The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-08-22

1t is fitting. however, that at this time; in the
presence of those here assembled | speak at
some length in regard to the campaign upon
which we are now entering. We do not un-
derestimate the forces arrayed against us, nor
are we unmndful of the importance of the
struggle in which we are engaged; but, relying
for success upon the righteousness of our
cause, we shall defend with all possible vigor
the position taken by our party. We are not
surprised that some of our opponents, in the
absence of better argument, resort to abusive
epithets, but they may rest assured that no
language, however violent, no invectives,
however, vehement, will lead us to depart
single hairs breadth from the course marked
out by the National Convention. The citizen,
either public or private, who assails the char
acter and questions the patriotism of the dele
gates assembled in the Chicago Convention
assas the character and questions the patriot
ism of the millions who have arrayed them
selves under the banner there raised.
NOT FOE OF SOCIAL ORDER.
1t has been charged by men standing high
in business and political circles that our plat
form is a menace to private security and pub
lie safety, and it has been asserted that those
whom have the honor for the time being to
represent not only mediate at attack upon
the rights of property, but are the foes both
of social order and national honor.
Those who stand upon the Chicago plat
form are prepared to make known and to de-
fend every motive which influences them,
every purpose which animates them and every
hope which inspires them. They understand
the genius of our institutions, they are staunch
supporters of the form of government under
which we live, and they build their faith upon
foundations laid by the Fathers. Andrew
jackson has stated, with admirable clearness
and with an emphasis which cannot be sur
passed, both the duty and the sphere of gov
eminent. He said: distinctions in society
will always exist under every just govern
ment. Equality of talents, of education or of
wealth cannot be produced by human insti-
tutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of
Heaven and the fruits of superior industry,
economy and virtue, every man is equally en-
titled to protection by law.
NO ATTEMPT TO RECONSTRUCT SOCIETY.
We yield to none in our devotion to the
doctrine just enunciated. Our campaign has
not for its object the reconstruction of society.
We cannot insure TO the vicious the fruits of
virtuous life We would not invade the
home of the provident in order to supply the
wants of the spendthrift. We do not propose
to transfer the rewards ofindustry TO the lap
ofindolence. Property is and will remain the
stimulus to endeavor and the compensation
for toll We believe, as asserted in the Dec
laration of Independence, that all men are
men are or can be equal in possessions, in
ability or merit it simply means that all stand
equal before the law, and that Government
officials shall not, in making, constituting or
enforcing the law, discriminate between citi-
zens.
PROPERTY AND PERSONAL RIGHTS SAFE.
assert that property rights, as well as the
rights of persons, are safe in the hands of the
common people. Abraham Lincoln, i'll his
to ,,,n ,har
said mo men living are more worthy to be
trusted than those who toll up from poverty;
none less inclined to take or touch aught
(which they have not honestly earned" re-
peat his language with unqualified approval |
and Join with him in the warning which he
added namely: 'Let them beware of sur
rendering political power which they al
ready possess, and which power if surrend-
cred, will surely be used to close the doors of
advancement against such as they and to fix
new disabilities and burdens upon them, till
all of liberty shall be lost" Those who daily |
follow the injunction, sin the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat bread, are now, as they
ever have been, the bulwark of law and order,
the source of our nations greatness in times |
of peace and its surest defenders in times of
war But have only read a part Of Jack |
sons utterance; let me give you his conclu- |
sion:
''But when the laws undertake to add to
those natural and just advantages artificial
dstinctions-to grant titles, gratuities and ex-
elusive privileges-to make the rich richer |
and the potent more powerful-the humble |
members of society, the farmers, mechanics
and day laborers, who have neither the time
nor the means of securing like favors for
themselves, have a right TO complain of the
injustiees of their Government
Those who support the Chicago platform
indorse all of the quotatation from jackson,
the latter part as well as the former part.
GOVERNMENTAL FAvoRITIsM.
We are not surprised to find arrayed against
us those who are the benefeiares of Govern
ment favoritsm-they have read our platform.
Nor are we surprised to learn that we must in
this campaign face the hostility of those who
find peeunary advantage in advocating the
doctrine of non-interference when great aggre-
cations of wealth are trespassing upon the
rights of individuals. We welcome such OPP
position. 1t is the highest Endorsement which
could be bestowed upon us. We are content
10 have the cooperation of those who desire
TO have the Government administered without
fear or favor. 1t is not the wish of the gen
eral public that trusts should spring into eX-
istence and override the weaker members OF
society; it is not the wish of the general pub
lie that these trusts should destroy competi-
lion and then collect such tax as they will
from those who are at their mercy; nor Is II
the fault of the general public that the instru-
mentalities of government have been so often
prOstituted to purposes ofprivate gain. Those
who stand upon the Chicago platform believe
that the Government should not only avoid
wrOngdoing, but that it should also prevent
wrongdoing, and they believe that the law
should be enforced alike against all enemies
of the public veal. They do not excuse petit
larceny, but they declare that grand larceny
rs equally crime; they do not defend the oc-
eupation of highwayman who robs the unsus-
peeting traveller, but they include among the
fransgressors those who, through the more
polite and less hazardous means Of legislation,
appropriate to their own use the proceeds OF
the toll Of others The commandment, Thou
shalt not steal, numbered from Sinai and
reiterated in the Legislation of all nations, IS
no respeeter of persons. 1t must be applied
20 the great as well as the small; to the strong
as well as the weak; to the corporate person
created by law as well as to the person of flesh
and blood created by the Almighty. No gov
eminent is worthy of the name which is not
able to protect from every arm uplifted for
his injury the humbiest citizen who lives be-
meath the flag. 1t follows as a necessary CON
cIusion that vicious legislation must be
remedied by the people who snfer from the
effects of such legislation, and not by those
who enjoy its benefits.
THE ATTACK on THE SUPREME COURT.
The Chicago platform has been condemned
by some because it dissents from an opinion
rendered by the Supreme Court declaring the
income tax law unconstitutional. Our critics
even go so far as to apply the name Anarchist
TO those Rbo stand upon that plank of the
platform, It must be remembered that we
expressly recognize the binding force of that
decision 40 long as 1t stands as part of the
law of the land. There is in the platform no
suggestion of an attempt to dispute the au-
thority of the Supreme Court. The party IS
simply pledged to use ''all the constitutional
power which remains after the decision or
which may come from its reversal by the Court
as it may hereafter be constituted
Is there any disloyalty in that pledge? For
United States has sustained the principle
which anderlies the income tax. Some 20
years ago this same Court sustained, without
"a dissenting voice, an income tax law almost
identical with the one recently overthrow.
Hos r,tn~a Honrf nc N, oh riUht IN return