Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-09-26

Otherwise, inevitably becoming the
tool Of the stronger interests, 1t lapses
into q permlssive tyranny precisely
like that which prevails under absolute
imperialism when an amiable but indo-
lent sovereign is surrounded by crafty
advisers who direct affairs for the ex
clu sive benefit Uf themselves and their
friends. A comprehensive paternalism
amounts to nearly the same thing as a
social republic in which all interests are
so fostered and regulated that they be-
come allies instead OF enemies. Jeffer-
son redivivus would see that our present
government is partially paternal, and
therefore unjust. But he would not ad-
wise a reversal OF the engina. for that
would strew the road with wreckage.
He would tell US to 60 forward.
While clearly recognizing the evils In
herent In our present political and
social system, he would not indulge in
bitter invective. He would tell our
fiery orators that denunciatory criti-
cism will not mend matters. Not de-
structive legislation, but constructive
craftsmanship is the need Of the age.
From his wise lips would fall no word
OF repining because the past has been
left behind. He would cheerfully ad-
NIT that the new age, after all, con-
tains In It's bosom more OF hope for
humanity, more Of beneyolence, more
OF brotherly love, than was expressed OF
intimated in the creed OF the cruel age
In which he was born. No gloomy
despair or sullen cyniclsm would cloud
his brow. He would not fold his arms
and cit In silent and mUurnful contem-
plation OF the old landmarks thst are
rapidly fading from view, vanishing be-
hind the horizon as the ship moves on
ward into strange waters.
Ordinary men, az they grow old. lose
their mental agility, and cannot keep
pace with the march of events. They
drop out OF the procession and sit By
the wayslde. Our former friend. Mr..
Cleveland, is an instance. ''The sage
OF Princeton" it is reported, has not
been able to comprehend what is the
cause OF the recent revival Of interest in
Mr.. Bryan. b"
But jefferson, II he were here to-day,
would have no difficulty In detecting
and understanding the drift OF public
sentiment. He would guide 1t wisely.
He would not place himself as an i'm
pediment athwait the current. Neither
would he be helpless drift-wood. His
solution OF the economic problems OF
the day would be very different from
that which Mr.. Bryan offers, although
his sympathies would run in o parallel
direction.
There would be no doubt In his mind
that new age has actually dawned
upon the world-a new age with new
interests, new responsibilities, new
ideas, new aspirations, new passions,
new vices and new virtues. He would
know that such an age requires very
different institutions from those he had
helped to establish when he was
young man.
Coming on deck once more after his
long sleep, he would notice that the ship
has crossed the line which separates
two dissimllar hemispheres. Unfamiliar
consultations sparkle In a sky that 10
totally unlike the spangled vault that
oyer-arched his boyhood's home. He
looks In vain for Arcturus and the Bear.
The ship is headed towards the OPP osite
pole. CHANGING backwards, he notes
a small star trembling on the northern
verge of the ocean. It's faint and feeble
elimmer disappears the next instant as
the stella polaris dips beneath the
wave and Is lest to sight forever. The
navigator may, indeed, order re-
versel OF the vessels course, but this
would provoke a inutiny; for the
present crew is not the crew that
worked the ship when 1t was on the
other side OF the equator. These men
love the lustrous stars that shine upon
the troplc seas. and they will not obey
any "ancient mariner" who is inca
pablo OF steering by thu new light.
The"spirit Of unrest" which is abroad
in our own and other lands. is the nat
ural accompaniment that signals the
advent OF new age. Great epochs in
history have always been times oil un'
rest. Frequently in the past the
transition from one age to the next has
been violent. The new ideas have been
wrapped in battle-smoke, and have
tainted the air with the smell OF earn
age. But there is no reason to appre'
bend that our present period OF unrest
will terminate otherwise than peace
fully-unless our statesmen show them
selves incompetent to deal with thu
situation intelligentlY and wisely.
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