Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-30
Tor the SPECTATOR
United, We Stand; Divided, We Fall.
No. A..

| The difficulty Of establishing and main
| tanning a free government is attested not
only by the rapid decline of our own, but
| by the overwhelming majority which
abridge or deny the personal rights of man
even in this relatively enlightened nine.
teenth century. The great minds of Eng
land and of Europe PROFOUND and discuss
theories and measures, but they sink into
oblivion under the magic wand Of desfot-
ism. Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot rose
to assert the liberties of bis oppressed
countrymen and by his daring and ability
elected the sympathy of the American peo-
pie which was expressed By great demon
STATIONS at Washington and elsewhere, but
Kossuth Was suppressed by the ponderous
hand of despotism. Bismarck, Of world
wide renowned craftsmanship and sagacity
spent his life in serving his imperial master.
The great Gladstone has frittered away his
opportunities without relieving oppressed
| Ireland. Wkst shall be said Of the rest
who have exercised power in timea 1t is
enough. The life of our young govern
ment is rapidly falling into the historic
requiem of fallen liberty under the feet OF
Unsuitable ambition. The observer Of
events since 1859 when John Brown made
open war on the quiet people of Harpel's
| Ferry and was commended by communities
| for his criminal violation Oh the constitution
| and laws of the country, and still is held in
| the highest estimation by the political
party which has dominated the country
ever since, cannot fail to zee barrier after
barrier in the constitution broken down and
the instrument itself derided as only suited
| to the past, and that the administration Is
only restrained By undisputed majorities.-
| The men who have grown up since 1853 are,
comparatively, strangers to constitutional
liberty, defended and accorded By every
department of the government. Four years
spent in the late war; returned destitute,
and permitted to live under military gov
eminent for G decade, then under gov
eminent of partially restored suffrage
without the education and POLITICAL training
of their ancestors, many are too much in
olined to fail in with the current which
promises advantage, but leads to the vortex
Of political ard private ruin. Were the
men who imbibed from their infancy to
manhood pure colonial liberty mistaken
when they warned their descendants that
the American system is founded ''on the
Intelligence and virtue of the people,
that "eternal vigilance is the pics of
liberty" They anticipated the dangers
which would spring up ia time. The
great Washington who loved bis country
and it's people left his farewell address full
of friendly wsrning and replete with
wisdom to guide us clear of the very
breakers on which we are drifting.
With the standing menace of the "Force
Election Bill" which is framed for the
evident purpose of lettering the white
voters Of the 3outh and relegaJiag tteIl to
the rule of q class and population who
are impatient to be again foisted upon their
backs, booted and spurred to goad them
into submission and the deepest humilia-
ton and oppression. When that calamity
comes South Carolinans will not have their
wise and pruds.t Hampton in official
position to restrain the rash irapetuosity Of
an indignant people. Other Southern
States in their blindness and folly are set
ting aside their tried statesmen who have
averted many covert blow. With aIz
tsgonistic races full of jealousies and rival
ry, iusiigaled by the worst Of renegades
and desperadoes, the Southern States need
at the helm Of State the best and wisest
men to prevent collisions and civil strife
Good government over such discordant ele-
ments is exceedingly difficult of attain
mens by the wisest statesmen--what may
be expected from inexperienced hands
paadering to local and class jsalous:es and
bickeflngs. Inc Soutnecn people nave
usually been cautious and grudent, but
overconfdence in their security has decoysd
them ii pursuit OF foiblts to the neglect of
the rally .ng cry of "Uoiied. we stand; d.
vidsd we fall" They appear to forget
that tbcy are continually surrounded by
politic.l f,es. The trifiing otnces over
ahich Il. often Indecent scrambles occur,
are not r orth ths strife, and should seek
the men best qualified and who appreciate
the great responsibility involved. Patience,
moderation and forbearance must be exer-
cised to preserve harmony and unity in
any party, and especially so in the Sonth =
Revive the patriotic cry of better days
Everything for principles and nothing for
men," 1t is the principle of Democracy
which should decide our action. The Gus
toes of the organization should be re-
spected. Ths time may soon come when
those VITO feel aggr,oved by present results
may have occasion to cali for the enforce
ment of its customs. Rally to the party
flag for the sake of the country, and the
election Of the gifted Daniel to the Senate.
CITIZEN.