The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-05-03
.1e9srsoAlan Democracy"

This phrase IL being much used
just now. and very earnestly by some
people, IN tho expression OF u great
anu Important political doctrine,
which they desire To sce prevail,
w share In that desire. 10 give
forve aud efficiency to- tho ideas con.
tanned In the real Jeifrrsohian dc.
moeracy Il one VI tho political needs
ot our time. To this cna II II I'M.
rortant that w know what that
democracy really was,
II II ene ef the good fortunes "
tho writer IL have enjoyed familiar
acquaintance with a gentle man who
ceulatcll, This gentleman II eighty.
six or more years old, and has moved
In the highest political circles III this
state from his youth up, Such Il
man can tell III his own knowlcdRc.
aud he has Informed Us that In 1919
tho democrats took the ground that
the policy III these who aftcrwara
aceaMe the WhiH party In building
up tho corporations diWctly tended
to the destruction III the liberties of
tho people and they forccastcd sub,
stantiallv tho course which affairs
have taken. and arc taking In this
eoaAsry. 40 tar IA tho gathering of
property into few hands Is concerned.
and the corruption ~ society there.
n.y. In short, tho old original Iefler.
sonian democracy was what might
now DC called the anti.corperation
party,
Hut tho matter ef chief interest IL
us Is IL get hold III that vital princi.
pie which made the old Icnersantan
laemoefacy Quick and instinct with
hostility To tho whole movement In
behalf ef the formation III corpora,
tiens, Tha, vital principle was that
all power rests In tho people. tina.
the officials are servants. and tina,
they derive their power nom aud aro
Responsible IL the whole body III
those over whom they exercise, This
il the very eye In tho seed of Ameri.
ean institatiaass and thu corr Grafton
idea Il In its nature. and corpora,
ITEMS arr In their structure, the deadly
Toe Of this principle az democracy,
In their essential idea AMI nature
corporations are - constructed that
Que set az people, the stockholders.
shall have the power and appoint the
officials. who shalt bear rule over an
entirely diflrNnt set III pcopl,>-.the
Wage employees, while these hast have
NJ Voice In the administration ~
latIalrs, And tho deepest death az Il
| all il that thu living itself of these
4 hapleSs people. who have no voice,
ii nvalseas and that Il Il not some
political right, hut the bread they
arr 10 live by that h al stake, Such
u kind II organization in \ ire re-
public l. a society monster, Is a wart,
4 wen, a eancereus growth upon the
) oaay polite, which in lis perfected
anfoldMent must XIII the fseaom al
the people, And in all saherness VI
, sleelare that no danger that threatens
our Institutions IL greater, w aeuh,
/ II any II 50 great, rs that which
comes froM tho active presence IN
, our midst III these organizations ~
unnatural IL free people-the cor,
perations, All alike ef every form
/ and grade they should @ ahharrcs
ny every cltiscn who loves towt
, meeting and all our free institu
,lon~
Z HIT II will he said that wealth ant
: comfort have been greatly iacrsaSc,
, by their Means, This is anqnes,ian
, ALLY true, Tut tho price ", are pay
i ins l. our freedom, The price v,
4 arr paying l. that acrid> vitriolic, 20
+ litieal poison. the rrolctariats an,
| the imminent danger Of the decay O
il the spirit II liberty. and the tlnal an,
I speedy collapse of cur Tree institu
: tions, Unless tho people shall ris,
Il like an overwhelming Hood "a pre-
Ii serve their liberties. the children ar,
1 now In our schools who will see IN,
freedom OF the people of this republic
n extinct and a railroad cxar lorlin;
o over the whole land,
Hany one should ask, SWELL. wha
= practical steps can now hc taken I,
: meet and overcome this dangrry
|, We answer. The first step is 10 pro
mote tremendous revival Of tn
Z spirit Of lefrersonian democracy. /
h awaken the people in such dcgre
:, To the precious, vital principle whic
Il that phrase emhodies. and SO To war
!. them Of the danger tha. impend.
l. that they will he fully prepared 10
!. action when the time for actio
eamcs. The second step is To ei
II lcasor IN gather int clubs all whos
Il hearts ARE alive Ia this great worl
l. for I'll. purpose OF declaring that til
II Jefsersanlan democracy, i'm its orig
=. inal form. was the real Plain People
>. Party: aud that 10 reproduce il no
u Is the great political need OF on
rs times. and 10 consider what pra,
IL teal measures should now be take
IN In apply 10 the present eNigenci,
A. The great anti corporation rrincipi,
~ which constituted the life of th;
IN democracy sixty years ago. This
er what should lie done now, and III
III quicker the better.
Tut leei SOM may mistake us. Y
N, remark distinctly, that the old j.
+. tsr>onian democracy has no eAis
III encc to-day I'm eiilisr the democrat
II, or republican party: that the thil
- party now existent l. impossible
NJ reason M the many blanaers IL h!
made: ansl that tn. Time To form a No
H. third party H. not yet fully conl
:. Meanwhile. W. give To all who car
:" what must yet IT, the sar cry of th
~ A