Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-04
The RULE OF DEAD MEN.

The RULE OF DEAD MEN.
There are some things which this
newspaper does not know, and it
might be as we'll to admit that we
may be mistaken in some other things,
which we think we do know; but
we propose to have our say.
There are some stereotyped express
ions that ought to be done away with,
and there are some cast-iron rules or
laws of the Democratic party that
ought to be broken.
A new order of things prevails and
the old dead and petrified ideas OF
half a century ago are now exploded
theories which do not fit the existing
circumstances, or answer the present
interests of the country.
In the days of Calhoun, quite diff.
ferent condition existed in the south
from that which obtains at this time.
But his old antedeluvian ideas are still
occasionally brought from the seclu-
sion of the musty records of a dead
past and busted and FURNISHED to do
duty in the living present. Under
the teachings in the years that are
past we were not taught to do any
thinking for ourselves, but were ex-
pected to take the words of Calhoun
as the law and the gospel which none
could question.
Before the war, and during slavery,
the south or the cotton states, was an
agricultural people, and, like Calhoun,
believed in free trade.
The south was an agricultural peo-
pie
1st. Because of the presence OF
slaves.
I'd. Because it was not desirable to
furnish in factories employment for
"the poor white trash" whose room
was more desirable than their pres
ence.
Sd. Because poor white men might
be opposed to the interests of the slave
owner, and might possibly at some
time have the courage of their convlc-
tions, it was therefore deemed best to
have him "move on"
4th. Because the slave-owners, in
the interest of slavery, adopted the
policy of buying the small tracts own
ed by white men, and then refusing to
sell land to non-slaveholders. AS re-
suit. the non-slaveholders went to the
west.
While thousands of the truest and
best white men of the south were year
ly sent to the frontiers, the ideas of
free trade, and "this is an agricultural
country" were instilled into the minds
and heart of all, while the 'free trade''
doctrine was grated upon the platform
of the Democratic party.
With slavery and the domination OF
the slaveholding autocrat, agriculture
and free trade was the sheet anchor of
Democracy. The shareholders ruled,
and it was little less than treason for
poor white trash to entertain any po-
litical ideas that were at variance
with those of the slaveowners. Hence
the south was unit politically. This
unity gave the south strength, and
this strength drew to it an element OF
the north, and the coalition ruled the
country for long time.
Mr.. Calhoun was an extreme man
on many subjects, and we believe
unlike the dead men who are follow
ing him today-he sometimes changed
his mind. And at other times rays OF
new light penetrated his brain but
the majority of the plans or principles
which he advocated are now exploded
ideas, and are only recorded as errors
in the history of the past, if applied
to the present.
In fact, it might be said that CAL
houn swung the circle.
For instance: He was free trader
and at same time was a nullifier of the
laws of the United States he was o
believer in states rights-the right OF
secession he believed in slavery ne
introduced in congress bill to punish
most severely any postmaster who
would knowingly receive or distribute
printed matter that was intended to
promulgate abolition ideas; he LETT the
Democratic party and co-operated with
the Wings; he, like some men OF this
day, believed that the president Of the
United States was corrupt; he denied
the power of states to confer on aliens
the right of voting.
The craftsmanship of Calhoun was
from the standpoint of slavery and all
his principles have been overshadowed,
and relegated to the rear.
Slavery having passed away, the
cornerstone of his doctrine has been
removed.
To say that the political condition
of the slave states had not changed,
and to say that the policy which gov
erned in the time of slavery would an
swer for today is to say that the for
mer days were better than these, and
that we have learned nothing in so
years.
Sound principle will survive the