Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-08

| from solomon, anu continued. solomon
favored neither poverty nor riches. He
regarded that condition best which is
not at either extreme. but lies between
the extreme Neither great riches nor
abject poverty furnish us the soil I'm which
grows the best civilization. Those who
are pressed by poverty lose the ambition.
| the inspiration. the lofty purpose that
are necessary 10 lead one on to the great
est achievements. and those who possess
| too great wealth lose the necessity for
labor-that labor which Is absolutely es-
sential TO the development Of that which
is best in human nature. Solomon was
right. therefore. when he praised this
| Intermediate dondition for the great
middle classes are the bulwark OF society,
and from the middle classes have come
| almost all the good that has come to bless
| the human race.
Let me call your attention to the
| feet that when the meek and lowly
| Nazarene came among men and preached
| peace on earth and good will towards
men, He was not welcomed by those who
are described as people who devour
widows houses. and for n pretence make
| long prayers, but when He gave that
| great command, the Love thy neighbor
| as thyself," who listened to him? The
Scripture tells US II was the common
people who listened to His command
ments and who welcomed Him. 1t is the
greatest compliment ever paid to the
Master. The Scriptures say the common
people are the only people who have ever
heard gladly any man who preached
humanity and equal right. prolonged
| cheers)
IL do not mean to say that there are
no exceptions TO the general rule. There
have always been found among the
richer classes those who are filled with
the spirit OF philanthropy There have
always been found among them those
who were willing to spend their lives in
the uplifting OF their fellows, but | am
speaking Of the rule. Nor do / mean that
you have never found among the COM
mon people those who would betray their
fellows. You have found everywhere.
I'm every stage of society. the character
OF Judas. In any class are TO be found
those ready to betray their brother. Yet,
still. In spite of this. the common people
have been the great and telling force
that has lifted civilization to higher
ground.
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.
There are three forms OF government
best known among men. There is the
monarchy. where the king rules by right
divine. There is the aristocracy, where
a few control, and there Is the democracy,
which means the rule OF the people
themselves Why is 1t that the strength
OF the democracy Q do not use the term
In a party sense, but I'm the broader
sense); why is It that the strength Of
democracy has always been found among
the common people2 1t is simple enough.
II a man has high position or great
wealth he may be able to stand and
keep on the good side OF the king If he
has great influence. ne may be one OF
the ruling classes in the aristocracy, but
you are not willing TO leave any form
OF government 10 your children except
democracy. in which each citizen Is pro-
tected in the enjoyment OF life and the
pursuit OF happiness. The great common
people believe in a democratic form Of
government. because it is only in the
democratic form of government that they
are able to protect their rights and
defend their interests-as far as govern
ment can defend a mans interests.
Let me dwell for a moment on the
object OF government In this land. Our
government derives its powers from the
consent OF the governed. What kind
Of government will people consent 10?
only that kind of government that pro-
tects all, and which knows no favor
itism-a government In which every citi-
zen stands on the same plane, without
regard 10 position I'm society, and without
regard to wealth (cheers)-a government
which shows equal rights TO all, and
confers special privileges on none-that f.
the kind OF government that appeals to
the affections of the common people.
There are two things 10 be considered
in government The first is that in the
~ Iarfglutiou Ngu should be
careful to give no advantage 10 one per-
son over another, II that advantage can
be prevented 1t is the duty Of the gov
ernment TO protect all. IL possible, with
out Injustice TO any one. Again, govern
ment must restrain men from injuring
one another. That is one OF the i'm
portant duties Of gOvernment-to prevent
men from injuring one another-and the
government that fails to restrain the
strongest from injuring the weakest is
a government which fails TO do its whole
duty.
RINGS IN HOGS NOSES.
'T was passing through Iowa some
months ago. and | got an idea from
some hogs. Q.aughter) An idea Is the
most important thing that person can
get into his head. and we gather our
IDEAS from every source. Riding along
FOOTING in a field and tearing up the
ground. The first thought that came
TO me was that they were destroying a
good deal OF property. and that carried
me back to the time when | lived on
the farm. and / remembered that we had
rings in the noses Of our hogs. And
why? Not to keep the hogs from get
ting fat, for we were interested in their
getting fatter than they were. Qaugh-
teri The sooner they got fat. the sooner
we killed them. and the longer they were
in getting fat the longer they lived.
But why were rings used? So that while
they were getting fat they could not de-
stroy more property than they were
worth and as l thought of that. this
came TO me-that one Of the duties Of
the government, one Of the important
duties OF the government, is to put rings
In the noses Of the hogs. Now my
friends. don't consider this a reflection
on your neighbOrs daughter and cries |
of Hanna is already fat.D II Is pos !
sible under our form OF government 10 |
have justice, and 10 govern as the peo-
pie deserve Ours is the best form of |
government. because it is possible for the !
people TO make it; built on the best in |
telligence the highest virtue. and the /
patriotism OF all the people. But let me |
warn YOU dhdihSl NDhAlrlIS EOFtiItufil
with the abuse OF government Andrew |
Jackson said that there were no neces-
sary evils in government. that evils ex-
sted only I'm its abuses. He was right, |
my friends. (Cheers) There are no ne
ressary evils in government. and no man
who understands the advantage OF
government Will raise his voice against
I. IT IS the abuses OF government
AGAINST which we have right TO COM
plain.
CRITICISM OF ABUSES.