The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-05-20
THE YOUTH OF THE COUNTRY.
footing the Tin Horn to Rally Them
Into the Republican Party.

THE YOUTH OF THE COUNTRY.
footing the Tin Horn to Rally Them
Into the Republican Party.
There has been no more comic politi-
.al deliverance of late than the bugle
blast of Mr.. J. S. Clarkson summoning
the youth of the country to rally round
the banner of republicanism. Dir.
Clarkson's instrument has the sound as
of a trumpet made from protected TIM
ware. and is certainly more strident
than tuneful. With Foraker, Thurston
and their peers blowing in concert, it
lends itself to such an orchestral effect
as that with which village humorists
are wont to greet questionable we'd
dings
But be- the vehicle tin or brass or
other metal, why should this call for the
courage and enthusiasm of young men
be deemed worthy of any response?
Youth may not be very wise, but it is
not usually sordid and calculating. 1t
may be disposed to make too little OF
the experience of the past, but it is
seldom attracted by intolerance which
has survived the causes which drew 1t
forth, and narrowncss of mind which
is the shrunken inheritance of devotion
to an idea. 1t may be in measure
true that republicanism was born OF
the courage and enthusiasm of young
men, but what is there in it to-day to
give scope for the exercise of either?
Certainly not the advocacy of force
bills or the fostering of legalized rob-
berry in the form of taxation. Youth
demands a chance to rise by its own
efforts; it is impatient of all privilege
ard preemption, and does most vehe-
meutly protest against being handi-
capped by burdens imposed for the
benefit of others 1t will fight for an
abstraction, but its imagination will
hardly be fired by cause whose objec-
! tive point is "boodle." Tradition. aSso-
ciation, transmitted beliefs, count for
much in forming the opinions alike OF
youth and age, but for the ingenious
mind at work on the political problems
of the day republicanism offers merely
the dry husks OF old controversies and
the perverted application OF once vital
principles.
There are, doubtless, young men to
whom Foraker is hero and Reed a not
inadequate exponent of the republican,
ism of Sumner and of Lincoln. But
they are hardly the kind for whom the
horn of Clarkson was footed. The son:
of the founders of republicanisn
whose presence he deplores as leader:
of the New England democracy repre-
sent a type of men born since the wal
who because they think for themselve:
will have no lot or part with the Fora
kers, WanamaIzers. Clarksons or Quays
who find it fit and profitable to be re
publicans at the present day. Democ
racy has for them the potentiality ant
the promise of all that is vital or iEspir
ing in the political activity of the re
public.
According to Mr.. Clarkson the only
difference between the economic prin
ciples of the republican party and those
of the democrats is that between linn
tied and unlimited reciprocity. Doe!
he expect to make much of the ad
hesion of intelligent youth, howevel
enthusiastic, that is ignorant of thu
fact that the greater includes the less
and that the partial triumph of a prin
ciple is less to be desired than com
plete one2
The republican party cannot AFFORD
to put young men in the front. The.
are apt to be indiscreetly truthful lik'
Mr.. Wolcott, the president of the Mas
sachusetts club, who said harsh thing
about Senator Quay and got off th'
| epigram which Mr.. Clarkson quote
with professed approval: ''We mus
drum out the mercenaries and rally th'
recruits" Alas for the republican
party when the mercenaries are dis
banded! 1t will need other leaders ant
other principles to attract recruit
enough to fill half the yawning gaps il
the ranks left by the cashiered soldier
| OF fOrtune-N Y World