The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-05-22
REPEAL OF THE
18th AMENDMENT.
THE MAN, THE HOUR AND THE OP-
PORTUNITY."
An Able Letter by DR.. B. F. Ward. OIL
Minona, Miss.
To the Editor of The Times

History Of Civilization in Eng
land, states the proposition that:
No great political improvement,
no great reform, either legislative
or executive, bad ever been origi-
mated, IN any country, by its rul-
ers. The first suggestors of such
steps have invariably been some
bold and able thinkers, who dis
cern the abuse, denounce it and
point out how it is to be remedied.
He also says that nearly every
great reform which has been effec-
ted has consisted, not in doing
something new, but in undoing
something old.
The most valuable additions
made to legislation have been de-
structive of preceding legislation,
and the best laws which have been
passed have been those by which
some previous laws were repealed.
He also says that the repeal of
unjust and oppressive legislation
has usually been resisted by even
the most enlig ghtened government
until the pressure from without is
SO strong as to compel acquies-
cence in popular demand.
For instance. it required more
than a hundred years to repeal the
tariff or corn laws'' of England.
The persistent struggle against
this vicious legislation was only a
repetition of failures until Rich,
ard Golden entered the contest in
behalf of the people.
Golden was not trained and
experienced" statesman, had
never held nor sought office. He
had not been educated in any col
lege or university at home or
abroad. He was self-educated,
which means that he was we'll ed
ucated. He was a business man
and had been diIigent student of
men and conditions. He under
stood the relations that did exist
and that should exist between the
governing class and the governed.
He realized that the privileged
few had, for generations, been
Systematically robbing the un-
privileged masses. He was bold,
brainy, candid and conscientious.
He challenged the landlords and
Chartists to open discussion. His
eloquence, his logic, his compact
and brilliant presentation of facts
carried conviction to the minds of
his hearers and he swept every
thing before him. Almost before
he was aware of it the popular
tide had borne him into Parlla-
ment.
When he entered the house of
commons his enemies confidently
predicted that his career was end
ed. He would never be able to
stand up before the sage, digni-
fed, ponderous statesmen and
leaders. y In FIVE days after
taking his seat he was in the front
rank of the forensic conflict. At
first the opposition heard him
with ill-concealed contempt, then
with surprise, next with wonder
and lastly with CONSERVATION.
While the impetuous oratory of
Golden was driving the tariff bar
ons before him in Parliament, the
secretary of Sir Robert Peel, the
Prime Minister. was shot dead in
the street by lunatic. The enc
mics of reform at once selzed the
opportunity to charge the crime
to the effect of Cobden's thrilling
speeches. Sir Robert Peel him
self declared that his own life was
endangered by Cobden's infiam-
matory language.
Human nature has been the
same in all ages. In the evolu-
tion of government in all civilized
countries the set fasto and the
stand patters, = especially those
enjoying lucrative positions, have
invariably charged the advocates
of great reform with melting vio-
lence and disturbing the business
interests.
But Golden was irresistible.
The Prime Minister finally sur
rendered to Cobden's lucid and
vigorous arguments and Joining
forces with him, aided largely in
sweeping the Corn Laws from
the statutes Of England.
The man, the hour and the OPP
portunity had met.
The fifteenth amendment to the
constitution of the United States
may not be repealed in ten fears
nor twenty-five years, nor fifty
years. There is only one thing
absolutely certain about it and
that is its repeal will never be se-
cured by Office holders and repre-
sentatiVes who preach to their
constituents that its accomplish
|ment is impracticable and impos-
|sible, and that any effort in that
direction is SILLY and absurd.
Golden won his epochal victory
in seven years and those years
were afterward called in England
the period of educational agita-
tion. That is exactly what we
must have in this country before
we can be restored to the inheri-
tance of the white mans govern
Iment.
The people must be convinced
before the leaders" can be coarc-
led. Columbus would have never
discovered this continent If Tic
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