The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-07
Senator Wallace.
TUE rAsrASp FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY.

gent rule of the masses and vested it in a
power AS yet formative aud undefined
Among these were the civil war, the crea-
iion and peculiar manipulation o. the pub.
lie debt, reconstruction outside the consti.
tuition, universal negro suffrage, plethora
M paper money, loose public morals, enor.
nous growth of private fortunes, and
close connection of the government with
the banking interest. Each had its
weight in sapping the foundation of gov.
crnment by the masses, and in shaping our
course toward different rule. Whether
,nat rule is to be suffrage qualified and
rdrefied, or suffrage controlled by the
power of aggregated wealth or monopoly
or a senatorial oligarchy, or hereditary
government, is beside the present Inquiry,
save as they each and all show distrusv OF
the people, aud build their foundations
upon universal suiIiage, debased, corrupted
and denominated.
The tendency toward so-called stronger
government is as manifest as are the causes
that have given it form. 1t is in the nature
of things for government 10 grow stronger al
the expense of the governed; but the plain
proof of the existence Of this tendency is
found in the opinions Of the federal judiciary
in federal legislation over matters hereto fore
within the control Of the people of the
states, in the modes of execution of those
statutes, by which local rule, local courts, and
personal liberty are overthrowu, and in that
ramihcation of executive patronage which
sends its mandates to the extremities, and at
will gathers in single hand enormous con-
tributions and unscrupulous obedience from
ninety thousand paid officials Executive
patronage will bring us to a master" A net
work of office holders, bound each to the
other, welding time and money and power
of place to pack primaries, dictate nomina-
tons, crush independent thought and action
and subordinate local control to the will OF
an executive who governs in the name OF
party points the road with unerring certain.
ty to the end that Franklin, the wise man,
predicted. Further guide boards on that
road are seen in large donations of money
by corporations, monopolists and wealthy
men, to supplement the power of the execu-
tive, and carry the elections in the interest
of an aristocrat C class who dislike and dis
trust the people; in the domination of en-
ploye by employer in the marked ballot; in
the third term candidacy and pilgrimage
on the stump; in the National and Labor
organizations, which are but over. jealous
protests against this tendency, and in thar
ill-concealed demand for energetic govern
ment, which has been the fundamental
thought of the opponents of Democracy
since the Gays of John Adams.
The issues of 1899 and 1900 again con-
front the people. The theories of that day
are again to struggle for the mastery. The
government Of the Republic is already cen.
rralized. The canvass of 1880 teaches this
The federal executive has been felt from the
ward caucus to the vaults of the treasury,
from the primary to the presidential election.
A high federal ,flical quits his place to take
n nomination Tor governor of the pivotal
state. and at once the executive arm is ex-
tended to his support. Marshals, dete ctives
collectors, secretaries, and all else that are
needed, locate themselves within the state,
and its suffrage is debauche6 aud its uu-
doubted will reversed. A suffrage, first de
based, then corrupted, then obedient,is cen
tralizition in its worst form. This is but
one means to the end sought. The mission
OF the Democratic party is decentralization
Its duty is to restore the government Of the
republic to the intelligent rule of the masses
OF the people. 1t must teach aud practice
the doctrines of It's illustrous founder. 1t
must appeal to the people themselves in
their own interest. 1t must preach the eter
nal truth that the individual citizen is the
unit in government, from whom proceeds all
power, in whom is vested all rights save
those which are granted by him for the
good OF the whole The people at the base,
the states and the federal government each
supreme within its sphere, is the system to
which it looks for liberty, and it must teach
that he who looks to paternal government,
to Capitalization, or TO empire looks to des-
potsm. Care for and perfect tue govern.
ment, and it will protect the liberties Of the
people, was the thought of Hamilton.
Give intelligence and information to the
people, teach them that it is their govern
ment, and their interest TO preserve law and
order, was the thought OF Jefferson. Pater-
nal government and vigor in the federal
head on the one hand, information to the
m asses and energy from the extremities on
the other. The former gave the republic
alien and sedition laws. direct taxation,
federal marshals and centralized rule in
1899. The latter swept these out of exis
ience in 1900; carried US successfully through
two foreign wars; acquired an empire OF ter
ritory, aud governed the country for sixty
years, We must choose between these two
now. The Democracy must again plant it.
elf upon the axiom. Governments are
made for men, not men for governments"
It must be true to the people and aggressive
n its fealty. Dominated labor must be
taught its rights and its interests, Capital
must see its safety in the intelligence and
ustice of individual rule, and not in the
xercise of arbitrary will. Honest perform
nee of everygoyernmental contract now in |
xiste nee, but a change of policy by which |
he debt shall be managed in the interest OF
be people and not of the creditor equal
axation on every form of property thor
ugn inquiry into taxation for revenue and
Is readjustment upon basis just to every
interest and to all the people; no monop-
les forfeiture of the franchises of corpor.
tions and punishment Of aggregated wealth
r individuals, for coercion of employees, or
be use of money In elections; our own car
wing trade made TO be our own preserve;
nd a divorce between government aud
anks, are thoughts which fiud place in such
0 issue The cry Of "Soid South" is eZ-
aus I'd aud impotent at last. 1t has served
8 purpose. Divided councils uPon ques-
Ons of administration have kept the Demo-
sey mere party of opposition, and con-