The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-06-23

1.-The Australian ballot has come
to all In the publication of politics,
but more remains TO be done in the
popula- awakening Of the people.
1t Il sometimes given as Il reason
Tor the apparent absence Of great
political leaders that there is no OPP
poffunity for inpassioned eloqu-
ence, and tha. the press has taken
the place OF the platform. The
newspaper has simply increased the
SIZE of the audience, and, as for
eioquence, it will exist whenever
occasion calls for it.
TWO FORCES CONTINUALLY AT
WORK.
''Fhe problems Of to-day are as
grave in their nature and as great
in their magnitude as any that ever
confronted our people-problems
upon whose wise solution depends
the welfare of the nation. These
may well employ the time and
thought of the best and bravest in
the land. In this, as in all other
governments formed like ours,
there are two forces continually at
Work-ihe centripetal aud the cen
trifugal, the ceutralizing and the
disintegrating forces. Progress lies
In the proper equilibrium of the
two. The centralizing force tends
to center everything at Wa -hington.
Follow it too far and the functions
Of local government would be alb
sorbed by the general government,
expense would be, increased, power
would be remov ID farther and
farther from the people. and it
would become easier and still easier
for some strong hand to seize the
relnS OF government and convert a
democracy into a monarchy. On
the other hand, follow the contrary
force too far and the bonds OF union
may be weakened, dissensions may
arise, and nationality tie lost. How
to maintain local self-government
and national supremacy,s how to
preserve san indissoluble union of
indestructible State,' is a problem
which viii! confront each succeeding
generation.
PERSONAL RIGHTS AND STATE AC-
TIVlTY.
"Then, too, we must continually
define the limits f personal rights
and State activity: With the indi-
viaual uurestrined we have anar-
chy. With the sphere of govern
ment unlimited we have despotism.
Civil liberty is the golden mean, yet
to find it has taxeI the genius of
the greatest statesmen, and will SO
long as government endures. What
more Important question, what more
necessary of wise solution than the
race problem as it presents itself to-
day: What grave dangers arise
from tno growing social inequality
among our people! The subject OF
money, its kinds, its volume and it
substitutes concern the whole peo.
pie. It Is problem which must be
met and sovled at once. What more
serious subject tor investigation thar
the proper control and regulation OF
corporations? We find the individ
ual disappearing and in his place We
see the fictitious person called corpo
ration. It is long-li"ed; it has nei
ther shame nCr pride. It knows
neither gratitude nor revenge; in i
responsibility is divided and person
ality lost. 1t has but one object
the making of money foi its stock
holders. 1t has its advantages; dc
they exceed its advantages; do they
.xceed its disadvantages Can i
continue to grow as it has done with
in the last half century without dan
ger TO the body-rolitic and withou
injury to humanity? What new
laws does its existence make neces
sary? All legislative bodies are be
sieged by beggars; men who seel
some advantage over their fellow
men by law. Indeed, to stand as al
impartial arbiter between the peo
pie as individuals and the people a
whole is one of the most Difficult
duties Of the public servant. Th'
avoidance of class legislation in its
myriad forms requires constant care
The protection OF all the people from
the cupidity of some of the peOpl'
is an ever-recurring necessity.
WEALTH IN THE HANDS OF TIL
FEW.
"The young man who loves hi
country cannot but regard with ap
prehension the rapid accumulation
of wealth in the hands of the few
Is this condition the result of natu
raj laws? Is it the reward of supe
lior int lligence, or is it to be attri
buted to unwise legislation, or to tn
absence Of laws that should hav
J been enacted ? Can a man legiti
mately accumulate in the space of
: single lifetime more wealth than h
can count dollar by dollar in tina
: lifetime? Does wealth bear its jus
; share of the public expense? If not
f how can it be made to do so ? Woul
: graded income tax be wise? Is tn
| time ripe for an arbitrary limitatio
| upon the amount of wealth a perso
! N ty inherit or possess ? Where ca
t we draw the line between usefl
} competence and dangerous opulence
f. How can we encourage thrift and di
coura e inordinate avarice? Impo
: tant questions these, any one G
2 which might occupy our time.
mention these few prob ms, yet III
: solved, not to speak { tariff an
]. and taxation, the Iudian questio
t and a number of Others, to illustrat
: great " ork before the politician, ian
e to point out how worthily every ia
e ulty may be employed in behalf /
e his country.
e "Nestor, the silve: tongued orat'
| of the Greeks, regreti ed that the got
!. did not add TO the vigor of you'
the wisdom of age. 1t is con
e plant as old as time, and yet ev'
5 unavailing. Experience is ever.
5 where useful, and nowhere of grea
A er value than in polit ical life. Nea
: ~ every great man in history migi
| be cited to illustrate the immen
: advantage which extended expeI
: ence and long acquaintance with