The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-10-10
THE hope OF THE SOUTH.
1T LIES In ITS YOUNG MEN.
To them we Must Look Mainly for the
Preservation of Liberty and the
Civilization now Prevailing.
Wilmington Messenger. ]

erty and the civilization now prevailing.
In few decades at fartLest the last man
who fought for the South will have died.
In few decades the middle-aged men
who now hold the Offices for the most
part and are the chief political factors
will be either dead or shelved. In
few years the sole actors on the public
theatre will be the men now between
twenty and thirty-fve.
In the South we see much that is
hopeful for the perpetuity of liberty
and the preservation of sound princi-
pies of government. The generation
now entering upon manhood have
learned to revere the memories of the
great men gone before, and to regard
with peculiar favor the basic principles
of civil and religious liberty. The
young men of the South are Democrats.
Here and there under evil influences
and examples one has strayed into the
Radical camp and is sucking with all
his might at the public teat, but the
great body are loyal to the healthful
traditions of the past and are building
upon right foundations. They are
looking to the Democratic party as the
great and only conservator-the olny
hope of the country. They are drink
ing at those pure fountains of liberty
and honor, of principle and wisdom,
at which their noble fathers drank and
were satisfied.
This is true, and it is very encour-
aging. God bless the young men of
the South! In them centuries the en-
ergy and hope of the future. Upon
them rest the safety, the grandeur, the
renown of this great country in the
years to come. May God endue them
with wisdom and grace and courage
equal to all demands That great
man., Goethe, said that the destiny OF
any nation at any given time depends
on the opinions of its young men under
twenty-five. This shows how i'm
portant it is that right "opinion"
shouldexist-that the young men of
our country should build on solid and
and sound foundations.
1t is good thing then for the South
that its young men are not caught by
the false theories and gilded shams of
the Republican party, but are looking
to the sources from which true Democ-
racy draws its life, its inspiration, its
hope. 1t was said recently by Re-
publican in Massachusetts, that even in
that famous State among the young
men it was not fashionable to be Re,
publicans," and it is admitted to be
true by the organs of that vicious and
treacherous party. 1t is said that sons
of former Republicans are now Demo
Gratis.
This is not surprising to any one
who has lived through the past thirty
or forty years and has studied history
as we'll. as watched the signs of the
times. There are many potent reason:
why in the North as we'll as in the
South the young men should turn away
from polluted streams to drink the
pure waters of natural life.
The able Philadelphia Record thu
discourses:
"'Ihe Democrat party stands fol
much more than free trade. The youns
men who acquaint themselves with the
history of the country will find that it
nascent growth was moulded by the
hands of Democratic statesmen; it
territories extended !; its commerce
carried to the ends Of the earth, and it
position assured as the first Republic
and one of the foremost of nations
These things were accomplished b,
permitting the people to govern them
selves and by exalting the individua
man and intrusting him with powe
over himself to bring about what wa
best for himself and others. 1t is al
enhancing idea for young men tina
they can run an equal race for fame
and fortune without government inter
ference or the establishment Of an|
preferences or inequalities, and Eith
out being cooped up between an,
specified territorial limit or CONNER
cial energies. AS the country was es
tablished by throwing off all unnessar,
restraint upon freedom SO it must con
tinue. The young men will see to it
Everything depends upon them.
If these words apply to Northern
youth, how much more to the youn
men in the South. Let them acquain
themselves with the writings of Jefer
son, Madison, Calhoun, Jefferson Davis
Alex. Stephens and Bledsoe, and the
study the parties since the war, AM
they will have every reason for stand
ing by the only party that is on th
side of the people. The safety Of fire
institutions on these shores depend
upon the perpetuity and dominanc
of the Democratic party-the party c
the people.
Then all depends upon the youn