Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-01-18
TO THE YOUNG DEMOCRACY.

Gov. Stone addressed the Young
Men Democratic club of St. Louis the
other evening on Political Parties"
The governor decried too violent
partisanship. Patriotism should be
above partisanship. He referred to the
continued organization of the demo-
! cratic party for over 100 years.
The history of the democratic party
was sISetched down to 1860, the decline
OF and disappearance of the wing party
and the birth of the republican party
being incidentally referred to-
Democratic longevity" was next
treated by the speaker. This involved
an elaborate discussion of the rival
claims of federalism and democracy
from the days of Alexander Hamilton
and Thomas Jefferson.
During the last hundred years it is safe to
say that substantially every movement made
to enlarge the powers of the federal govern
ment was instigated and supported by political
organizations opposed to the democracy. and
has been almost invariably resisted by the
party founded by jefferson. It has been con-
slant warfare between Capitalization and
popular sovereignty, between federalism and
democracy
The governors reference to the en-
croachments of the federal judiciary
was closely listened to. Of his own
course, he said:
When last winter called the attention of
our state legislature to what conceive to be
the most threatening innovations. most dan
gerous encroachments by the federal judiciary
upon the rights Of the state and the liberties
OF the people, I was roundly and viciously
assaled by many for doing something which,
they said, would jeopardize the credit OF the
state. and which they denounced as foolish
cutlery. inspired by unworthy motives. was
admonished to attend to my own business, and
told that it was an impertinence for me to adj
wise the legislature of this state to memorlallze
the congress to place some restriction or llml-
tation upon the authority OF the federal courts.
An impertinence, sir, for the constituted au-
thorities of sovereign state to protest before
the congress of the United States against an
assault by a branch of the federal government
upon the integrity and autonomy OF our local
government. All, Mr.. President, that same
indictment has been preferred against Jefer-
sonian democrats and JefferSonlan democracy
for more than three-quarters of a century,
The history of banking in the United
States was ella borat ted, and the position
of the democratic party in its OPPOSE
ton to the United States banks, and
all previous attempts at Capitalization
of power through the money influence
entailed.
uc AC 3S"SeA, WV
speakers conclusion being: The con-
hict between federalism and the people
lies at the base of this controversy, as
of many others.
The democratic party he said, has always
been national and never n sectional party.
know it is the current accusation now made
by its enemies that it was responsible for the
of the rebellion. But that is untrue as d
matter of fact Prior to the war majority OF
i,,,, Of no her
opposed to the democratic party. The war
speedily followed the dissolution OF the wing
party. and in that great struggle the white peo-
pie of the south. without regard to former afnil-
atoms. cast their fortunes with the confed-
eracy. The course of political events since the
termination of that struggle has tended to
make the southern states democratic undef tne
supreme law of self protection
The armies OF the south were filled not only
with democrats, but with thousands of men
who had all their lives antagonized the demo-
cratic party. On the other hand the democrats
Of the north rallied to the support of Mr.. Lin
coin and filled the armies OF the Union. The
discontinue of the southern armies was as
much due to democratic as to republican
Valor.''
But whatever determinations have been
made or wrongs committed in this particular,
they are excused by those connected with them
on the plea of absolute necessity. In some 10
calities and states the newly enancipated and
enfranchised slaves OF the south were In q
large majority. They were wholly united,
mentally and morally, to take control OF
great commonwealth or to administer import
ant public interests. Disaster followed In al
most every instance where the experiment was
made But all this is now fast disappearing,
and this one possible exception to the general
course and policy of the democratic party Will
soon be nothing more than an incident OF MS
tory, concerning the merits OF which there villa
Doubtless always exist wide divergence OF
opinion
The governor, in referring to the an
ti-Catholic organization known as the
A. Z. A, said:
History reproduces itself. The American
Protective association has sprung from the
grave OF the old American party. 1t has upon
it the odor of the Sepulcher 1t is know MOTH
ingism resurrected and rehabilitated. The old
party waged war against foreign born citizens
and the Catholic church; this new organ1za-
ton against the Catholic church alone. And,
strange to say, it seems largely to be under the
control OF men born in foreign lands who en-
JOY the rights Of American citizenship by the
grace of our laws 1t is remarkable
commentary the eternal unfitaess
of some things. that men who
have fed from foreign despotism, and
have been clothed with the high privileges OF
citizenship in this republic, should now seek to
make aliens OF men and women at their native
tiresides because of their religious qualifica-
lions. In the original draft of the constitution
O
ington, is to be found this clause: NO religious
test shall be REQUIRED qualification to any
Office or public trust under the United States
And the first amendment to the constitution,
proposed in 1880 guaranteed freedom of speech.
the right of petition and absolute religious
liberty
Mr.. President the democratic party is. ana
must be, as pronoun led in it's opposition to this
new crusade of bigotry as it was to its prede-
cessor, and no man who hesitates to strike an
intolerant. un-American organization like this
is worthy to stand in the ranks of the demo-
cratic party"
Gov. Stone then drew a picture of the
condition of the grand but dangerous
condition of the country.
II can not but view with apprehension the
tremendous strides toward Capitalization in
the last quarter Of a century Civil war i'm
parted u mighty impetus to the spirit of fed
eralism. The states have Teen enormously
diminished in dignity, power and influence, and
the central government correspondingly ex-
allied. The federal establishment has become
a stupendous and splendid structure. 1t shines
like the sun, and the glory OF the states is al
most obscured by its brightness All tie high
and essential powers of sovereignty are being
absorbed at Washington
Under the head of practical political
politics the governor said:
Il am extremely partial in my regard for the
party workers, for the men who organize our
forces and make victory possible Opinions,
policies. principles have little practical value
If no opportunity is afforded to enforce them in
actual administration. The fellow who carries
the campaign torch, his face flushed with the
fire of combat and his voice clamorous with the
cry of battle. commands my unqualified ad-
miraton. ! would not give one such for a
hons md m nhariSnPS