The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-17

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"Dalhousie. that great god Of war
| Lieutenant-coloi el to the Earl Of Mar.
Mr. Hampton Hoge's flop just at this
time from Democracy TO Republicanisn
may be the result Of an irresistible move
| directed by his conscience and convictions,
but ill-natured men will inevitably con
| meet II with his recent experience as our
nedgling consul to Annoy. His may be
| the case OF another good man gone
| wrong" but opinions will differ upon that
point. and. until the evidence is fuller
and more complete than at present, we
shall withhold our judgment in the
premises.
But. as we concede TO Mr. Hampton
Hoee. as well as 10 all other men, per-
feet liberty Of opinion. We pass at once
from all views Of the case connected with
his personality to submit a remark or
two on the reasons ne advances why he
will no longer be a Democrat. but will
| in the future be a Republican. Mr. Hose
| SAYS: 1.-THE day Of sentimental politics Is
over. and the only sensible thing for the
South to do is to view the situation from
q business practical, common-sense stand
point
Now. very many reflections are sug-
| cested by this. What does Mr.. Boge
mean by sentimental politics.? Does he
mean by sentimental politics theory
Of life which aims and endeavors TO have
government administered so that the laws
snail bear equally upon all. giving special
advantages 10 none and securing justice to
every citizen? one hates 10 think he
means that the day of such politics is
over and yet the inference that that Is
/ what he means IS irresistibly suggested
by what he utters in the next breath, that
| the only sensible thing for the South to
do is TO view the situation from bust
ness. practical. common-sense standpoint
| The burglar about TO break into and rob
a dweIIing-house undoubtedly divests him
| self wholly of all sentimental" consdera-
lions and views the situation from a
business, practical common-sense stand
| point" alone. We know very well that
Mr.. Hoge does not intend to say that he
proposes TO make his politics in the fu-
ture square with the theories OF the bur-
glar. but we tell him, nevertheless, that
when he adopts any scheme of politics
which ignores the Sentimental" aim Of
doing exact and equal justice to all,
whether IL is considered wise from the
practical standpoint of business and
common sense" or whether 1t is not, he
will adopt a scheme Of politics between
which and the burglars theories there is
no logical difference whatever. We pray
God we shall never see the day when the
South will view the situation from a
business, practical common-sense stand
point" and without regard to the "senti-
mental consideration of giving TO every
man that which is his. and we would
much prefer to see her always remain IN
far greater and more abject poverty than
she has ever yet known than TO see her
adopt as her guiding principle this utiii-
tartan, burglar idea OF mot caring what
happens 80 that it does not happen to
| her"
Mr.. Hoge also said that he plainly sees
that Democracy in its modern aecep'a-
ton is a practical failure.
Democracy in its ancient and modern
acceptation" has meant that all men snail
stand upon footing of perfect equality
| before the law; that government is IN
| tended TO have charge of those things only
which are Of general concern and cannot
! be regulated by the locality, and that all
| things which can be ruled and controlled
by the locality shall be left to its rule
and control, with no interference whatever
from the central government. In thinking
/ that that principle is a failure Mr.. Hoge
is as much mistaken as IL he should look
that he saw in It the embodiment of dark
ness That principle can never fail. II
is perennial, and bubbles up in the heart
of man, whatever may be his expressions
as the cooling spring in the arid desert.
II has its deadly foe, it IS true, and that
foe is the political theory Of Mr. Hoge' 8
new associates. that man is nothing and
government everything; that mans rights
are not rights. but licenses and privileges
granted to him by his kind and condo
scending government, which il can with
draw when it pleases; and though the
sturdy and undying spirit Of Democracy
stands dts lion in its path. and prevents
il from converting these United States
into one vast whirlpool Of socialism, II it
had its way il would make government
everything and man nothing, to be follow
ed when bosses" and corrupt politics
had done their worst, by a military die
tator and an ending. perhaps, Of our civil
lization.
MIR. Hcge is welcome to his new asso-
ciates. and since Democracy now knows
his views he may console himself with the
reflection that Democracy will shed no
more tears over his loss than he will
shed at parting with Democracy.
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ELECT A CITY COMMITTEE APRIL &c
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