The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-09
THE DAY orINDIvIDUALIsM.


This is an age OF individualism, and
each and every man must be responsive
for his own acts, political or otherwise.
re cannot shift his own responsibilities
mon the shoulders OF his party. With
the lights before him, he must vote as
his conscience dictates, regardless OF
party influence. regardless OF party ties
regardless Of the party lash ana regard
less OF all onsequences.-Rlchmo hu
Times.
This is not an age Of indlvidualism, ana
more is the pity. II the American peo-
pie reach the high standard OF indiYiuCal-
ism set by the Richmond p1,er MY
wears hence we will have pefio 'med
wonderful work. When every nan
reaches such standard Of indiSidualism
political life will approach divinity
There IS fathomless distance between
then and now. The individual voter does
not assume responsibility for his own
acts. he shifts II on his party WIKI the
light before them there are untolu
thousands who do not vote as their con-
science dictates Millions are sun slaves
TO party influence party ties ana party
pies The Richmond paper says they must
but they don't and won't. The millennium
is not vet at hand. Political life viii re-
main rotten as long as the man Is sinful
We may by heroic efforts check the can
Ger OF political corruption and poitlcal
slavery and diminish IT'S offensiveness, ny
as long as the constituencies poAtcai JOB
hunter and the devil have free rein ara
occupv front ranks I'm our social ana
political organism just so long Will poliii-
cal indlviduallsm be dream The
chains Of chattel slavery never ratified rs
loud nor bound as firmly as the shackles
of the political slavery that untold thou-
sands Of the people OF America now
wear. The national campaign o. last
year furnished q humilIating ana as
couraging object lesson and let rs 70
witness the indlsputable fact that more
than n million Of sO-called American -i'e-
men are more thoroughly and complc'ely
vokcd I'm bondage than were tho cha ttei
slaves Of the South. Indlvidualsm Us
nlant Of exceedingly slow growth ara re-
Ouires much nourishment There are
s,cns that indicate that the season for rs
planting are at hand. We should tegln
the work i'm rider that our chl'dren may
rean the fruit. The Richmond Times has
mistaken its dream for realiiy.-koa-
noke Times.
we do not retract This IS an age Of
individualism. II has been said. ond
wisely said. that individual responsibility
IS the characteristic Of the nineteenth
century. There was time when the
Government was everything and the indi-
vidual was a mere atom. But our Gov
eminent was founded upon a different
nrincinle. It was created for the indi-
vidual. and its great purpose was TO Sc
cure 10 each and every citizen freedom
OF action and speech, and the right to
own property and pursue happiness.
We find the same principle exemplifed
in the Church. There was time in the
history OF the Church when the orgoni-
cation was everything. and the individual
member a mere atom. But in this day
tbo great aim Of the Church IS 20 promote
individual piety and TO develop Christian
character in each and every member
But these privileges carry with them
also their responsibilities. The individual
citizen is responsible for his conduct, re-
sponsible for the manner I'm which be ex-
erclses the rights and privileges Of free
born American citizen. lie cannot shift
his responsibility upon his party or his
government.
The same is true OF the Church. and, If
latter day religion teaches anything. it
IS that each member Of the Church Is rec
sponsible for his own acts, and must
work out his own salvation.
That men do not measure mp TO this
responsibility is no argument against the
great principle which We have stated.
The obligation is upon them, and they
cannot get away from H.
Hence we say that IN the exercise Of
the right Of franchise. every man must
vote as his conscience dictates, regardless
cf party influence, regardless Of party
ties. regardless Of the party lash. and
regardless Of all consequences. A man
may shirk his duty. but he cannot get
away from his obligations. lie IS indi-
viduany responsible. and must answer
for bic conduct