The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-14
A Wave of JefYersOnian Sentiment, He
Says, Is Rising to Overwhelm
the Party This Year.
sTRADDLING WON'T SAVE IT
AND ESPOUSAL OF FREE COINAGE
WILL BRING DISGRACE.
Severe Condemnation of the National
Old Home of Thomas Jefferson.

NEW YORK. April IA banquet was
given at the Hotel ST. George in Brooklyn,
tonight, by the Young Mems Democratic
Club in honor of the anniversary of the birth
of Thomas jefferson About $50, including
guests were present. among whom were
Hon. Tom l.. Johnson, of Ohio; Judge Will
liam B. Hursh, Hon. Herbert W. Hindrix,
Judge William Gamer and 7. Marean. Presi-
dent Ferguson presided. After letter from
Henry George had been read, Hon. Andrew
Mclean responded to the toast, Thomas
jefferson" Hon. Tom L. Johnson, OF Cleve-
land, O., was then introduced by President
Furguson, who said that as the ex-Con-
gresham was pacemaker In 1892, he would
make frst-class presidential candidate in
1896.
Mr. Johnson spoke on the Democratic duty
i'm 1896. He said in part: Democratic duty
in 1896 is not to say one thing and mean an
other. To make platform that looks two
ways on disputed questions. asking a little
of both and not much of either This is no
time to straddle. Let US haye facts. In 1895
we are likely to be beaten. Straddling GER
tainly cannot save us. 1t can only add dis
grace to defeat. Even II, without evasion.
or equivocatio or mental reservation. We
proclaim the Jeffersonian principles-we may
gain courage, and in present defeat make
future victory sure. Bitter experience shall
teach us. In 1892 we won victory as great
as Jefferson won in 1900 In 1896 the Demo-
cratic party is broken. discredited, degraded.
The reason is plain. In, 1892 we asked for
power that we might kill protection. abolish
trusts, reduce taxation. We were given the
power. Now it is 1896. What protected ring
has been even weakened; what trust abol-
ished; what burden removed? In the hands
of a Democratic administration the money
power that jefferson feared has been
strengthened at every point; in time of
peace the monstrous expenses Of government
are being paid by issuing bonds, and wages
are lower and times harder than In 1892. II
these are fruits of Democracy, what wonder
that the people turn to the other thing. Wise
men care nothing what parties call them
selves, but what they do. BY their fruits
shall we know them.
Our victory of 1892 was a popular verdict
against Mckinleyism, yet Mckinley himself
seems certain to be the Republican nominee
this year, and to be triumphantly elected.
The strength of Mckinley Is at bottom a
revolt against the Republican machine and
Democratic misrule. The moment our
Democratic administration got into power
the protected rings captured 1t, and through
Ii imposed a little worse than the Mckinney
bill on the country under the name OF
Democratic reforms, and the same wave OF
Jeffersonfan sentiment that gave us VIC
tory in 1892 is rising to overwhelm us In
MAKE no mistake; the principles of JEFF
ferson are not dead. They are reviving in
the hearts of the people; they are coming
quiet but irresistible growth Of the single
tax idea they are to be seen in the strength
of the free-silver movement, in the vague
demands Of populism, In every voice OF
popular discontent-even in the Republican
ranks. The American people will not mucn
longer endure paternalism which presumes
they shall drink, how they shall buy and
now they shall sell; that has no better cure
for tramps than prisons, and no better re-
that is strengthening standing armies and
standing navies, ana building forts around
our cities TO insure the protection of spe-
cial privileges against the old enemy they
fear-the people
IF government of the people. by the peo-
pie and for the people shall not perish from
earth the principles OF Jefferson must be
asserted by a party that shall honestly trust
them, and that will move forward to the
settlement of the tariff question. and the
currency question. and the land question,
and the liquor question, and the railroad
question, and the poverty question, and any
other question that may come UP on the
basis of EQUAL rights to all and special
privileges to none This party must come.
IL not this year, then later. If not under
the Democratic name. then under some 9TH
er name. And when It comes 1t will come
with power.
II think the silver fanatics are as wide Of
the truth as the gold worshipers, and / re-
gard bimetallsm as an impossible evasion.
But the real strength Of the demand for free
silver in the West and South is protest
against the prostitution of the national gov
eminent 10 the service of banks and stock
gamblers; against such oorrupting Jobbery
as we have seen in the selling. of bonds to a
favored syndicate for millions less than they
were worth in open market. The true basis
Of national currency is that of the ma
tional credit 1t is not the proper function
of government TO go into the banking bust
ness or to loan it's credit to banks 1t is
the proper function of government to issue
money. This is sound sense and Jeffersonian
doctrine.
is, is trivial as compared to the question Of
taxation If the Democratic party would es-
cape defeat it must declare for the Jeffer-
sonian principle of free trade. 1t must strike
protectionism where ii lives. and demand
not tariff for revenue only, but the abolition
OF all tariffs. A tariff for revenue only is
merely a somewhat milier robber than a
tariff for protection Any tariff for revenue
must tax the poor more than the rich; must
engenGer corruption and foster rings. II is
time to raise the Democratic standard for the
only practicable free trade-no tariff at ali.
This will make the Democratic party sim
party frankly adopts this and fearlessly de-
clares it IL will have principle and a
future"