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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1913)
v -H T"iJ -" TW' "' ? '5'T'Ji,' "Tv "W1 B'Wfv,lJppf' 1 -r t fi The Commoner. MARCH 28, 1913 , ttjjp v- - jT r rffffm, ' while those who profited by legislation wore constantly in touch with the powers that bo and when the people awoke to the true con dition, they found self-interest in cdntrol of every branch of the government. The protest recorded in 1910 was a timely warning that the old order must vaniBh, that a new day had arisen, that a new order was at hand. No more was legislation to bo enacted in hotels and ap pointments to ofllco made in Pullman cars. The new order was destined to destroy the cobwebs of the past and the Sixty-second congress kept tho step. "The success of 1912 was a ratification of the work begun two years prior and today we are facing the problem of making good to those who gave us this lease of power. New desires and new thoughts are today driving out those of yesterday. Yesterday those in power believed they were masters instead of servants, that human interests were subservient to property and that laws were in the interest of the few. "This nation is today entering upon a new era. For nearly a half contury it has been de parting from the ideals of tho fathers and has caused property rights and selfish desires to be come supreme. "That nation is strong wherein the individual is given all rights compatible with organized society. Today millions are calling as never bo fore for escape from a course of dealings that is unjust and unworthy a free people. Tho richest nation on earth and yet at war with labor; a per capita wealth that is amazing yet the peasantry of the nation not receiving their just reward; a nation framed in equality and yet strengthening the hold of classes. "A bill of rights marvelous in its statement and yet one man taxed for tho benefit of an other; a government of the people and yet tho masses have the least to say. Will our party dedicate itself to the public good or to private benefactors? "Our face is turned to the east, we are look ing at the rising sun, and if for an instant wo look around and give one glance backward, we will be driven from the course and our place taken by those who will move forward in the line of human rights. "Legislation must have for Its purpose the greatest good for the country. Remedial legis lation is a necessity. The appeal comes from every home, from every workshop, from every farmside for the enactment of measures in which the common good is .the basis. The ques tion of taxation is supreme and the tax gatherer is not limited to the national capital or the county courthouse. It is evident to anyone who has given thought to this subject that the power of taxation as exemplified in our tariff laws exacts a greater tribute to its beneficiaries than the govern ment does for its own existence. - "This is not only true with reference to tax upon the food we consume and the clothing we wear, but upon transportation. The tax exacted tor transportation has crushed individu als as well as localities and our party will not do its duty if that tax is not corrected. A tax on consumption should be at the minimum and it never will be if private interests are permitted to make, the levy. These questions must bo solved n the interest of a just and humane government or we will not be permitted to re main in power. "No country is just that taxes the loaf of bread or the clothing its people wear. Untaxed food and untaxed clothing is a necessity and tho party will not live that continues to unneces sarily tax these commodities. To tax the food wo eat and the clothing we wear is but subject ing the individual to a hardship not justified by a democratic government. "State governments exempt from taxation the homes of those who bared their breast to tho bullet storm that we might have a united coun try and frequently has exempted from taxation the home of the working man. "Why should not the national government say to all, that upon food and clothing there shall be no tax and thereby give relief to a class that needs assistance and are yet the bone and sinew of every government. This cry goes forth from every village and hamlet in this land, and our party if it remains true to its historic past must stand for the least taxation upon those who are the least able to bear it. "In the contest of 1912, the democracy of the people spoke as it never did before. The demo cratic party went before the people led by men who believed in equality and was successful, unaided by bosses and unsupported by the monopolistic press. - "The Mississippi valley, the home of democ racy with a unanimity that was coramendablo from one end to tho other, gavo practically a unanimous electoral voto for the sago of Prince ton and by that act has given notico that it be comes tho center of power in this nation. "It was tho first to declare for tho election of United States senators by tho people; It de clared for an income tax; it stands for tho initia tive and referendum, for direct primaries, for a lessened tax on the necessaries of life, and it sends forth today with all tho powor and signifi cance possible, that not one backward step shall be taken; that tho government of tho future must bo that which brings to tho homo of tho individual every right he is entitled and destroys every vestige of tribute. "Wo are led today by one who stands in tho foremost ranks of thinkers of the world. De mocracy made no mistake in tho nomination and election of school master and patriot govornor of New Jersey. Of noble purpose, of high ideals with an intellectuality, comparable with Jeffer son, with tho vigor and backbone of a Jackson he will drive from power the corrupter of gov ernment and the beneficiaries of selfish interests. His administration will take its place by tho sido of that of Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln as one of tho milestones in our history. Of humblo origin and yet of unbounded wealth, of intellect, with a heart beating in tho interest of humanity he takes his place at tho head of our nation as typical democratic American citizen. "Without tho aid or assistance of bosses or combinations he has risen to tho highest pin nacle given to man. He stands dedicated to maintain a government of the people and for tho people. "Washington declared, 'That there existed in the economy of nature an indissoluble union be tween virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage.' "Jefferson declared, 'Equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion, re ligious or political; peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations.' "Lincoln declared, 'I take tho official oath today with no mental reservation and with no purpose to construe the constitution or laws by any hypercritical rules; wo are not enemies but friends.' "Wilson declared, "With this vision we ap proach new affairs, our duty is to cleanse, to re consider, to restore, to correct tho evil without impairing the good, to purify and humanize every process of our common life without, weak ening or sentimentalizing it.' "These were the utterances of patriots and President Wilson dedicates his life to this gov ernment and the fulfillment of party pledges. How can he fail? The people stand to protect and maintain him. "Upholding the arm of our president are thoso in whom we have implicit faith and con fidence. We recognize one standing by his side, who when the robe of democracy was trailing in tho dust held it up as the shield and pro tector of humanity. Ono who never lost faith in tho people. He stands this hour by his side to sustain and encourage him in tho mighty work he is doing. How can he fail with America's greatest commoner, William Jennings Bryan as the flag bearer? "The army of democracy is moving onward. On one side stands teeming millions asking but opportunity, upon the other stands greed, graft and power. Without impairing tho good wo must correct the evil and our failure to recognize what is wrong and attempt to destroy it will mark our capacity for government. It Is not that wo shall destroy the strong, hut that we shall protect the weak; it is not that wo shall foster a belief that a paternal government is best, but that we shall declare that the government shall not become a partner in business in which it has no share in the profits. Wo must declare that the youth of this nation are not to be destroyed in workshop; that vice and crime must not find a foothold in our cities; that a minimum wage is a necessity; that the money powers must not hang as the sword of Damocles ovor the head of the people; that the life of one individual born in the image of his Creator reared in educa tion and patriotism Is worth more to a republic than all the wealth of all the ages that govern ment shall not tax one man for the benefit of another; that the mighty forces of nature as exemplified in our rivers and lakes shall be utilized for public good not selfish interests; that the tax on transportation shall bo based on the physical value of the property not on tho sizo of tho corporation; that tho government shall be master not the creature; that wealth is based on happiness and contentment not mighty armies and gigantic navies; that the rule of the people is prefernblo to a government by boncfi ciaries. To accomplish this is tho work of our party and we invito all classes to unite with us in Its accomplishment that a democratic gov ernment may not perish." "IlKCLAIMING KANSAS" Governor Gorge 11. Ilodgcs of Kansas spoke as- follows: "I know not what star stood ovor tho cradlo of the Infant son that was born in tho Bryan home in Salom, 111., March 19, 18G0. It is mi in dent for our purposo to know that for tho past seventeen years, that boy grown to manhood, has boon the dominant figure in Amorlcan poli tics, and is today strongor and more firmly forti fied In the public confidence than any other man in American public life. "Wo come tonight bearing to him from tho pooplo of Kansas a message of congratulation, of lovo, and loyalty; and bringing to him tho assurance, on thiB fifty-third anniversary of his birth, that in my stato his nnmo Is still magic, and its mention is still greeted with the old time sincero applause A few years ago Lyman Abbott, tho friend of Mr. Bryan's groat Imitator, said, 'Tho career of Will.iam Jennings Bryan is without parallel in American political history.' In tho course of the same article the distinguished editor of tho Outlook said, 'Ills program is nothing less thun a' reconstruction of American political democ racy, and in our judgment he has inaugurated a movement that will grow to formldablo pro portions.' This was said six or seven yoars ago. The prophecy has come true. Mr. Bryan has pushed the reconstruction of American political democracy to a successful issue, and today the government of tho United States, and of moat of the states of this nation, is in tho hands of that reconstructed political democracy. . "And why has all this come to pass? "Mr. Abbott himself assigned tho reason when ho said that Mr. Bryan had reduced tho profession of politics to an honest trade and wrought a moral revolution in American public life. Because of his soundness of heart, be cause more than any living statesman ho is thoroughly under tho compulsion of moral idealism, Mr. Bryan has been able to keep the good ship democracy in her progressive course, and has enabled hor to weather storms that threatened to engulf and has brought her safely to harbor. "No man in public life has, ever been assailed moro violently. The most skillful champions of corporate privilege and predatory wealth havo broken their lances upon his shield and havo rotired discomforted from tho fray. "With Mr. Bryan's soundness of heart goes indomitablo energy, courage and persistence. Like another Hercules, ho has come from each labor feeling that he has done a creditable day's work but always ready for another. If he wrestled with a Nomean lion yesterday, he is ready to strangle tho Lornoan hydra today. If it were pointed out to him that be had not brought up Cerberus from Hades, he stood ready to tackle the job. If they twitted him with not bringing back the golden apples from the gar den of Hesperldes or with not cleaning out the Augean stables, he redoubled his efforts, took off his coat and in the year 1912 he completed both tasks. "Mr. Abbott was right. The career of Wil liam Jennings Bryan is without parallel in American politics. From that day in Chicago in 1896, when he flashed across the political horizon like a meteor, his place in the hearts of the American peoplo has never been in secure. Successive defeats have been only ap parent, and each time he renewed the battle, he strengthened his hold upon the public. Mr. Bryan did not spring full panoplied from the helmet of the statue of 'Chicago' at tho conven tion of 189G. He grew. As he stands today he is a growth, and I am firmly convinced that ho will continue to grow and to fill a still larger place in the hearts of tho American people and in tho destinies of this great republic. Here Is a man after the people's own heart. He repre sents qualities which they share. He has won .heir confidence by doing in a conspicuous man ner work which they believe ought to be done. Their power is behind him because he is what the people think he is. "Richard Cobden, when he was making a moral issue of the repeal of the Corn laws, said: 'The only way in which the soul of a great na tion can be stirred is by appealing to its sympa thies with a true principle in its unalloyed sim plicity. And, further, it is necessary for tho concentration of a people's mind that an in"
