The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-15

SALEM, June l4.-ISpecial l-To-night
the annual grafton before the college
literary societies was delivered bv Hon.
William j. Bryan, member OF Congress
from Nebraska. The talented young
speaker chose for his subject. young
men in politics., because, as .he ex-
planned, II feel that there is wide
spread heresay in connection with this
matter that needs correction. There is
general impression that politics is de-
grading. People sometimes speak of
men descending into politics, as if it
were beneath them. Young men are
warned against its communicating inffu-
ence.
" desire to enter my emphatic pro-
test against such sentiments as these.
n land like ours, where the law are
made, interpreted and executed by
officers elected by the people, it is
lmperatively necessary that all should
participate in politics. and that public
service should offer its rewards to the
best and purest in the land.
There is much in partisanship, as
we sometimes see it, to excite dipust
ana even alarm; but may we not hope
That, as the years go by, as war uues-
lions are replaced by economic ones:
as men begin 10 realize that the saliva
ton OF the country does not depend nee
essariiy upon the dominance of any par
tlcular party, tho old rule that mem.
Der of party must vote for every one
upon mis- ticket regardless OF his quail
hcations, viii become obsolete.?'
After touching lightly upon duty to
country and the necessity of parties,
Mr' bryan dwelt at some length upon
purity in politics, which he claims is
not an "irridiscent dream" though he
did not mean to imply that perfection
is to be found here, But" continued
he, 81 do say that immoralities arc
handicaps, never helps in the race, and
If we occasionally find men in exalted
stations whose lives are stained by some
great i'm projections, we are sure to find
some great virtues that make their
average high. When the vices of men
are successfully used as their recon-
mendation in winning votes, and not un.
TIL then can we justly say that upright
ness does not pay.
Tho science of government, for that
is what politics means, is noble
science, and may well engage the at
age OF craftsmanship is not past. 1t is
mistaken idea that only in revolu-
tionary periods or times of great excite
ment or of civil war, talent of a high
order is appreciated or needed. Some
times the gravest dangers beset the
years of peace, for confidence begets
indifference, and Indifference is the
fruitful soil from which many political
evils spring.
Tine absence of upright and honest
men from the caucus and tho convention
invites corruption, while their presence
at the places where public opinion is
formed, and the real selec ton of public
offers made, would Cause the buying of
votes and the selling Of influence to
flee away.
Much is to be done by the education
of healthy public sentiment. The pul-
pit, the press and every educational So
ciety can be useful in impressing upon
such as are Indifferent sense of their
duty as citizens. Let the bride giver be
as severely censurcd as the bride taker.
Let 1T be disreputabl for the rich man
TO BUY, as for the poor man to sell, a
vote. Let 1T be as disgraceful for an in.
telllgent man to corrupt the ignorant
man as it for the ignorant man to be
corrupted. Let that man be looked
upon with suspicion who spends more
to obtain an office than he can honestly
make out of it,
DEPRESSING somewhat, the speaker,
next considered our republican system
OF government, saying where there are
two forces continually lat work-the
centripetal and centrifugal, the cen
Trailing and the disintegrading forces
Progress lies in the proper equilibrium
of the two. The centralizing force
tends to center everything at Washing
ton. Follow it too far and the functio
OF local government would be absorbed
by the general government, expense
would be increased, power would be re-
moved farther and farther from the peo-
pie and it would become easier and still
easier for some strong hand TO seize tho
government and convert a democracy
into monarchy. On the other hand,
follow the contrary force too far and
the bonds OF the union may be weakened,
dlssentions may arise, and nationality
be lost
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 the growing social inequality
among our people. The subject of
money, its kinds, it's volume and It's
substitutes, concern the whole people.
1t IS problem which must be met and
solved at once. What more serious sub
ject for investigation than the proper
control and regulation of corporations?
We find the individual disappearing
and in his place we see the fictitious
person called corporation, having but
one object, the making OF money for it's
stockholders. 1t has its advantages; do
they. exceed its disadvantages? Can it
continue to grow as it has done within
the last half century without danger to
the body politic and without ininrv to