The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-24
WHERE is WISDOM?

points on the one hand to tn,
democratic bankers, manufacturer
and business men," who, it says
took part in the Hanna money con
vention-men who abandoned thei
party and the cause of the people t.
help maintain the unjust favors ant
privileges Of their class-and ther
turning to Representative Bailey, a,
a type of free coinage men, asks:
where did he acquire the finan
cial wisdom which justifies him il
setting up his opinion against taa
OF every secretary of the treasur,
since the war, of the bankers anc
business men of the country, of mel
of financial experience in all walk,
of life, and of the delegation from
twenty-seven states to the monetar,
convention in this city? Did h,
get it in Copiah county, Mississippi
where he was born, or did he picL
it up ia one of the six cowboy and
sheep-range counties in Texas which
he represents?"
This is recognition OF the issue
Just as The Sentinel has stated it.
1t is between the bankers, and
brokers, and loan agents, on the one
side, and the plain people on the
other-the people of the hundreds
of Copiah counties of the country,
the people of the sheep ranges, the
people OF the corn fields and the cot
ton fields, the people of the mines,
the people of the factory ard forge.
1t is an issue between those who
profit by class legislation and those
who pay the tribute exacted by
class legislation. 1t is an issue be-
tween the goose and the man who
plucks the goose. If the goose can
not help himself, there is nothing
for him to do but squawk, but if he
is stronger, and is able to control
.he situation, he deserves all his
pain if he does not keep the feathers
God gave him. "But," says the
man, 81 am smarter than you. l
am educated. ! was in the goose
plucking business before you were
hatched. 1t has the sanction of all
The ages. The most advanced ma
ions pursue the policy Of goose
just as do. Do you mean
o fly in the face of the civilization
If the age? You small Drained
product of Copiah county, you
lweller in pastures and country
anes, do you venture to question
ny wisdom? Why, you were de-
signed by nature to be plucked. Do
you suppose you were given those
'oft feathers for your own use? Be
,ontent to add to the luxury and
'ase of those who know more than
,ou do"
1t is no new issue. 1t is as old
IS organized society. There has
lever been a nation where the
hrewder class did not endeavor to
ontrol government, and endeavor
o control it for their own benefit.
ar. Jefferson saw this clearly, and
indeed made it the very basis of the
lemocratic theory of intrusting the
ontrol to the masses. He says:
"Men, by their constitutions, are
aturally divided into two parties:
~ Those who fear and distrust the
eople, and wish to draw all powers
rom them into the hands of the
igher classes; (2) those who identi-
Y themselves with the people, have
in them, cherish ana
Onsider them the most honest and
lfe, although not the most wise
epository of the public interests.
n every country these two parties
xist, and in every one where they
re free to think, speak and write
ley will declare themselves. Call
rem, therefore, liberals and services, (,
cobirs and ultras, wings and ,
ries, republicans and federalists,
-istocrats and democrats, or by
hatever name you please, they are
le same parties still, and pursue
Ie same object. The last appella {
on CT aristocrats anj democrats is
le true one expressing the essence I
all.-WIitings, vol. z p. $40"
And this is the only justification !
lere is for popular government. !
hen the Journal urges the supe-
or wisdom Of the "bankers and
isiness men," why does it not fol- .
W its proposition to its logical
inclusion and advocate delegating
le power of government to them?
hat is what it means, in this case
least. To all such pleas for oil
archie or aristocratic government
e answer, with Jefferson, that the {
eople are "the most honest and
lfe, although not the most wise, de-
ository of the public interests. !"
Ihen these wise people come for
ard with proposals Of vast dona-
one IN hopdholders of vast ex-