The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-10
THE DAILY NEWSPAPER WILL
SAVE u.
WILL


Aristotle has declared that there are
many points in common between the gov
eminent of an aristocratic tyrant and that
Of a pure democracy. lie says:
"The ethical character is the same
both exercise despOusm over the better
class of citizens. and DEGREES are IN uie
one what ordinances and statutory COM
1nands are in the other. The dcmasoSue'
loo and the court favorite are not in
frequently the same Identical men, ana
always bear a close analogy. and these
have the principal power, each IN their
respective forms of government, taVoiltes
with the absolute monarch ana dehla-
ooeles with the people sach as have de-
scribcd.'
This is quoted approvingly by Edmund
Burke, in our opinion the greatest moral
and political philosopher that the world
has seen since Cicero.
4 kings favorite could not induce his
master 10 extort money from his tortu-
nate subjects more unjustly than the pro-
posed income tax fixes the burdens OF
government upon the class of American
citizens who are lucky enough to have
means. nor could he distribute the burdens
Of government in greater conformity TO
the leading idea of favoritlsm than the
Republican tariff does
We are disposed 10 think that IN the
abstract. Aristoues remark 10 just Left
without information to instruct their
minds or appeals to their consciences To-
arouse their sense Of justice, but be-
! wheedled and corrupted by those OF whom
J Aristotle speaks as demagogues. we be-
| lieve that men, ruling by the principle Oh
maiorities. would Cypress the most iof'u-
! nate amongst themselves as ouirageousy
as kings could he made TO do by theh
fayorites But the world now has check
| upon the impulses of men of which AIS
totle never dreamed and Edmund Burke
had seen only the dawn. That check lies
in the invention Of printing with steam
and electricity TO spread printed state
ments of facts and thoughts hot from the
brain of their creator instantly and al
large amongst all classes Of the people.
This being the balance wheel for the
good in a democracy, the corresponding
evil which it is TO check is frauds upon
the suffrage. When the people Know the
facts and understand them, and their
minds and conscience are aroused, and
their voice is freely and actually express
cd their instructions TO their representa-
tNes are always directed 90 justice all
around. Gut those whom Aristotle calls
dclaagogues invent and connive at ali
manner of fraudulent tricks which VIII
elevate themselves to places Of power as
and for the freely-chosen representatives
Of the people. when they have not really
been chosen for their places by the un-
biased voice Of the people, but have Sc
cured the places for themselves by cheat
ing the people when they thought they
were declaring their unbiased voice. These
men are the enemies Of democracy; they
are the enemies Of all social order. Thes'
are the men who cause democracy e
exercise that despctism over some OF thei
ferow-citizens Of which Aristotle speaks
when our democracy would extend justic
to all men If it had been permitted b
the demagogucs 20 act truly and Ireei
through the principle of majority rule
Fraud upon the suffrage then and IN
dcmagoeue Gin the sense meant by Arts
totle as the instigator and part
that fraud. are the menace TO democrat
institutions and the mark for an indepe'
dent press. We would not give III
; times purchase for our democratic il
situations without an independent pres
; When we see some Of our newspapers III
, posed TO fawn upon the demagogues j.
stead OF exposing and denouncins ther
we would tremble for our country II sue
subserviency prevailed. But our faith
our kind Is strong. and even one ieaiie'
journal can carry much tidngs to mar
u men When We think Of this our coural
: always reyivcs. Aristotle and buri
would never have thought as they ala
F" they had dreamed of a daily paper spre'
amongst the people upon the wings
steam ana electricity. We believe demo
u racv. accompanied by her handmade
o the independent daily newspaper, Is TO
the salvation OF our race, and in II
faith we defy the demagogue and all ,
C Following of sycophants. parasites, al
cheats.