The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1891-10-02
RINGING LETTER. .

The following was written by Governor
Pennoyer In response TO the democratic
managers who had In charge the demo
cratic gathering at Spokane the 73rd and
s4,h Inst:
SrArE or OREooN, EXECUTIVE OFfirE,
SALEM, Sept. 4, is9t.
To Hon. Henry Drum, President; George
iiszxard, Secretary Of the democratic 80
ciety Of Washing ston-Dea SIrs In ans
wer to your kind invitation TO be present
at the second annual meeting Of your so
eiety, 10 be held In the city Of Spokane on
the z3rd and s4th Of September, ] regret
10 say that official duties Will preclude It's
acceptance. Allow me, However, 10 ex-
press The sincere hope that euch eonyen-
tlon may be conducive Of great good.
cannot avoid tie conviction That the
immediate future Is 10 be u crucial period
for the democratic party, as well as for the
government Itself. the people are lipe
for a return TO the old methods Of govern.
ment and the democratic party must lead
In such revolution, or fall by The way
side. The republican party which has had
eonsro! OF the federal government for the
iast thirty years has succeeded In the OBJ |
liberation of the ancient landmarks OF ftu-
gal government, enthfonement OF corpor.
ate power by national legislation, In the
surrender OF the FINANCES Of the nation 10
capitalists enrIehed by virtue OF statutory
favors, and In the practical subyeraIon Of
our constitutional government In essence,
II not In form.
Thirty years ago, when The national sd-
minisiratlon was turned over 10 the repub.
liean part, there was no class legi1iaiion
upon the statute books Of congress. In
dusirles were thriving without artificial
stimulus. and the money employed therein
was 70 generally diffused and 30 remunera-
tive that Il was loath 10 be invested In gov
srnment bonds bearing interest a, eight
and ten per cent. What IL the record Eowi
After thirty years OF republican leg
islatioE we hnd the industries demanding
legislative protection IN order 10 exc out
existence. Class legislation Is written on
nearly every page OF congressional enact
men,s. Congress has given The great bulk
OF our public domain now remaining I'll for
settlement TO railroad corporations to be
dolcd Oh, OF their enrichment, at the high.
est figures TO tic poor settlers seeking
homes. !, has surrendered the control Of
the national finances TO class Of capitalists
who have been made mIliioaaires by leg
isiatiTe entctmc "a at The peoples cx-
peuse, while tie great bulk Of The moaey
ot'he eountry IL now boarded in the 5anks.
the property OF the few. end 40 precLrIous
are i,s returns when employed IN business
pursuits that II gladly seeks Investment Ia
government; securities a, } and4 per cent.
Il has legisIaied the few rich and ,Ae
many Poor.
Today the POSER Of trusts and corpora Z
tons controls the legislation OF congress, |
anL capitalists dominate the financial policy /
oilhc administration. These are few in- .
stances in a large. unbroken lIne of per- {
niclous class Legislation, having for is OBJ I
jcet the Continuance Of party domination,
through the granting OF b. nehts TO capital
lsis, corporations and favored industries |
with ,ie view Of receiving peeunIary aid s
In return for legislative iavors. And to
CROWN the apex Of lie Infamous Legislation. {
tho republican party endeavored to confer
upon the president, whom I, had already {
made commauder-In chief OF the army In !
lime OF peace, the right TO use the military
forces Ia the control Of elections, In order {
10 bolster up Its waning power with the
sword. Against the continuance Of such
q nefarious administration OF national at
fIIrS. there Il ipening an overwhelming
,vtlt H. such Il crisis the democratic
party cannot and dare not remain neutral.
IL must, in Obedience to It's earlier and
better record. bid defiance to the money
power and declare l,s unialtering oPposi
tlon to all class legislation. In the COM
Ing struggle, contlaual silence rs 10 the
financial abuses of the eouLtry and repeat
ed piastering with class tariff legislation
will be fatal The old slogan of the organ
izatIon must be revived. The old ensign
must be nalle.i to the mast. The spirit of
the aneien. democracy L. pervading the
whole people. Opposition to the present
financial policy of the government, and to
all phases of class legislation Is the rally
Irg cry OF the great masses, and II the
democratic party will, In the coming con-
test, he faithful TO It's ancient record, ohedi- |
ent to Its instincts, and true TO the interests
, OF the whole peapie, 1t viii triumph; II not, |
Il will fail. Very respectfully.