The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-11-03
GOVERNOR JARVIS GREAT LET
TER ON DEMOCRACT AND
YOUTH.

1 have associated much with the
young people, and to this fact 1 at
tribute much of the continued active,
hopeful, happy life 1 lead.
Because of these things, 1 do not
feel that I am violating the rules of
propriety in these words of advice
and encouragement to the young men
of my state.
| cannot and do not advise you, to
become politicians and seekers after
Office; but 1 do insist that you w a
duty to your state and to society that
you can only discharge by an active
participation in public affairs.
But how shall you discharge these
public duties?
In the first place, you should set a
high standard of pubic morality and
public service and insist that those
who seek the favors of the public
shall measure up to them. Set high
ideals and strive to live up to them
yourselves and teach your fellows by
precept and example to do likewise.
In public matters seek only the pub
lie good and use only methods that
are honest and just. Avoid the man
who would prostitute the public SER
vice to his private gain. {
But ours is a government by partyt
Whether we would have it so o. not,
the fact is that party policies largely
determine the policy and party prac-
tice of the government. So, if you
purpose to take an active part in pub
lie affairs in our state, it is necessary
for you to ally yourself with N or
the other of the two political parties
which seek control of the state gov-
ment. Which shall it be?
The principles of the republican
party as a national party are funda-
mentally wrong. 1t teaches that the
power to levy taxes and collect reve-
nues for the support of the govern
ment carries with it the power to
! distribute the burdens of supporting
the government equally. Under the
} guise of protecting certain industries
the government may make laws to
enrich one class of men, at the eX-
pense of another class. Democracy
says that the burdens and blessings
of government should be distributed
on all alike. Republicanism says not
so. but that these burdens and bless
ings should be distributed to the
sweet will of the few who dictate the
making of the laws. ,
1t is the privilege and the duty of
the young men to stand with the par
ty which stands for equality of oppor-
tunity in the race of life. I warn you
against the seductive appeal that is
| sometimes addressed to you to join
| this Or thatparty on the plea that it
may offer personal advantage. Pub
lie service and human welfare are
| the considerations that ought to
weigh with a high-minded manhood.
Wheh,the young men come to form
their party Affiliations in this state,
not one should have the slightest diff
| iculty in making his selection be-
tween the democratic and republican
uS uOA4ONA dL4C party ho0
| ever stood for high ideals and has
wrought m~agniieentn results. The
| republican party has stood for low
ideals and when 1t was given power
| has brought wreck and ruin in its
wake and shame and disgrace upon
the state.
1 became a worker in the demo-
cratic party in the days just preced-
! ing the war, and / saw it's victories
and achievements then. / assisted in
it's. reorganization after the war, and
/ have worked with it and for it ever
since. 1 have e it go down i'm de-
feat twice during these long years
from 1869 to 1910, and oh! what
dark and damnable pages were writ
ten in my states history during these
two. republican administrations!
There cannot be one among you who
would not wipe out these blots upon
the fair name of our dear old state
if you could. That cannot be done,
but 1 will tell you what you can do.
Yo ucan unite with the party that
has twice eedremed the state from
unworthy rule.
/ have seen the democratic party
take charge of the governmentn of
the state when she lay PROSTATE un-
der republican oppression. when her
people were poor and almost hope
less, when the schoolhonses we're
closed and the feaaher was silent.