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The Commoner.
4
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 31
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"branch of the federal government into harmony with the ideas of
those who framed our constitution and founded our government.
OTHER ISSUES WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER
"Shall the people rule?" I repeat, is declared by our plat
form to be the overshadowing question, and as the campaign pro
gresses, I shall take occasion to discuss this question as it manifests
itself in other issues; for whether we consider the tariff question,
the trust question, the railroad question, the banking question,
the labor question, the question of imperialism, the development
of our waterways, or any other of the numerous problems which
press for solution, we shall find that tho real question involved in
each is, whether the government shall remain a mere business asset
of favor seeking corporations or be an instrument in the hands of
the people for the advancement of the common weal.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS EARNED CONFIDENCE
If the voters are satisfied with the record of the republican
party rind with its management of public affairs we can not reason
ably ask for a change in administration; if, however, the voters
feel that the people, as a whole, have too little influence in shaping
the policies of the government; if they feel that great combinations
of capital have encroached upon the rights of the masses, and em
ployed the instrumentalities of government to secure an unfair
share of the total wealth produced, then we have a right to expect
a verdict against the republican party and in favor of the demo
cratic party; for our party has risked defeat aye, suffered defeat
in its effort to arouse the conscience of the public and to bring
about that very awakening to which Mr. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy to be entrusted with leadership in a
great cause who are willing to die for it, and the democratic party
has proven its worthiness by its refusal to purchase victory by
delivering the people into the hands of those who have despoiled
them. In this contest between democracy on the one side and
plutocracy on the other, the democratic party has taken 'its posi
tion on the side of equal rights, an&invites the opposition qf those
who use politics to secure special privileges and governmental
favoritism. Quaging the progress of the nation, not by the happi
ness or wealth or refinement of a few, but "by the prosperity and
advancement of the average man," the democratic, party charges
the republican party with being the promoter of present abuses,
the opponent of necessary remedies and the only bulwark of private
monopoly. The democratic party affirms that in this campaign
it is the only party, having a prospect of success, which stands for
justice in government and for equity in the division of the fruits of
industry.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY DEFENDER OF HONEST WEALTH
We may expect those who have committed larceny by law and
purchased immunity with their political influence, to attempt to
raise false issues, and to employ "the livery of Heaven" to conceal
their evil purposes, but they can no longer deceive. The democratic
party is not the enemy of any legitimate industry or of v honest
accumulations. It is, on the contrary, a friend of industry and the
steadfast protector of that wealth which represents a service to
society. The democratic party does not seek to annihilate all cor
porations; it simply asserts that as the government creates corpor
ations, it must retain the power to regulate and to control them,
and that it should not permit any corporation to convert itself
into a monopoly. Surely we should have the co-operation of all
legitimate corporations in our effort to protect business and industry
from the odium which lawless combinations of capital will, if un
checked, cast upon them. Only by the separation of the good from
the bad can the good bo made secure.
NOT REVOLUTION BUT REFORMATION
The democratic party seeks not revolution but reformation,
and I need hardly remind the student of history that cures are
mildest when applied at once ; that remedies increase in severity as
their application is postponed. Blood poisoning may be stopped
by the loss of a finger today; it may cost an arm tomorrow or a
life the next day. So poison in the body politic can not be removed
too soon, for the evils produced by it increase with the lapse of time.
That there are abuses which need to be remedied, even the repub
lican candidate admits; that his party is unable to remedy them,
has been fully demonstrated during the last ten years. I have such
confidence in the intelligence as well as the patriotism of the people,
that I can not doubt their readiness to accept the reasonable reforms
which our party proposes, .rather than permit the continued growth
of existing abuses to hurry the country on to remedies more radical
and more drastic.
OUR PARTY'S IDEAL
The platform of our party closes with a brief statement of the
party's ideal. It favors "such an administration of the government
as will insure, as far as human wisdom can, that each citizen shall
draw from society a reward commensurate with his contribution
to the welfare of society."
Governments are good in proportion as they assure to each
member of society, so far as governments can, a return commensur
ate with individual merit.
THE DIVINE LAW OF REWARDS
: There is a Divine law of rewards. When the Creator gave us
the earth, with its fruitful soil, the sunshine with its warmth, and
the rains with their moisture, He proclaimed, as clearly as if His
voice had thundered from the clouds, "Go work, and according to
your industry and your intelligence, so shall be your reward."
Only where might has overthrown, cunning undermined or govern
ment suspended this law, has a different law prevailed. To conform
the government ,to this law ought to be the ambition of the states
man; and no party can have a higher mission than to make it a
reality wherever governments can legitimately operate.
JUSTICE TO ALL
Recognizing that I am indebted for my nomination to the rank
and file of our party, and that my election must come, if it comes
at all, from the unpurchased and unpurchasable suffrages of the
American people, I promise, if entrusted with the responsibilities
of this high office, to consecrate whatever ability I have to the one
purpose of making this, in fact, a government in which the people
rule a government which will do justice to all, and offer to every
one the highest possible stimulus to great and persistent effort, by
assuring to each the enjoyment of his just share of the proceeds
of. his toil, no matter in what part of the vineyard he labors, or to
wliat occupation, 'profession or calling he devotes himself.
PLAIN QUESTIONS OP RIGHT AND AVRONG
Judge William J. Gaynor of Now York ha
written, for tho New York World, an interest
ing article which shows the importance of doni
ocratic victory in this year of 1908. Judg'e
Gaynor says.' '
"There are no radical questions before tho
cbuntry, but only plain questions of right anil
wrong which have long been calling out in vain
for settlement. In spite of all wo have heard
of the misuse of our public highways by favorit
ism in freight rates, no individual, however
gross an offender, has been indicted by the
government, and tho gross result is the collec
tion of a few thousand dollars in fines. The
question is whether we are to have not only
proper laws but an impartial and reasonably
strict administration of the laws, for the wel?
faro of all, or whether our government is to
stiffer to remain a long gathering condition of
favoritism and advantage for a few. That ques
tion is now become a live coal in the mind's
of the American people, and is to bo by thorii
answered. Lot us have fair play, and a faifl
irianly discussion and hearing for tho good df
I our great country, and for our posterity. Those
who instead of living to make posterity better
and happier, live only for their own greed and
selfishness, live worse than in vain. I do not
intend to strike a despondent note. All our
evils will be worked out right gradually, a little
by one party and a little by another, until all
is done, but those I have mentioned have un
happily lasted too long and grown too grevious.
The future is secure with the splendid intelli
gence and integrity of the people of this coun
try. Though we have our evils and our prob
lems, no one' correctly informed of the past
can take a. mdrose or despondent view of the
present or, of the future."
NO "OVERCONFIDENCE"
In his address to the Ohio republican com
mittee, on July 27, Mr. Taft said:
"We rauBt know, those of us who face tho
facts, that vo are meeting a large, strong party,
headed by an able, forceful and experienced can
didate, and we should be exceedingly imprudent
if we bellttlo the forces behind him and tho re
sources ofvan able leader."
It is not likely that tho republican politi
cians will lose tho battle by 'overconfidence "
Although they are making proud claims in every
section of the country, ii is known that they
have never been in such a state of panic as they
are now.
MR. GOULD IS HAPPY
Arriving in .New York from an European
trip, George Gould made some Interesting state
ments: 'After election," said Mr. Gould, "I expect
to see things get straightened out again. Tho
.nominations suit me perfectly."
'Do you mean the democratic as well as
the republican nomination by that?" Mr. Gould
was asked.
"I do. Mr. Bryan's nomination is very
satisfactory. The election of Mr. Taft, which
seems assured, will mean the return to pros
perity. His large experience in handling public
.affairs bids fair to make him an excellent
president."
In the same interview Mr. Gould, referring
to E. H. Harriman's victory in securing a foot
.hold in the Gould system, said that he would
welcomo Harrlman to a place on the Gould rail
road board. A great many people will suspect
, that Mr. Gould is just as well pleased with Mr.
Harrlman as a Gould director as he is with Mr.
Bryan's nomination.
It is to be noted also that in the same
Interview wherein Mr. Gould gives enthusiastic
endorsement to Mr; Taft, he expresses hi3 hap-
i.piness because of the reversal of the Standard
Oil fine.
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