Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-04-24
social equality dogma, to the tune of
which tho soul of John Brown is still


"marching on"
Taxation for the purpose of equali@ing
or redistributing property is rank social
ism; not democracy. Let it take hold in
the South and with it will 90 those bar
riers which we have erected to maintain
the purity of our race and the integrity
| of our civilization.
folly to oppose OK xpansiop undor the
name of imperialism. 1t deceives no
man of intelligence. He understands
that there Is no analogy between this
| country and tho Roman Empire, and that
those who talk of Imperialism do not
take into account that power which is
born of our free institutions, fortress
any ever built of stone. AS long az this
is they can never become slaves; and
when it is dead 1t matters not whether
under republic or empire, they become
an easy prey. Itdepends upon tho peo-
ple, not the government, whether they
be slaves orsfrcemen. 1t is tho people
that mako tho government, not tho gov
intelligent peoplo, with n free press and
popular education, there can be no i'm
porialism. Why should wo bo afraid to
trust ourselves? The whole tendency of
tho times and the spirit of tho ago is
toward democratic instead of imperialis-
tic ideas of government.
| Tho throne of tho "Grcat White Czar'
tremblos to-day at the roar of tho Demo-
| cratic Lion, and tho echoes resOund evon
from tho far off Orient.
Our people understand that it is not
actual territory or dominion over people
that we sock, but the expansion of
American thought, ideas of government,
commerce and civilization.
Political leaders might as we'll learn
that tho law of progress will sweep away
as chaf those who would place barriers
against this mighty tide which Is des-
tined to spread the Democratic idea of
government to the uttermost bounds OF
tho earth. My definition of Democracy
is liberty to man, formulated into the
ory of government. 1t means mans
inalienable ownership of himself; 1t
means free thought and free spceoh.
In the dark ages of tho past some poor
slavo raised his bowed head and looking
up into tho blue sky caught inspiration
from Gods FREQ air and sunshine that he
that vision of liberty has been an undy.
ing revelation for every ago and all
climos.
Grecian and Roman slaves saw the
heavenly light, and, facing their masters
swords, bravely died. Saxon churl, with
wooden collar, and our own fathers, al
Cowpens and Kings Mountain, looked
q
smile of Joy gavo up their lives.
Why need true Democracy hunt fol
issues in our relations with foreign
countries? 1t is upon domestic prob
lens, the rights Of man and tho relation
of labor and capital and it's stand upon
these homo issues that has cndearcd il
to the people III tho past and upon which
it must finally stand or fall.
1t is folly to attempt to dwarf groa
national and International issues into
mere questions of party politics.; il
failed in tho last campaign, and will fai
cvery timc it is tried.
Every member of the American Con
grcss, when it comes to foreign policy
a foreign war, an army, IL navy, a MGR
chant marine, or any other question
eifccting our honor as nation, or oul
prosperity as a people, should be free
and untrammcled to vote as his judg
ment and conscience dictates. ZAP
plauSe. For myself, | would not, under
, existing conditions, bo willing to hole
seat in the United States Senate upol
any other terms. TO allow others tt
think for me upon these great question:
is cowardly evasion of my responsible
tics, and a criminal neglect Of the tru,
, interests of those who elected me
Loud cheers and prolonged applause.
am rcjoiccd tonight to DO in til,
presence OF so many of the great cap
|
, men whose energy and enterprise arr
, developing our natural resources ant
, thus laying the foundation for the ful
enjoyment by our section of all tina
must follow in the wake of tho expand
f ing glory OF our Republic; and this il
| spite of the fact that it has become th
fashion i'll some quarters to snecr a
what is termed tho "sordid commercial
argument in favor of expansion ant
other national issues.
Our political leaders should not forge
, tho fact that modern Democracy had it
origin in this same commercial instinct
, Two hundred and fifty years ago it ha,
t its birth in those cities along tho rive
Rhine, where, through trade and manu-
featuring, the people had become so ricl
aud powerful that they could compel tn
, feudal lords to grant them civil righ &
, The free institutions of which we boas
| grew up under tho fostering care of com
, mcrce. The rights Of tho individual OK
pandcd into rights for lfis city and thcs
for the State, SO that modern DcmOcrac
owes all that it is to commercial cxpan
sion True Democracy does not teacl
that there is an absolute rule for govern
mcnt, and that any particular theory 0
, government is of permanent value ant
adapted under all circumstances for th
, welfare of man. The fathers of thi
republic mover intended to lay fountla
tlOn when was to be always OF the SANE
circnmscribed proportions, with super
structure Of nicely measured parts, nj
; to exist permanently just as constructed
! They aimed to create a giant; not
pigmy [Applausc.I
For q century tho nation has boon con
tent to grapplc with questions of interna
, development; but suddenly in the evolu
) ton of our national destiny, wo hav
become one of the great powers of tin
world and can no longer move in cir
cnmscribcd continental orbit. If W.
would maintain our supremacy or owe,
equality among tho nations of the world
+ the shacklcs forged by narrow scctiona
prcjudiccs must be broken.
Tho question of the hour is no
whether this republic is what it.
founders with tho lights before them
intended to make it; not whether this il
theoretically an ideal Democratic gov
crnment, at all times in exact conf0rmit,
} to the technical requirements of
written constitution, but whether will
tho spirit rather than the letter of tina
constitution, VIC are making tho most o
our national opportunities and meeting
tho political and economic condition.
, growing out of the constantly changing
needs of the people. 1t is HISTORICAL,
} true that no form of government owe
; did result from deliberate choice; it ha.
always been the logical result of condi
tions.
! The nation is nothing but the typo o
individual life, and as from childhood tt
manhood wo outgrow garments ant
J duties, these arc put aside. So it is i,
the evolutionary development of n nation