Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-18
NATIONAL ISSUES.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDS UPON
THE SINGLE TAX THEORY.
literature Circulated For the Purpose Of
Creating Unrest Among the Masses-No
Definite Policy Outlined In the Matter
Igsued. ts

/ Deun1te fOl1cy Outll0e0 In the Matter
| Issued.
The national congressional Democrat
ic committee, located on Fifteenth street
in the city Of Washington, is sending
out various public documents in the in.
terest of the Democratic party. The
character Of this literature is such that
public notice cannot fail to be attracted
by the utter want of anything apparent.
ly Democratic in its tone of character
The following headings or paragraphs
are significant as emanating from the
Democratic headquarters:
No. /. What the Democrats ought
to do. Free trade and single tax
No. 2. "a single tax substitute for
the income tax
No. 3. "The most telling agency
that in the last election brought about
a result that astounded the politicians
Of both parties-was unquestionably
the wide circulation of Henry George
Protection Or Free Trade?'''
This paragraph is from letter of
Tom L. johnson soliciting cooperation
in the distribution of Henry Georges
| book on free trade, showing that the
Democratic party has circulated officially
| 1,024, 600 of Henry Georges book, Civ
ing summary Of the sources through
which the distribution was made, prin-
cipally Democratic clubs and state and
national committees.
From the foregoing it is authorita-
lively shown that the Democratic party
today stands upon the single tax theory
OF Henry George and is attempting to
so educate the people of the United
States. In connection with this same
distribution are found three speeches by
Mr.. Bryan of Nebraska bearing date of
Aug. IS, 1898, Jan. Is and Jan. 80,
1894. Here are three speeches that are
purely Populistic in their utterances,
demanding free silver and all the other
wild theories claimed by the Populists
of Nebraska.
We hold that it is the mission of the
Democratic party today to teach that
which will bring discomfort, lawless-
ness and disorder. The efforts of those
who lead in Democratic thought have
for many years past been seemingly
appealing to class prejudices, fomenting
strife between labor and capital, all Of
which tends to excite communistic feel
ings and in the course of time prepare
men for the lawless acts which are to-
day being enacted throughout the length
and breadth Of the entire country.
Strikes by armed forces, taking posses
sion of private property by armed strik-
ers, stealing of railroad trains, defying
of state, corporate and local authorities,
all of which may in large measure be
accounted for by the character Of the
teaching referred to.
But real source of communistic SEN
timent may be cited. The head of the
nation, no less character than Grover
Cleveland, president Of the United
States, has done and is doing a double
share Of this kind of talk Attention is
called to few sentences taken from
some of his speeches and public papers,
which may be used as arguments to con-
vince the public that Mr.. Cleveland
has, with great mass of his party,
been playing the part of demagogue,
and that he has done his share in SOW
ing seeds of lawlessness.
|, 1.-THE discomfort of the employed is
due, in large degree, to the grasping
and needless exactions Of employers. -
''As we view the achievements Of ag-
gregated capital we discover the exist
ence of trusts, combinations and mo-
nopolies, while the citizen is struggling
far in the rear or is trampled to death
under an iron heel" -
Colossal fortunes, unfairly gathered,
in the hands of few"
1.-The communism of combined wealth
and capital"
"Overweening cupidity and selfish
ness, which insidiously undermines the
Justice and integrity of our institu-
| lions.
Oppressed poverty and toll, which,
exasperated by injustice and discomfort,
attacks with wild disorder the citadel
of rule"
What we want to emphasize in this
article is that the Democratic party is
no longer the party Of patriotic senti-
ment resting upon the broad foundation
laid by jefferson and Jackson, but it is a
disordered appetite for spoils, grasp
ing for power without measuring the
consequences by which it is to be main
tanned Law and order are but incidents
in its economy. If it can by poisoning
the public currents of thought and I'M
settling the convictions of loyal and pa
triotic trust that for century have held
our people together in one bond, then
Democracy believes it has found at last
its opportunity not only of placing itself
in power, but by the exactions of the
lawless and threatening elements of the
country they are to be maintained in
that same exercise of power. Will the
common people, the home loving people,
the fathers and the mothers who have
children, share the glories promised by
our prosperous republic, or shall they
become the mendicants and outcasts of
the promised eommunistic power which
is to ravish all prosperity in the future,
throwing the whole population into one
mass of disorganized, fomenting strife,
out of which it must extricate itself, or
the republic be lost forever? Let the
people think and act wisely their part