The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-10-09

the pockets of chosen beneticiaries.
And worst of all false pretenses it
imposes on ignorance and plays
with patriotism, by calling this.
policy the aAmerican system, .
when in truth it is but the cast-off
garment of British craftsmanship.
More than 40 years ago, when
England sought to widen the bounds
of Freedom, she decreed the extinc-
ton of her system of class taxation.
In lifting the burden of unequal
taxes from the backs of her Iaborers,
she lifted a political and social
pressure which was equally as
heavy, and to freeman far more
calling.
This so-called american system I
makes the American laborer more
of a serf chan his English brother,
From his current earnings it gath
ers not only the bulk of the taxes
needed for tho support of Govern
ment, but even greater sums to be
bestowed In free and unearhed
bounty on those who are already so
rich that they are bis employer.
Out of these bounties are springing
up monopolies, monster combina-
tions of capital, and tho trusts that
wrap themselves about with the
mantle of concealment while they
WELD the power of swelling millions.
The Democratic party appeals to
the youth of the country to rally 10
its standard and fight against these
sentiments and policies of the Re.
publican party. Over against the
banner of the Bloody Shirt it plants
the flag of restored union and a
reconciled people; a flag that repre-
sents no primacy of section, no
grades or geographical distinctions
of citizenship, but equality of States
and equality of people.
Against political Capitalization,
by the massing of powers in the
Federal Government, it fights for
vigorous, healthy local government
as the safe guard of personal free
dom. Against Capitalization of
wealth by unjust taxation, it fights
for equality of burdens as the con-
dition of equal manhood. In all its
history, and never more zealously
than now, it has championed the
cause of the individual. 1t has not
sought to add to the stature of the
man; not to circumscribe the citizen
with increasing interference, but to
widen the bounds of his free, un-
trammeled actions. Trusting to the
capacity and virtue of the whole
people to govern themselves, it has
never permitted a few to share in
the powers of taxation as a reward
for their administration of govern
ment or as a bribe for their support
of party. Knowing that under any
wise and frugal government, pros
perity and wealth would come by
natural laws to. our people, it's con-
Germ has not been how it might in
crease trade or wealth, but how it
might preserve and secure liberty.
1t recognizes that to foster capital
is to make labor more dependent.
True Democracy means a chance
in life for every man. Wehave low
ed to boast that under free and equal
government we had forever rid our
selves of the class laws and social
prejudice that made honors and
social position and property the heri-
tage of a privileged order and con-
demned the great body of the peo-
pie to poverty and obscur.ity from
which there was no escape. We
have rightly pointed to our young
men who have risen from lowIiest
beginnings by mere force or virtue
and merit as the most precious fruit
of free institutions. Yet this fruit
is now threatened with deadly
blight. The corporation, steam and
electricity, the great forces of modern
industry are terribly centralizing in
their effects. By their own free
play they threaten the integrity and
the liberty of the citizen. But
when the law steps in; not to curb
or chasten, but to aid and increase
their effects, to add to the power of
wealth. to cherish and protect mon-
opoly and to stimulate that latest
and most dangerous form of COM
mercial combination, the centraliza-
ton of corporations into trusts, a
shadow is flung across the path of
the American youth; barriers that
cannot be surmounted are rising be-
fore him; his heritage is passing
from him into the possession of
others. Glasses differentiate and
society, as elsewhere, hardens into