The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-26

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terms of the compact by which they
entered into the Federal Union: with
out the slightest modification Of their
several rights.
These rights they held to-, be in
inalienable, as their only sure and
certain safeguard against the tyrrany
of a possible centralized despotism.
The distribution Of power, since the
day that God confounded the Language
es at Babel, has been the divine meth
cd to secure and maintain individual
and national freedom. This distribu-
ton Of authority makes the indlvl-
dual, the State and the nation each,
the jealous guardian Of his own, and
the rights Of others. If you will take
time to run over the history of past
ages, YOU will find that where this
principle has been set at nought, the
individual has been robbed Of his
rights, the weaker States have been
shorn of their rightful authority, and
political or military despotism has
ensued.
You will discover also that revolu-
ton has interposed in behalf Of the
oppressed, and fixed limits to human
oppression.
Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Carthage
and Rome are all painful Illustrations
Of this solemn truth.
Tonight the king and his court are
drunk in the houst Of their Gods,
while Cyrus environs the throne with
an army.
Tomorrow Belshazzar is dead, and
the Empire Of the world is in the
hands Of an Assyrian stranger. Why
and wherefore? The death Of despot-
ism in the blood Of revolution.
Egypt, rotten with accumulated de-
cay Of centuries, after an unsurpass~
ed debauehery in the lives and lib
critics Of her people, has at last be-
come the tool of diplomacy, and the
play thing Of the English politician.
Lost amid the smoke and fires Of
avenging revolution!
Alexander, Macedonia s boy king,
in the name Of Greece and the
Greeks, whipped the world into sub
mission at his feet: despotism per-
sonified' in the youthful despot, he
lay down upon the pillow Of univer-
sal dominion, and that night died the
death of a drunken sot!
Asa rebuked to his folly, the facts
Of his achievements were scattered
all over the civilized world, and at
last Macedonia and Greece we're over
run by the heel Of the bloody Turk.
National decay followed in the wake
Of a military despotism.
I know it has been said that Re-
publics rarely ever become despotic.
Believe that sir and you are famed
by the wings Of the Vampire! and are
led by the "song of the Siren''!
Carthage the republic city of As
drubel, Homelcor, Hanno and Han
nibal, founded in order to avoid op-
preston. at length herself became a
centralized despotism; and at last, Oil
the fatal field Of Zama, the star Of
Carthage went down to rise no, more!
The Roman Republic was no ex-
ception to this rule. Invincible while
the laws Of Pompilius obtained, but
feeble under the sway Of the Lar
quius. Regulus and Fabrius led her
armies to victory, but Sempropius
and Flaminius to defeat! !
On the fall Of Carthage Rome had
no rival. Her provinces were then rob-
bed by rapacious harde Of greedy
officials.
The city became rich, the provinces
became poor. A wicked and debauch-
ed oligarchy bore rule in her senate
halls. 4 more wicked and licentious
aristocracy we're in charge Of her So
cial, domestic and religious institu-
tions. Individual rights were disre-
garded; the streets Of Rome were
soaked in the blood Of her best citiz-
ems; Julius Ceasar crossed the Ru-
bicon, and the republic died in the
throes Of military despotism!
Thus it will be seen that authority,
which is the rightful property Of the
intelligent many when usurped and
abused by the few. has forever led |
to revolution, blood shed and nation
al decay. I recall not one single ex-
ception in annals of time.
In the light Of these facts am
forced to the following conclusions:
(I Revolutions come from the
VjceS Of fhe oreat not the small from |