The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1900-07-07

sort; out nations, IKE men, never
derive the slightest advantage
from the experience of others.
Each must tread the wine-press
for itself.
This anniversary of the repub-
lies natal day finds Us on the
threshold of a struggle IN which
the fundamental principles of our
polity are involved. We are to
determine whether the creed of
democracy is to receive lip-servlce
alone, rather than that passionate
| devotion which is the only inspl-
ration Of achievement. In the
near distance, they may loom
many questions which are but CO.
rollaries of the main proposition.
Are we to be half empire and half
republic. or shall we endeayor to
preserve the bomogeneity which
has hitherto been our distinguish
ing feature? Are we to maintain
the sovereignty of the people un-
impaired. or shall we acknowledge
the supremacy of the oyerwcenlng
corporations? Is the control Of
the nations currency to rest1n
the nations hands, or shall that
molding power be delegated to
organized capital? |, the doctrine
of mo taxation without represen
tatiOn' to remain as our reason
of being, or shall we wiring the
fruits of toll from alien peoples,
by the power Of the sword: Is the
protection of the constitution to
be confined within certain geogra-
phical limits, while the inhabi-
tants of less favored territory It.
ceive as an aims what Americans
have been taught to demand as a
right?
These are problems which touch
our national existence, at every
point. \ republic cannot survive
| the violation. of the basic princi-
pies of freedom, any more than a
monarchy may thrive nnder the
sway of bastard kings. The sug-
gcstion Of cXpedjency may be fol-
/ lowed IN some crisis when the
landmarks of constitutional gov
ernment are hidden from view,
for the moment; but the attempt
to steer continually by dead rcCk-
Oning is sure to hurl the ship of
state upon the breakers. 1t is fol
ly to think that we are exempt
from the operation of laws which
are an integral part Of the warp
and woof of the universe.
In this era of riOtOus material
prosperity, it bchooyes us to re-
member that devotion to the pure
principles of democratic govern
ment was the secret of the great
ness Cf the remarkable men who
laid the broad and deep founda-
tions of the United States. We
were poor, but we were strong.
England was then, as now, the
foremost exponent of the imperial
principle, and her American pos
sessions were ruled in accordance
with the requirements of lex tai
ionis. Bunker Hill and Yorktown
o,n, alPI t''o"nC a'io.' vn"V 'n'o " o"'" VI Il
ICY 1oI " "u'"o'"t was ~ oe
t+i"ot;a w yWoi4,,, Il''4, >i,'v ~; III
puts it: son this question of
principle, while actual suffering
was yet afar off, they (thc Colon
! ies) raised their flag against a
power, to which. for purposes of
foreign conquest and subiuoation.
Rome, in the height Of her glory.
is not to be romDared-a nowcr
which has dotted the surface of
the whole globe with her possess
ions and military no-ts whoso
mornino drum-hnat foIIov.;n,r tbo
, snn and knrninu romnanv Win
tho hours rircln2 tbo narfb Win
one continuous and unbrol<cn
strain of thn martial a;rs If In.
nIanJ ,, tnI nnn- tboya IT,
iavs If thn contnr,, n,,. qoot.n,T
arm;o, ora n.oJ tn ion,, w - ~, otLa,. I',,.,
what woso .t,onuon.'l,, |2a;n,a,I ~ CIIfl e.
nnrsoIvoI ~ tIo ,nH,n;nlI ~ = a,Ir U'
1,~,,tI - - t'l ',.,,'77 ,''''7 ~ - ~
t,"'mr - - ~ PG SUpP'SG" .: I.laC
Ln+;"d i,2 :, - t,a;,,g ~ ~ ~ 'lG 1''l
,ia, = n rs ol;,tlI .} Icy NO.
"f r,nn - ~ ',',vl ahua '''tsl S ii"'SeS I
,,,,,aI ~ ''''l ''l'
'l'ot ' t i'' Go'i''tIo,,1 I;';II i'on PI1S' up
ot f h; nc a,, ',l''' ,''''''' 1T every stage
3 u ms '"' ''''
IL IS common experience that
, wealth ana power BRING the really
lrreoilstIoIe temptations. IN the
| dep,h9. OF adEeEsity, the grandest
IQUaIltIcS OF human nature ale de