The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-02
HOW FAR DOES PARTY FEALTY BIND?

The influence of party on men is almost
startling TO those who watch its work
ings. There ere many Democrats in the
House Of Representatives who concede
that the Wilson bill is not Democratic
MEASURE who concede that it IS in all
its important features, dn essentially Re
publican measure, and who admit that it
is so framed as to give great advantages
10 some Americans at the expense OF
other Americans, and yet they feel them
relyes constrained to vote for the bill be-
cause 1t is put forward with the imprima-
tur Of the Democratic party. Does party
fealty make this demand upon any men,
Der OF a party?
is mans independence OF thought and
action wholly abandoned and lost because
he woes with particular party and be-
lieves In the cardinal principles which
that party has formed to advance?
We cannot admit this to be the case.
The Democratic party is dedicated TO
the rule of the people by the people. Its
cardinal principle is that all men shall
stand upon footing of perfect equality
before the law. with the law giving no
advantages to one man over another and
denying TO no man perfect equality with
all others unless he is an idiot a lunatic
or has been convicted of crime. Mr.
Bourke Cochran, who is growing very
day upon the country, stated the princi-
pie most eloquenty in the House Of Rep
rcscntatives on Tuesday. when he said:
''Ae i believe in equality of salvation.
and In the love of the Heavenly Father.
80 ] stand here now for one policy one
country. one law, one God. one Demo-
cratic faith. one general prosperity for
all the people. without distinction of class.
or wealth, or race"
This is Democracy and this is what the
Times glores in.
When the Democratic party dedicates
itself to forwarding measures which aim
at producing the state and condition
painted by Mr. Cochran. we can well I'M
derstand how all Democrats take pride
and are delighted in supporting a meas
urc because 1t is party measure. We
know nothing more inspiring to a brave
and generous mind than the feeling that
its possessor is laboring earnestly in COM
mon with many others TO produce a
condition of affairs in which exact JUS
tice shall be done TO all men and no man
shall have cause TO complain that the
laws OF his country give an advantage
~ xrb
same opportunities.
But is the Democratic party in Congress
engaged in high and noble pursuit OF
this sort now? II Is not and its bitter
est enemies cannot charge against IL
what is worse than its most ardent
friends must concede. 1t is imposing pro-
tectlve duties on imports into this coun-
try that Will enable the manufacturers
OF those imports 10 coerce other Ameri-
cans with paying more for them than
they would have to pay Il the govern
ments taxes were imposed ratably and
equally upon all imports. This is the
rankest injustice to the overwhelming
mss or Americans for the benefit Of a
comparatively few Americans who live
upon the northeast coast % the
Atlantic ocean. 1t Is endeayorlng TO re-
quire one set OF men to pay an income
tax while II releases another set from all
obligation to pay that tax. This is not
right. this Is not equality. thissis the
rankest injustice. They calculate that
they VIII raise somewhere between thirty