The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-17
LETTER FROM Mr.. POWELL
He Discusses the Question. What's In
Name?

To The Free Lance:
Shakespeare said, What is IN
'name2 That which We call a rose by
any other would smell as sweet
Shakespeare lived during the refor
nation and the religious wars oi
the Spanish inquisition when thOus
ands OF protestant Christians were
burned alive to save their souls In
the name of Christianity. In the
massacre of ST. Bartholomew 30
600 were destroyed at one time. Te
Deums OF praise were sung in the
Christian churches from St Marks
down In Thanksgiving for Kidding
the world OF so many heretics.
Imagine the founder OF Christian
ity approving these misdeeds in his
name.
Thomas Jefferson announced GER
tain political views called Republi-
can because they related to govern
ment by the people In a republic
whose declaration OF independence
he had written and to whose service
he gave his life. Those who beliey-
ed as he did called themselves Re
publicans and twice elected him pres
ident.
Some years after his death the
name OF this party was changed to
Democratic by those who then got
control of II.
Jefferson believed in the right OF
the people to govern themselves. that
al .,ffi..r. ,rora oarvapta Of tho pqp-
pie and derived their just powers
from the people by whom they were
were elected
Under the rule OF the Democratic
party I'm Virginia the people elect
about one-third OF their officers and
the rest are appointed by men in
that party from members Of that
party as a reward for political
work done or TO be done for the Of
ficeholde.s. Mental and moral quail
ifications are the least considered.
Many OF these care nothing for any
party or principles OF government.
but call thepselves by the hOnored
name of Democrat to deceive the
people and stay in office at their
expense They do as Richelieu said
he Was going to do. II shall trample
all opposition under foot and then
cover all errors with my scarlet
robe.
The robe is the mantle Of Dem
Ocracy, and often the judicial er-
mine now as 1t was Of the church
then.
Imagine Jefferson. the true Dem
ocrat, living today and acting with
the present Democratic party
Man looketh on the outward ap
pearance. but the Lord looketh on
the heart" Samuel 1G:7. Yet 1t
seems plain that under machine
rule in Virginia the government has
been taken from the people and
placed In the hands OF an office
holding trust. composed OF office
holders from both parties in I'M
holy alliance for helping each other
to keep in office and get rich at
the peoples expense.
Under their control the great
Democratic party OF the past has
Outlived its usefulness. and like an
old man is permitting its honored
name to be used as a robe TO cover
the misdoeds OF its offspring and
as a shibOleth to induce good cii-
zens TO continue this office-hOlding
trust in power by endorsing Its can
didates for reelection. Citizens.
who have labored for the party's
success in the past without hope OF
office, but because they believed In
the policies and leaders OF their par
ty. It Is expected that the office
holders. their friends and benefici-
aries OF the trust will work for its
continuance
As the Tories OF old cried treas
on and traitor to Patrick Henry. OF
Virginia. for daring TO speak and
called to day who dare think and
act for themselves in the light of
the present and not in the darkness
OF the past.
Those who dared TO do this would
not be the weak but the strong.
not the partisan but the patriot, not
those in lifelong bondage to that
magic SDtll- name ludl HtNti
means the same in any time or To-
cality. but the independent men who
could reply to all criticism in the
very words OF Thomas Jefferson.
(whom the Democratic party claims
as its father who used these exact
words on one occasion: II never
submitted the whole OF my opinions
to the creed OF any party or men
whatever in religion, in philosophy.
In politics or in anything else
whore / was capable OF thinking for
myself Such an addiction Is the
last degradation OF a free agent.
If | could not 90 to Heaven but
with a party | would not 90 there
at ALL"
cannot improve on Jefferson's
words. so ! will conclude
Very truly yours.
8. p. Powell
Belmont. Spotsylvania county, Va.
June IA, 1911.