The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-04-24

government, whether they be slaves
or fr@emen It is the people that
makes the government. not the gov
ernment the people With brave,
strong, Intelligent people, with
free press snd popular education,
there can be no imperialism. Why
should we be afraid to trust our
selves The whole tendency of the
times and the spirit of the age is
toward Democratic instead of iu1.
perialistic ideas of government.
The throne of the ''Great White
Gear" trembles today at the roar Of
the Democratic Lion. and the echoes
resound even from the fer of Orient
Our people understand that it is
not actual territory or dominion over
people that We seek, but the expan
aion of American thought. ideas of
government commerce and civiliza
ton.
Political leaders might we'll learn
that the law of progress will sweep
away as chaf those who would place
barriers against this mighty tide
which is destined to spread the
Democratic idea of government to
the uttermost bounds of the earth.
Ny definition of Democracy is liberty
for man. formulated into a theory of
government. 1t means mans inalien.
able ownership of himself, it means
free thought and free speech.
Iu the dark ages of the pas: soma
poor slave raised his bowed head and
looking up into the blue sky caught
Inspiration from Gods free air and
sunshine that he also of right was
free. and ever since, that vision Of
liberty has been an undying revela.
tion for every age and all climes
Grecian and Roman slaves saw the
heavenly light, and facing their mas.
tcrs' swords. bravely died Saxon
churl with wooden collar, and our
own fathers, at Cowpens and Kings
Mountain, looked upon the celestial
picture, and with smile of joy gave
up their lives.
Why need true Democracy hunt
for issues 10 onr relations with foreign
countries? 1t is. upon domestic prob
lens. the rights of usn sDd man. the
relation of labor aud capital aud it's
stand upon these home issues that has
endesred it to the people in The past
and upon which it must finally stand
or fell
Il is folly to attempt to dwarf greas
uational and international issues ioto
mere questions of party policy; it failed.
10 the last campaign, and will fell
every time it is tried.
Every member of the American con,
goess, whcn it comes to foreign
policy, a foreign war, aud army, a
navy. a merchant marine, or any other
question affecting our honor as na.
ZION. or our prosperity as a people,
should be free and uotramneled to vote
as his judgment and conscience dictates
For myself. ] would Dot. under exist
Jog coodtioos. be willing 20 bold a
seat in the Uoi,ed States senate upon
any other terms. To allow others TO
think for me upon these great ques-
.ions is covardly evasion Of my re-
spopsibilities, and criminal neglect
of the true interests of those who select
me
I an rejoiced tonight to be in the
presence of SO many Of the great CAP
taiDs of southern industry You are
ere men whose energy and enterprise
are developing our oatural resources
aud thus laying che foundation for the
foil eDjoymen. by our section Of al
that must follow ia the wake of the
expanding glory of oar Republic; and
this in spite Of the fact that it has
become the fashion 10 some quarters to
uneer at what is termed the "sordid
commercial" argument 10 favor Of ez-
psusion and other national issues.
Our political leaders should DOT for.
get the fact that modero Democracy
bad its origin in this same commercial
instinct. Two hundred and fifty years
ago it bad its birth 10 those cities along
the river Rhine, where, through trade
ard manufacturing, the people could
compel the feudal lords to grant them
civil rights. The free institutions Of
which We bosst grew up under the fos
sering care of commerce The rights
of the Individual expanded into rights
for bis city and these for the State, so
that modern Democracy does not teach
that there is an absolute rule for
government, and that any particular
theory Of government is of permanent
value and adapted under al circam-
stances for the welfare of man The
fathers of this Republic Dever intended
% II, - co,o6ot;o, Dhioh poo m he