The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-23
THE EVILS THAT MENACE
THIS LAND OF THE FREE
How Those Who Should be Servants of the People
Seek to Sap the Foundation of the
Republic.

the traditional, sanguinary despotism
of Kings, and the newly awakened,
after so many tens of centuries of
misrule and oppression, consciousness
of liberty to choose whether it be ones
religion or ones laws and government.
Let me now consider briefly the idea
of Representation. But before doins
this let me turn to but one historic
record among countless hundreds OF
horror and dismal. 1t is to be regret
ted that ordinarily intelligent people
do not study history. They could learn
great deal that would enlighten,
them, and intensity their love of lib
erty and unqualified devotion to
democratic form of Government-one
of the people and for the people and
by the people, to borrow Lincoln'S ia
NOUS statement stolen bodily from
New England writer of more than
seVenty-five years ago. We are
threatened now with serious inroads
into the grand and venerated Constitu-
ton of our great forefatherS who
builded wiser than they knew" The
great dominating idea of patriots ana
freemen now, in This Year of Grace,
1904-iS to restore the sacred inStru-
ment to its former perfection and
spirit. There is a sad, most serious.
most threatening departure from the
traditions and principles of the past in
our country's history-a baneful, dan
gerous innovation and usurpation of
power-a fateful abandoning OF
law, and the entire spirit of the
Constitution. But do not press that
consideration farther here. l wish
to refer to Rome, and see how it Jared
with the people in that great city and
under Roman laws and government.
The people-the plebeianS,~ as they
were branded by the Nabobs and
Plutocrats-"were ground down to the
dust by partial and barbarous leglsla-
ton touching pecuniary contracts
The ruling class in Rome was mon
eyed class: and it made and admins
tered the laws with a view solely to its
own interests. The debtor was
imprisoned in a private work
house belonging to the creditor.
F'rightful stories were told respecting
these dungeons. 1t was said that tor
ture and brutal violation were com
mon that tight stocks, heavy chains,
Scanty measures of food, were used TO
punish wretches guilty of nothing but
poverty: ard that brave soldiers
whose breasts were covered with hon.
orable scars were often marked stu
more deeply on the back by scourges
of high-born usurers." There is more
of this. 1t is from that great writer,
Lord Macaulay. The Irish have had
dreadful experiences in the past from
a vicious government and bruta
rulers | am reminded of Plutocracy,
of Irish magnates, of the grIndlns
Robber Tariff in these awful eXper-
fences among the oppressed and out
ragged of the earth in other lands anC
times What contrast when we re-
gard the blessings of liberty in this
country in the past years. Here the
despot has had a short reign. and the
people are still powerful, undismayeo
and love liberty. II does look that If any
l, CT, al
the contemplation of Gods good Prov
idence in this matter it should render
admiration and devout thanksgiv-
ing and praise. / am certain that
no one can candidly and understand
ingly review the events that have
transpired during the last two or three
thousand years, without beng pro-
foundry impressed with the beneVo-
lence. mercy and wisdom of Almighty
God in evolving such mastery prlncl-
pies AS distinguish the Federal Constr
tuition of our country from the chaotic
confusion, the violence. and the conse-
Grated tyrannies and crimes that have
cursed and afflicted mankind through
all that period of time. Without the
least acrimony or unkindness in my
heart, I can but sincerely pity hin
who will study we'll the history OF hu-
man suffering, and the struggles fol-
human liberty. without feelings OF
but glance at the wide field.
- 7 turn naturally to- En- gland, where
my own. 'forefathers on. both sides
dwelt, and whence my ancestry came.
Not many untravelled people have
ever made such a long continued and
most interested study of English his
tory and literature ana progress, ana
of character and achievements, wheth-
er in letters or arts, in science or agri-
culture. in mechanics and inventions,
in national growth and grandeur of
achievements as l. have. However
viewed with marked peculiarities, ag
gressiveness, self-importance and
boastfulness. the English are truly
great and puissant nation But still
there may be gathered from English
history very many lessons to warn as
we'll as to instruct, to encourage as
we'll as to deter. In that small island
now so thickly peonled. with some
100000 of po~ ulation, there were
i'll the years agone, many despotic
theories, many false doctrines and
principles, and many cruel and prac-
teal Impressions. Any one who has
read carefully Hume, Macaulay, Green
and Lecky can we'll comprehend how
these things so foul and loathsome
grew, flourshed and at last died. The
whole political philosophy of the
eighteenth century was false, dancer
Gus, hurtful. 1t sprun- up into full
vigor from the hotbed of medieval
anarchy, darkness and conflict Ii
took centuries of bitter experience and
vain contests to bring forth the fruits
of righteousness from such a poison
Gus seed. | have not the space. nor
does my purpose, require a careful
examination of the philosophic Vaga-
RES of the speculative plotters and
vicious politicians of those corrupt
tunes. l merely wish to refer to the
matter, Tor 1t was from the midst of
Such theories and speculations and
corruptive principles that the American
constitution was to emerge, and Liberty
stood forth full panoplied. With a per-
tectiy reyerent spirit, | may apply tc
TINS Worid-famous transaction the
sublime language of inspiration as re-