The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-10

tereSts or democracy by re strictin< the
suff, age to those qualified to exercise
It properly, while at the same time.
they left the way open for ali men
to prepare themselves for this highest
privilege to be enjoyed il q democ.
racy.
1t is evident. I think. from thu
foregoing discussion that the Coast
tutional development of North Caro-
Ina has been a conservative but
steady growth toward the radiation
OF the purpose Of the men Of Meek
Ienburg of 1776,-''to have a simple
democracy as near as possible Every
restriction placed upon suffrage ana
eligibility to office by the Constitution
of 1876 has been removed, rhe cleo
ton Of the officials in all three Of the
STtat departments of government has
teen placed in b hands Of the peo-
pie. the referendum has been intro
d!iced and approved by the courts,
while the initiative and other meth
ods Of ascertaining and enforcing tbs
VII Of the people are being held in
reserve for use if conditions shall
arise demanding them. The influences
that I have traced in the ~deve,opmt1t
of these democratic principles are -
potent today as at any time in our his
tory, and must be reckoned With ~
those of US who desire a continuation
of this development. The democracy
that we now enjoy is a perfectly nat
ural evolution out of the history char
acter and 1l~fe-cOnditionS Of the Deo-
pie Of North Carolina. If this nat
ural process OF evolution is permitted
to go on without interruption from
outside forces, democracy VIII con
tinue to go forward approaching ever
nearer and nearer to the democratic
ideal: but if any effort is made L.
force the people Of this State to Wear
the ready made garments of the de
mocracy OF other communities with
out regard to their fit, it will as newt
ably arrest the progress of democracy
among us in the twentieth century a.
it did in the nineteenth. DEMOCRACY
is a sentiment, a spirit, and not a form
Of government. The mere machin
cry of Democracy" as an emintrt
English writer has recently said, ~
nothing. 1t is of value only as T
avails to express the spirit of d pe0-
pie; and if that spirit is set on Nain
things, on amaSsing wealth which it
a not the taste or judgment to
spend, on the acquisition Of territory
which it does nH need, or onrthe uu-
real show Of military glory. then
machine will help it. But if it cares
for things Of more humdrun sourd.
but Of more vital meaning, to comhat
disease at its source, to make OF tn.
city a thing Of beauty and comfort
for the people instead of a home -
- L LIN A111 ~ SCAtl W N-t%-
ing worker a fair share Of the fruits
Of his work, and to provide ont ut
the surplus for those Who have fdileh
by the way, then it has a VII that
is worth expressing, and the forms -
political democracy gave it the means
of realization" Let us not forget,
however, that it is not more fatal ~
real democracy to force the spirit OF
q people to remain encased in forms
Of government which it has outgroNt.
than it is to force upon it forms e
government for which it is not ready.
To do either is to force democracy t"
run its race in hobble-skirts.
Another important characteristic" -
the evolution Of democratic institu-
tons in North Carolina is that de-
mocracy at every stag Of its gro"th'
save one, has recognized the existence
OF certain great principles OF right,
justice and liberty, fundamental. eter-
mai and unchanging, which even lt
can not overthrow with impunity, but
Tor It's own salvation must maintain
at all hazards. These fun
damental principles are the "fetiches'
which excite SO much contempt among
modern refOrmers. AS for myself. IL
to hold in deepest reverence thu $"
great political principles upon Whu Il
not only liberty, but democracy its.f
is dependent, is to worship a "fetieh."
men | plead guilty Of the sacrll"A'
If sacrilege it be. If I am to b dc
prlved Of my life, liberty, or propert>
otherwise han by the law Of tn
iand,'-or by due process Of law"
1t IS no comfort to me to know thai
the outrage was perpetrated by tn
tyranny Of q million despots instead
or a single despot. No one Will dis
pute the proposition that in every
s~elf-eoverning community, the well
considered will Of the majority OF
those whom upon whom political
power is conferred must ultimately
prevail; nevertheless it has always
been a cardinal principle with English
peoples that before any ma
oor1ty is fit for the task of self-gov-
eminent, 1t must accept certain fun
posed upon its own will for the pro-
lection Of the minority against wrong
and injustice. To DESTROY these prin-