Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-01
Senator Jones of Florida, prom
inent democratic leader, in recent
interview expressed himself as fol

Senator Jones of Florida, prom
inent democratic leader, in recent
interview expressed himself as fol-
lows:
"Al.power in this country emanatss from the
people, and they have delegated to their pub
lie servants the precise measure of authority
they shall exercise. The Democratic party
has always been the peoples party. for the
reason that it never advocated the exercise of
any power which the people did not give to
their public servants. still this party has been
denounced the enemy of free government be-
cause is has eontended for the rights of the
people ami their supremacy against the usurps-
lions of the men they placed in power. If
the principles of the democratic party are
honestly enforced, there will be no necessity
in this country for labor parties or other indie
pendent organizations in the interest of particular
classes. The true province Of government is to
give protection and security, but no favor TO any
class Of men. This is government of equality,
The mechanic and farm laborer has the same
but no greater rights than the man who works in
4 factory.
In raising money for the support of the Govern
ment. contend that there is no power given
anywhere in the Constitution, which is the ex-
presson OF the peoples viii, to pay the least
attention to any class of industrial interests.
Taxes should be made as nearly uniform and
equal as possible, The indirect system of taxa
tou will always continue but it is the essence of
this system that revenue should be its object and
not Its incident and in raising revenue no more
l..
meet the expenses of the Government in exer-
cising the power of protection over all interests
and all classes of men. l know very well that
many people imagine that the revenues ought to
be raised and then distributed TO support special
interests. There is no authority for this under
our Government. When the Government at
tempts to distribute the public money for obiecss
not national. but special and local, there is no
rule possible to be adopted that can make such
expenditures either constitutional or just The
tariffmnst be reformed. The greatest good to the
greatest number, is vital principle OF popular
rule. No one expects absolute free trade: but q
principle which majority of the people of this
country will insist upon is, that the tariff must
be So framed that it will produce the largest sum
of money possible of cohesion under the iRSii-
rect SYSTEM without regard TO special or 1ndHS1o-
ual interests. With respect to reform in the civil
service of the country, l think the sEle has
arrived when the people will not submit to be
bribed by their own money or their esyn offices.
The abominable practice of using the public
offices of the Government, and money enforced
from employees. necessary to conduct the public
business, in order to carry elections. must be
pudiated by the democratic party. If that party
will honesty advocate reform of the tariff re
duction of internal revenue, ciyil-service reform
and the reduction of public expenses To the
smallest sum necessary to carry on the Govern.
ment, it viii succeed. II should be its duty to
separate as far as possible the interests findivid
uals and corporations from affairs of Government
Going before the people with determination to
bring back the Government to the economy
simplicity and purity which marked the earlier
administration of the republic, it will DE inyinc'
ible. If it relies upon the support of jobbsrs
and special interests who have nothing in COM
mon with the people, it will fail and onsht ID
fail, -