The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-01
WHY YOUNG MEN SHOULD BE
DEMOCRATS"

~ iooNN AAhH A~
DEMOCRATS"
Congressman Wilson, of West Vir-
ginia, one of the leading members OF
the last wavs and means committee oi
the house, and an earnest tariff reform
er, presents the cause of democracy
to the young men OF the country in
very forcible way. His article, which
appeared i'm the Wheeling Register,
should be read by all those who wish
TO know what true democracy is, anc
tariff refOrners, whatever their political
faith, should be glad 10 see this deiini
ton of 1t. MI. Wilson writes:
'With which party should young
man, who takes his politics not by
inheritance or by dictstion from others,
out by his own intelligent and lndepeD-
dent Judgment. identity himselfp Where
will he find sentiments and politics
that are worthy OF his adoption and
ardent support Surely not in the
republican party. This Is to-day the
party of reaction, while he belongs 10
the future. Its leaders are generally
men past the prime of lie, who natu
rally believe In perpetuating the condi-
lIons under which they won Leadership
and their party reached power. Their
craftsmanship consists accordingly In
efforts TO maintain war passions as
lasting sentiment, and war taxes as
permanent policy The young voter
can lind neither glory for himself nor
benefit for his country by supporting
them In either effort.
"The great sectional issues, slowl,
ripening from the foundation OF our
government, were fought out by the
men of u quarter OF q century ago.
Every question submitted to the srbi-
trament of war has been settled, and
settled SO indisputaply that search
warrant could hardly find, in all the
land, a corporal's guard who do not
understand and fully scquiesce in that
settlement. The exceptions, if any such
there be, are tound among the old and
the non -combatant. The generation
on whom the storm burst met its fury
~ constant and brave men. Honor
and abiding glory are with the men
who fought real battles and made rea
sacrifices But for those doughty war
riors who defy foes that no longer exist
who delight to insult the vanquished, :,
| and to reopen wounds that time has
| healed, and who f1l the arena with
their vaperings and imprecations, there
should be only contempt to-day, ss
there will be only scorn and derision ILL.,
| The future.
"History Is always on the side of the
magnanimous. Her laurels are lavishl,
| bestow ed on those who are sturdiest In
the fight and most generous in the vic,
tory, but she will wave into deserved
oblivion and disgrace the whole host OF
tongue-valisnt, 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
n seIf-respecting young man should
aspire or consent to wear, are the gen
eraI policies of the republican party
worthy of support There, too, he finds
reaction. These policies may be
snmmed up in one word, centraliza-
tion. Capitalization of political power
| in the federal government. Centrali-
cation of wealth in favored classes. II
is difficult TO say which portends more
evil TO free institutions, which Is the
surest corrosive Of individual manhood
| and individual freedom.
| "The history OF the growth of free
Institutions is a history of the develop
ineut of local selt-goyernment.
"That Is their viisliaiDg principle,
| Under no other theory Or practice dc
we reach the goal of government by the
people, that government that belongs
10 the people, not the government IL
which the people belong. That govern
1 Los a - rte nj
range becomes his master, no matter
what its name be, or how it's machinery
may work. That government which
he can hold immediately under his eye,
on which he can constantly keep his
hand, that is his servant.
"Our constitutions, growing out OF
| the voluntary union OF independent
states, Liade It possible 10 combine the
two sovereignties- sovereignty
! Tor local affairs-a combination that
has been weightily pronounced the
highest reach OF constructive statesman
ship. The party that overrides the
autonomy of the states, that seeks 10
have the general government Interfere
with and assume 10 control matters
which the state should and ought ex-
clusively to deal with, wars against the
fundamental principles of our institu-
,ions, the law of their life and of their
healthy expansion. Yet such is the
steady, unrelaxing gravitation of the
republican party, and to-day we tind
it not only, as ever, striving to gather
all political power to the federal gov
ernmeDt, but even 10 bestow upon il
that worldly omnipotence that is an
nexed to the power of dealing ou
wealth and poverty
ats chief existence, as avowed b,
itself, is to maintain a system of taxa
ton that hampers national progress
represses production, clogs trade, ant
makes war on commerce, aud that
having In all these ways diminished
the earnings of labor, in,erposes will
cruel iavorI,ism 20 divert part o
those earnings into the pockets o
chosen beneficiaries.
"Aud worst OF all pretences, it i'm
poses on ignorance and plays will
patriotism, by calling this policy tn
American system when IN truth il il
but the cast-off garment of Britis
statesmanship.
"More than forty years ago. whe
England sought to widen the bonnd
OF freedom, she decreed the extlnctiO
of her system OF class taxation. L