The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-14
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER Il 1895.


One Of the chefest arguments that the
democrats Of the Ninth District are
using against Candidate Walker is that
ne promised them two years ago that II
he should be elected 70 Congress farmers
would get high prices for their products
and that prosperity would come TO that
section. If General walker did this he
deserves 10 be defeated.
BIZ. that does not excuse the people of
the Southwest for believing in such alb
surd promises. Ii is true that in the cam
paign OF 1896 advocates Of the gold stand
ard did prophesy that If free silver should
carry. there would be a great financial
panic. and disaster would come to the
country. They prophesied on the other
hand that II the gold standard should
triumph, confidence would return. and as
a natural result Of such confidence this
great country would inevitably prosper
But the IDEA that the election of a GER
dam man TO Congress will bring prosperity
r. the district. which he represents. or
that prosperity is TO be brought about
by legislative enactment is too absurd 10
be seriously considered by sensible men.
This doctrine Of prosperity by legis-
iation was learned by latter day Demo-
Gratis from Populists. The latest promul-
CATION by the national Populist party con-
tains in the opening the declaration that
prosperity Is the first right OF peo-
PIE, and from this it is argued that the
Government should make everybody pros
per. In other words. that it is the duty
OF the Government to take care OF its
subjects and to feed them from the ma
tional pap.
But in point OF fact. says the Philadei-
phia Record, the basic principle Of our
Government is that every mothers son
shall look out for himself. And 1t adds:
That was the primal idea when Adam
was thrust out Of Eden. Every man
should dig. Digging will bring prosperity
No digging, no prosperity. The theory
set up in this free country is that the
State shall prevent men as far as posi-
bic from interference with each others
Inherent rights and let every man work
out his own prosperity with his own
brain and Drawn.
Let the Government stand off and
attend 10 it's own business within the
limits set for 1t. The Pops are on the
wrong track
That is the doctrine which this paper
has been preaching day in and day out
md which we have tried to instll in the
minds OF the people. Prosperity is de-
pendent upon individual effort, and any
other contention is cOmmunistic II is
in the economy Of God that this great
principle exists. Man is not put here 10
fatten and prosper for the sake Of pros
perity only. II is the divine purpose that
by individual effort he shall bring out
latent talents and develop character. Take
away the competitive spirit. make
man dependent upon the Government
rather than upon his own resources. and
we would soon become a nation OF pig
miles and pulings Necessity is the
mother Of invention" says the old pro-
verb and there is world OF truth In II.
Nature does not work by sunshine and
calm alone but also by storm and con-
nict. 1t IS conflict that stimulates the
mental and moral faculties ami develops
tho latent forces. Democracy was de-
signed 10 make American manhood. to ex-
cit the individual and make him self
reliant. and to that end Mr.. jefferson
said that the best governed people were
the least governed people. The modern
idea OF government paternaiism is the
creature OF Republcanism and Populism.
and is contrary to the cardinal principles
o. true Democracy.