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There to no doubt lli.il the Inllor body Is almost
unanimously oppowd to Dig educational bill anil
yet H' II ilnroi to oppose u measure which ho
eouiilry, speaking through llio House of Commons,
ronlly domnnln, il iiiiimL face abolition or such a
moillllcalioii jih would deprive it of 1U aristocratic
.11 1..1 i.ilUnti
social rather
no! bo per-
loople of (Ireal itritalu to ovoitmo hip win m
be King and to coerce (ho IIouho of Lords Is strik
ng proof of (ho strength of the doclrino (hat gov-
rroin mo poopio
(lmi'iicipr. II is now regarded as a
ilmii ii Moliiicnl institution and II w
inlllod to obslrii'l any legislation upon which (ho
masses Iihvo Iholr hoarls sej. Tho ability of fli
iw.wil iC C ron I Itril-iln In' ovcitMc (ho will of
(I
ll)g
oniinonlH derive their authority
and from (ho people alone.
Russia has boon left for (lie las( because i(
presonls one of (lie most interesting pictures of
governmental development that lias boon seen 'n
a century. She lias boon a synonym for despotism:
her people have known every form of tyranny and
HUffored every excess of arbitrary power. Seized
without warrant and exiled without trial, th'v
have drained (ho cup of sorrow to its dregs. U
last the Czar, I Tightened by llio (hrealeiiings
from wllliiii and shamed by the criticisms from
without, began lo concede, a Utile at a time, the
reforms demanded wailing, unfortunately, until
(lie clamor for a new and larger reform made (lie
reform granted seem insignificant. At last came
(bo war with .Japan which exhibited (he inoili
eioncy of (ho government and demonstrated low
Important a factor patriotism is in war. The
Russian soldiers, having little worth lighting for,
showed themselves more export in retreat than
In advance, and a crushing defeat on land and
sea taught tho Czar a lesson which lie ought to
have learned before. If tho Douma, however, can
bo credited to that defeat (hen the people of Rus
sia won a victory far greater than the losses vif
the war.
The Douma, dissolved wllh (he promise of an
other election, marks a new era in tho national
life of Russia. This body can give voice to tho
aspirations of the people and devote the revenues
to (he advancement of the Interests of tho masses.
The firs I session of (hat body brought together as
notable a group of men as ever assomblpd in a
legislative ball. Lawyers and editors from tho
great cities, educators from the universities, mem
bers of tie group of toil and peasants from tho
farms these mingled together, all intent upon
remedial legislation. The Czar had no party In
tho Douma all wore radicals, varying only in
degrees.
TJie future of Russia Is no longer in tho keep
ing of the royal family; It has been transferred
to the poopio and while there may still be revolu
tions and bloodshed before the popular will can
find unobstructed expression, nothing is more
certain than that Russia Is going to have free
speech, a free press, constitutional government
and general education, and that wllh these she
will take her place among tho most Influential
of the powovs. .
When, one hundred and
signers of (he Declaration
ciarou uertam political truths to bo solf-ovidenr
tho kings of the world scoffed at them, but In less
man one and a third centuries these truths have
taken root the world around. They have spread
because they appeal to tho heart. Our nation has
been the world's instructor because it taught m
a language that all could understand. Plutocracy
rests upon wealth, aristocracy rests upon birth
or intellect, but democracy rests upon the heart.
When wealth dominates, tho mind is weakened
by luxury and moral sentiments are disregarded
Even Intellect can be solllsb and withhold from
tho masses the opportunities which belong to all,
but the heart furnishes an Impulse that links .ill
classes together and devises a government under
which all rluhts arc respected and all interests
guarded. A democracy, therefore, a governme.it
In which the poopio rule, Is not only tho best and
the strongest, but It Is the only one that any gen
eration can afford to leave as a legacy to pos
terity. oooo
JEFFERSON AND LINCOLN
Some one referred to himself as "a Jefferson
democrat and a Lincoln republican," which st'i to
Jiiont drew from Secretary of tho Tre s ry Sh w
lo remark that Jefferson and Lincoln wore a I lo
in that they were "both Caucasian, both born S
America, both twice elected president " -u HI
rlotle and both able." Sn ' ' -"
that he could ililnk of not ling 0 so ,i w i !S Ul
were alike, adding: "In politta! be U o? were
as unlike as is possible in men fully conim it ed
to n representative form of govern. en( T S
might a man claim to be aTohn K, x Calvin wf
or a John Wesley Armenian as to cl m. I n
Jonerson democ-at and a Lincoln repuiiiean
Abraham Lincoln himself ought to IS ,
tliunty on this point. In a lotto", giving tSiioJ
thirty years ago, the
of Indonondoneo do.
The Commoner.
Ion republicans Inviting him to attend a celebra
tion of Jefferson's birthday, Mr. Lincoln wrote:
"Your kind note Inviting mo to attend a festival
in I'.oston, on the 2Sth instant, in honor of the
birthday of Thomas Jefferson, was duly received.
My engagements are such that I cannot attend.
Rearing in mind Rial about seventy years ago two
great political parties were first formed in this
country, that Thomas Jefferson was the head of
one of lliem an 1 Roston the headquarters of the
other, it is both curious and interesting that those
supposed to descend politically from tho party
opposed to Je.t'eison should now be celebrating
his birthday in their own original seat of empire,
while those claiming political descent from him
have nearly ceased to breathe his name every
where. Remembering, too, that the Jefferson
party was formed upon its supposed superior de
votion to the personal rights of men, holding the
rights of property to bo secondary only, and
greatly inferior, and assuming that the so-called
democracy of today are the Jefferson, and their
opponents tho an ti-Jefferson party, it will be
equally interesting to note bow completely the two
have changed hands as to tho principle upon
which (hey were originally supposed to be divided.
The democracy of today hold the liberty of one
man to bo absolutely nothing when in conflict with
another man's right of property. Republicans, on
the contrary, are for both the man and the dollar,
but in case of conflict tho man before the dollar.
I remember being onco much amused at seeing
two partially intoxicated men engage in a fight
with their great coats on, which light, after a
long and rather harmless contest, ended in each
having fought himself out of his own coat and
into that of the other. If llio two leading parties
of this day are leally identical with the two in
the days of Jefferson and Adams, they have per
formed the same feat as the two drunken men.
But soberly, it ts now no child's play to save the
principles of Jefferson from total overthrow in this
nation."
OOOO
"UNCLE DAN" IS CARELESS
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat actually endorses
President Roosevelt's proposition for government
ownership of coal lands. The Globe-Democrat
-says: "The president's proposition has a social
istic look, ami (hat may be one of the reasons why
it is mooting wKh little superficial favor. But the
idea seems wise. By holding these mineral lands
out of tho market they could still be made produc
tive through lease. The difference would be that the
government would get a share of the profits under
the Roosevelt plan, and this would allow a reduc
tion of taxation and an expenditure of more money
by (he government for the promotion of great pub
lic improvements. This looks sensible. The im
provement of (bo country's great waterways like
the Mississippi and its chief tributaries could be
pushed if llio government should take advantage
of Its remaining opportunity to hold its mineral
lands, and let them for stated periods on such
terms as .the secretary of tho interior or aome ad
ministrative board should fix."
Shades of "Billy" McKee and "Joe" McCul
lough! i.v-vui
Can it be possible that "Uncle Dan" Ilouser
cmtSleV WlU8elf fFOm ti,c GlobcDemo-
oooo
POPULISM
Hero wo have tile republican lclslitm-n i
braska seriously considering at wo ce I are law
and actually adopting a ?esolution ninJooi
against the ship subsidy; nlSovcM Cv f wo
hid a republican legislature unanimous! a W
ing a resolution a JHng for a ponsJif i i tt"Pt-
tlon for (he purnosc of brh ?" a o o T1"
election of Tnn.,,i cJ, b " auout the popular
Is It iiny wonder Hint when, rccenllr a oy,
sf ; stvTOi in " "wMtain z , ,tv esse
lion in Aebrasica a conv of tim rw,i ,
wl.iel. ho Drosoiile, B ao rig ?ifi ft""?'
mously adopted? s unani-
oooo
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
llio west ''nimniHi vecmeu:tStlSm '"
doiiloro in llio oust." uouaitions wo
lands; the leasing system W mloptSP J
that luture generations "may not be deprived or
their birthright." ' - v
The advantages "of this system are des.-rii,0,i i
the president in this way: "'iiuMHy
"II may be fairly claimed among n,f .,,,
vantages of the leasing system that-
1. It Avill facilitate the working of ,.0.,i
deposits for local markets by miners withcm!
large capital. L
2. It will facilitate larger operation-
3. Prevent waste in the extraction aim
handling of these fuels. . l
J. The system can be operated in nH
manner as to pievent the evils of monopolistic
control.
5. It will permit the government to reserve
, fromgeneral use fuels especially suitabl.- for
0. It will enable the government to pmiont
the public against unreasonable and dis, rinu
nafing charges for fuel supplies."
The president has taken a long step in iim ir.
gumonl for government ownership.' It h0 .n.
terest'ing if those republicans who denouu. o.i the
editor of The Commoner for his, -Madison Square
statement Avith respect. to ga,ycrnment ownership
of railroads would give their opinion of Mr. Roose
velt's proposed government ownership of coil
mines. , '
OOOO
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
As this copy of The Commoner may be road
by some one not familiar with the details of tho
primary pledge plan, ibis necessary to ssi that
according to the terms of this plan every demo
crat is asked to pledge himself to attend all of
the primaries of his party to be held between now
and the next democratic national convention, un
less unavoidably prevented, and to secure a clear,
honest and straightforward declaration of fhe
party's position on every question upon which the
voters of the party desire to speak. Those desiring
to be enrolled can either write to The Commoner
approving the object of the organization and ask
ing to have their names entered on tho roll, ir
they can fill out and mail the. hlnnlr niedfo. whi.-h
is printed on page 13.
Lorenzo Obert, Spartausburg, Pa. Please find
enclosed 33 signers to the primary pledge. Will
send some more when I get my club filled out for
The Commoner. 1
George M. Fee, McArtliur, Ohio. Please find
enclosed 35 signers to thje primary" pledge.
Rev. Joseph Nichols, Musselman, Ohio. Please
find enclosed 15 primary pledge signers.
0 A; J- Fly Spencerville, Oliio. Enclosed find
S pledges taken from my township. We have
pledged nearly half of the democratic vote and
expect to organize a club in the near future.
W. IT. Piscb, Grass Lake, Mieh. Sends in 0
signers to tho primary pledge.
W. B. Unkefer, Paris, Ohio. Please find m
closed 5 signers to the primary pledge.
Joan Itiley, Scio, N. Y. Please find 28 signers
to the primary pledge.
Louis J. Dober, Uockport, 111. Please find en
closed S signers to the primary pledge.
Victor S. Finger, Saugerties, N'. Y. Enclosed
find two primary pledge signatures. I believe
it a most excellent plan for hurrying the corpora
tion men from the party. Have long believed in
government ownership of the railroads and saw
little hope for its progress in either the democratic
or the republican party. Wa will have enough
voters to make a mighty party of itself if it wee
necessary but it is not, for the' mass of democratic
voters will favor it.
OOOO
NEBRASKA AND THE SHIP SUBSIDY
Both houses of the Nebraska legislature, repub
lican, have adopted the following resolution:
Whereas, There is now pending in congress a
measure in the interest of the great ship com
panies, known as the Ship Subsidy bill, and
Whereas, Such a measure is a direct grant of
special privileges and not in tho interest of the
people .and undoubtedly opposed by more than
nine-tenths of tho people of Nebraska; therefore,
be it ,
Resolved, By the senate of Nebraska, that our
senators be instructed and representatives In con
gress bo requested to work and vote for the de
leat of such measure, or any like bill, and
Resolved, That tho secretary of the senate be
instructed to fniwnvi ,.,. A xi. i.,t,.,,a
to each senator and representative in congress,
and to those who have been elected but who have
not yet talcen their seats.
This represents the sentiments of Nebraska re
gardless oi political prejudice and .-Nebraska
congressmen who are tempted, to' vote for the sh
subsidy will do well to take notice. '
OOOO
The eminent railroad managers do not scqTij
fn,.eSi0ri Cllefi ,,,1,y (llmculty J" securing faeililiea
lor hauling their water to market.
Hrfi Za. aSft&"&j.
