The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-11-03

uit8ob, ShulfasS u NtLn our pasl coh-
template the rapidity With which W
have gone from bad to worse without
holy horror for the
future-the immediate futures
| write from moral stand point
my avocation-life long, is that of a
farmer. Ny deduction. no; simply
from local surroundings but person
al observation quite extensive and
what ! gather from the presen, po-
litical agricultural, religions-eyory
phase, the general summary Is that
ruin stalks abroad.
True it Is the early and latter
ruins are still visited upon MS our
fields continue prodnctive-the earth
yields her increase, yet poverty stalks
abroad unrest, discomfort is felt In
all circles. Why is this the case: Is
there no way out of it? Does it par
tend good or evil: Is it we'll to no
tice if, to brood over it? Was Pat
rick HeDrys' speech "Why cry peace
peace when there is no peace" the
speech of pessimist, or a States
man! He Is not necessarily a pes
simist or crank who thinks over
these things, talks them, writes
about them. There is fostering sore
in our body polite that is too far
gone for more poulticing, it needs to
be probed, longer delay is to invite
hopelessness decay, all
feres the land christening ills a prey
when wealth accumulates and men
decay" These conditions ought not
to obtain in this young republic, they
can-they must be changed. What
led to them? What is the first step
out of it? A corrupt ballot foisted
these unholy conditions upon Ms.
Nothing short of a right about along
this line will check this onward
march to hopeless ruin, the loss of
our liberties.
Here in our old North State, the
birth place Of liberty.
Here in our grand old county
EdgecOmbe what do We see, it crops
out so plain that blind man, can
but see, there is, to put it mild, a
fixed purpose on the part of the DOM
inant party, the one that has con-
trolled the oestinies of this State, TO
carry this coming election, State and
by methods which this ex-
tract from a speech of Judge Ores
ham delivered at the unwilling of the
Grant.statue in Chicago 80 heartily
condemns.
This is what the great jurist sand:
We need men possessing the essen
tial qualities of political manhood to
resist the aggressions of those who
seek to make Of our politics, both an
art and mystery. Ineligible only to
the adept and initiated, who assume
the management of them by virtue of
their cnpgcity for the deft and art
full manipulation of their fellows.
Their influence upon the country is
corrupt and debasing, and the area
of political venalitv constantly en-
larges under 1t. According to their
views the whole interest that any
citizen has, in municipal, state Oh
national government is measured by
what he can make-ou of it. 1t i:
worse than idle to shut our eyes t.
the existence of corrupt methods ant
practices in our politics, which
threaten to subvert our free institu
tions. The people are often cheate'
at the polls and in legislation, AM
prizes which should be the reward o
honest merit are too frequently be
slowed upon the cunning and th
scrupulous rich. Real freedom i
not enjoyed by the people unless tn
laws are enacted by their honestl
chosen representatives, and their FIRE
dom of action inasmuch impaired
when it is corruptly influenced, as
controlled by force. The man VIII
accepts bride of any sort place
his conscience and judgement in I'll
vilest bondage. He is no long,
free. Argument is wasted on hi
Considerations of the public veal {
woe do not affect him. Bayonets
the polls would not control his col
troll his conduct more effectivel
| And men who contribute money
buy votes, and to bride the people
representatives, rs we'll as those WI
disburse it are deadly enemies of Il
republic. Their greed and love
power are greater than their love
country. They impair popular II
spect for law, with is the only SAT
guard for life and property; and W
be an evil day for the nation WIN
it its preservation depends upon the
patriotism and courage. They ma
querade in the garb of righteor
ness and address the people in t
language of patriotism, but thu
virtues are assumed; they are hyI
critics and assasins of liberty, a
would welcome a dynasty rather tn
shed their blood in defense of por
lar government. Their shamel
and insiduous attacks on free ins
buttons ale definitely more dangero
than the revolutionary teaehin
and practices of a comparativ,
few visionary and misguided N
and women in our large cities II
not such men as these, but the gre
multitude, engaged in active a
hardy pursuits who constitute
] real strength of the nation. III
, are not enemies OF law and ord
they do not envy or hate those "
have acquired property bA hon
methods, they bear their full sh
: of public burdens and SO long as
{ powers of the nation are not p
verted to their injury for the enri'
; ment of few they will rally to
defense with unselfsh and devo
: patriotism. Their energy and COZ