
can find neither glory for himselfnor
benefit for his country by supporting
them in either effort. ,I1 AK
The great sectional issues, slowly
ripening from the foundation of our
Government were fought out by the
men of quarter of a century ago.
Every question submitted to the
arbitrament of war has been settled
so indisputably that a search warrant
could hardly find, in all the land, a
corporal's guard who do not under
stand and fully acquiesce in that
settlement. The exceptions, if any
such there be, are found among the
old and the non.combatant. The
generation on whom the storm burst
met its fury as constant and brave
men. Honor and abiding glory are
with the man who fought real battles
and made real sacrifices But for
those doughty warriors who defy
foes that no longer exist, who de-
light to insult the vanquished, and
to reopen wounds that time has
healed, and who fill the arena with
their vaporings and imprecations,
there should be only contempt today
as there will be only scorn and
derision in the future. 3D.,
History is always on the side of the
magnanimous. Her laurels are
lavishly bestowed on those who are
sturdiest in the fight and most gener-
Gus in the victory, but she will waive
into deserved oblivion and disgrace
the whole host of tongue-valiant,
post-bellum heroes, who still veX our
ears with their sectional cries.
But If there are no titles or brevets
in the army of the bloody shirt,
which self respecting young man
should aspire or consent to wear, are
the general policies of the Republican
party worthy Of support? There, too,
he finds reaction. These policies
may be summed up in one word,
Capitalization. Capitalization OF
political power in the Federal
Government. Capitalization ofWealth
in favored classes. 1t is difficult tC
say which portends more evil to free
institutions, which is the surest cor.
rosive of individual manhood and in
dividual freedom. "H'~ $3.50
The history of the growth Of free
institutions is history Of the
development Of local self.govern
ment. 49,.
That is their vitalizing principle
Under no theory or practice do W.
reach the goal of government by TIT
people, that government that belong
to the people, not the government II
which the people belong. Tina
government that deals with a either
at long range becomes his master n
matter what its name be, or how it
machinery may work. Thatgovern
nent which he can hold immediatel
under his eye, on which he can con
stantly keep his hand, that is hi
servant.
Our Constitution, growing out {
the voluntary union of independer
States, mate it possible to combin
the two sovereignties-State sow
reignty for local affairs-federt
sovereignty for federal affairs-a con
bination that has been weightily prC
nounced the highest reach ofcOnstrut
tive statesmanship. The party thu
overrides the autonomy of the State
that seeks to have the general GOV
eminent interfere with and assume
control matters which the Stat
should and ought exclusively to dei
with, wars against the fundament,
principles of our institutions, the la
of their life.and of their healthy e,
pansion. Yet such is the stead,
unrelaXing gravitatlon of the RepuI
lipon port,- and tnluN Nrn find IL M