Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-11-01
Political Manhood.

q
In all countries the manhood of the People
is eSeinplcfed ny their political institutions
In, applying this maxim to Republics. it be-
comes precautionary marked.
Every citizen contributes to the impress of
the laws, hy his voice. his pen and his ballot
And The good OF the many in contra distinction
to the personal GEgrandisement of tho com-
paratively few, is, the lest of true patriotism.
In defining the departures from this rule. or
the close adhesion 10 it. is. the measure by
which persons in the government form parties.
III the United States from the very first this
principle was cngrnfted upon our constitutions
nj organism. and to-day, it is patent in every
political impulse.
Selfshness is the motor by which personal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT takes from the many (who
are always in the class OF political dependency
that which of Justice belongs to the toilers.-
The government started with such an antag-
onsm. its Fedcralists wanted to impress. upon
| its separation from England. the policy lcgot-
| ten OF selfshncss; which Endorsed privileges
| and class advantages; the Republicans (lot
the present. so Called clamorcd for paiitical
! equality and by the blessing of kind Provi-
dence achieved it. but ever since our organism
as states the leven of discomfort has been as
serting itself: and is to-day manifest in the
lineal descendants ofsthe defeated .Fede-alists,
coming down, through time with all the inn
press CT primery antagoniSnl to political cqual-
| ity, as practiced by the Old Republicans and
| their dependents. The Democrats of this age.
| Let US see and in sceing. we have history to
| guide us The principles and the policy ofthe
Old Republicans and Democrats Is virtually the
same. barring the slight modification which
| progress has produced. and may be declared
| by noting that the enactment of laws and the
administration of laws, shall be equal in effect
upon all the people. and no Intelligent person
| will risk his reputation TO dispute it, and for
proof Iappeal to every organic or supplemental
| law. enacted by Democrats. since the year 1116.
| Laws of uniform application is q cardinal doc
| triue of the Democrrtic creed. and no sane
man will controvert it. indeed it is the ground
of offence in the opinions of cur ESQ called
| Republicans. Now, let us measure their acts
and doings, when in power, and their decla-
rations when ont of power. Their policy. to be
correctly cOmprchcnded, must he set forth as
| covered by diSguises.s They claim to be in
spired with love for the tniling. and profess in
their utterances to be III favor of equality in
| the application of laws. but when they make
| laws, they are always partial in their applica-
| tion, and:sO stealthy do they frame the laws.
that when administered, wealth becomes cx-
| c'npt, and favoritism goes free; to wit. The
most facile means of application Is found in
the taxing form which Expresses the many
tOilers of the country for the benefit of the po-
| litical favOrites of the law makers. who are
| kept i'll power by the beucfciaries of these
| acts. Thus u reciprocity between the law
makers and the power that elected him to be
a law maker is kept up; just as harmony is
created and maintained between the thief and
| the man who concaals the goods, which was
| stolen. So with the Force Bill it lacks every
principle of equality. aud is selfish provision
| to put in power, and to keep i'll power. the
! party when mas not merit to get there by the
law of justice and equality, and if, by some
unatual fortuity the party not in harmony with
our patriotic institutions, should come to the
| front, as they did, by the turn of affairs in
1860, and continued in power, by reason of
the results of the war. to 1881. and when the
the eXertions of q sober reflection, put them
| temporary ont of federal power. in 1888. BY
pledges to the rniliionares, who are their mas
tiers, and who are made such by segregation
from the pockets OF the poor. is what tariffs
demand. were given another four years of pub
lie sQuander, and treasury plundering; all of
which observation-disclosures of to-day are realizing.
What Cleveland's administration put iu tue
Treasury, Harrison's administration has emp
tied. There is not in the conception of the
partizen administration ono thought of econo-
my; every impulse seems as if he had acct
dentally come upon mine of wealth. and un-
less he GpprOpriates it to himself or his friends
quickly. some one more deserving might get
it. And ! challenge Investigation. to see II
what have written are not painful fuctS
/ Let them be remembered in the booths.
| V. VI. FIRoR.