The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-21

Z Z ~ u n
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The Value Of independence.
5 IN yesterday paper we spoke Of the
duty OF ind ependence. To- day we sub.
Il nit some remarks on the value Of inde-
pend nce. We do not lose sight Of the
value Of OF organization. Society means
Organization. and every man and woman
owes a duty to society. II It s ones duty
TO affiliate as far as he may sconscien-
& tiously do so with the organ ization, what
4 ever It be- OF; which lie forms a part.
ut Is tho sdutysof a churchlnan to affiliate
s$WithShis church;$it Is the sdu tyt Of u party
man TO affiliate with his party. But In
lsall such situations conscience must direct.
III he cannot conscientlously affiliate with
his church. sit is his duty to wi thdraw.
31f he cannot conscientiously f1liate with
/. his party. it is his duty to assert his IN
Z dependenc
h Time-servers and lilrellngs have done
little to mako the world tier. The
y great reforms IN all ages have been
wrought by men who Wcre Independent;
men who had the coura go to assert them
selves IN defiance OF popular clamor; men
who stood by their convictions in spite
OF the threat even Of death. ST. Paul.
the great Apostle to the Gentiles, was
an independei,t. When once converted to
the chri 4 faith he defied Il a the
i powers Of the Jewish Church: all the
! powers of the Roman government, and
n was evanE d eaf to the p eadngs OF his
4 brethren when they besought him not to
K go n up to j erusalem None Of these
4 things NOV m N was his reply to all. "a
Martin Luther hsas an independent
firm In his convictions and eftant all
the powers that were. There take my
Il stand. ]" said he at The Diet Of Worms,
80 can q naugllt else s5si
George Washing ton was an Independent.
/, He might have had any honor within the
4 gift#of the King of England III he had
been willing, to be q hirelng and a tme-
Il server. But he believed IN liberty for
4 himself and foff', IS. people, and. SO believ-
ing, he defied the, armies Of England
81 and drew his sword in behalf Of American
Independence.
5 Robert Il. Lee was an Independent. All
honors at the North were at his dis
posal. but he chose rather to suffer afflic-
ton with his own people and maintain his
manly independence. for to him duty was
the sublimest word.
,s5 We recognize That much political trick
Il cry has been committed in the name OF
4 Independence. But We arc not speaking
OF those who are "independent' for a pur-
pose; We are speaking Of those who are
from conviction, who take
their Independent stand because they can
do naught else in honor and self-respect,
Il If the world is to be made better; II
there are to be great moral and religious
reforms. such reform must come through
the work OF Independents They cannot
come through the agency of men who
81 train with the crowd and eater to popular
sentiment. If political reforms are to be
wrought, the reform movements must be
led by independents, whose spurpose Is
tunselfish. by men who are willing tc
sacrifice themselves for the cause In
which they believe. Such reforms can nc
& more be accomplished by time-seryinl
politicians. whose only aim is to obtair
4 its source,
Political parties are necessary. and WI
i have no quarrel whatever with the part.
A .han$as such. We admire the honest ant
Sl Geyout partisan, even Though we ma.
Il not agree with him. AYe love TO SEQ
man stand by his party md work for 4
and enthuse oyer 1t, so,long as he believes
that his party is right, lie may ever
overlook some of the minor matters which
4, do NOT altogether please him for til
weighder matters Of truth and justice
4 and still be an honest PARTISAN Blu
when IA party forsakes Its principles w
believe that II IL the duty OF the con
scienuous man TO forsake his party AM
proclaim his Independence
THIS does not mean lnlgwumperyi thi
a does NOT mean that a man should hay
no party ati1lia ton; this docs not mea.
that q man should agree TO every plan
IN the platform IN order TO give tn
"a party his support. II simply means tha
every man should hp the custodian OF III
own conscience, ~ we'll IN politics as !