The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-16
THE POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.

In response to an invitation to attend thu
reunion of the Manhattan Club, in New
York city, Ex-Governor Randolph, of New
Jersey, addressed pointed letter to the Sec
rotary, Manton Marble, Esq. Inasmuch al
this document foreshadows the future policy
Of the Democratic party, we extract from i
that portion giving the views of the dIstln
guished writer, whose long devotion to thu
principles, and his exalted position in the
ranks of the Democratic party, entltle then
to the highest respect and consideration.
Gov. Randolph says:
Free trade man, as l certainly am, l do
not deem the successful advocacy of the
limited doctrine practicable at this time
With the load of Federal and State debts
upon us, we have open but one of three
courses-especially as to the Federal debt
payment of it by revenues largely derived
from Importation; direct taxation, sufficient
for the same purpose; or reputation.
No honest man, or even polite man, dis
cusses reputation no sagacious politician
advises direct taxation, whatever its eco
nomic advantages; therefore, right or
wrong, neither political party will be shat
left but "revenue SYSTEM" and the best
that can be doIe with that is to render its
operation as inoppressive and equal as pos
slble.
The highest present attainable position to
us as a party, is therefore, the advocacy
whenever practicable, of Free Trade" in
its broad sense.
And this expression leads me to say,
finally, that though the great principle of
free trade, as applied to the revenue neces-
sites Of our Government, cannot now be
made applicable, yet its adoption as applied
to other and even greater questions than
the revenue one, makes it's application both
permissible and desirable.
Gree Trade" with the Democracy, should
mean opposition, fixed and unrelenting, to
all forms of monopoly.
1t should wage as merciless war against
enormous and unnecessary combinations Of
capital, in obtaining and controlling cOrpOr-
ate power, as it should against manufactur-
ing monOpolies or the concentration Of
political power Capitalization is moved
and controlled by single impulse. That
impulse is an intensely selfish and destruc-
tive one.
Against the weaker and badly constructed
combinations of labor, the principle of
'Free Trade" applies as well-but with
spasmodc exceptions) the danger from this
source is not yet considerable.
The vast number Of persons that labor
has to ob*ain, and hold, to make its power
felt; and the large diversity of its interests,
WILL together with other causes, render the
Capitalization of this power-tempOrary, in
all probablity-for q long time to come.
Under a true Interpretation Of the doc
trine of Gree Trade" the Democracy should
oppose all class legislation, as unfrendly to
the best interests Of the people, and in time
dangerous to Republican forms Of Govern
ment. With general and equitable laws,
under which both capital and labor could
give legitimate expression to their purpose
or power, we should, through the laws of
competition, not only make all the progress
needed in great commercial and other enter
prises, but we would have the largest posi-
BILE security against Capitalization Though
class legislation.
Our farmers, with or without sufficient
cause, are entering upon a war against rail
way corporations. 1t seems to me the true
and permanent remedy for the ills COM
planned of, lies in making railways carry on
a wholesome but perpetual competition with
each other. This can be rendered practical
BILE by free trade" in railway construc-
ton, by the passage Of general railway
laws. The advocacy Of this and kindred
laws, by the Democracy, upon their old free
trade doctrine, fixes for them practicable,
tangible, and as l think. unassaiiablc prli-
ciple.