Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-23

great nation can invite which equals
that which follows q supine submission
to wrong and injustice, and tho con-
sequent loss of national self.respect and
honor, beneath which are shielded and
defended peoples safety and great
ness. He would rejoice with us that
out of friction and discord with self-
respect and honor, is coming the closer
union of tho Anglo Saxon race on the
firm basia of peace and arbitration.
Ho would counsel us to vigorous
prosecution of the pursuits Of peace, "
and not TO follow tho bloody footsteps
of other nations into the field Of con.
quest and annexation, of strife and war.
Applied TO PRESENT ISSUES.
have spoken as il Jefferson were
with us. Do we not feel his presence
and hear his voice? Let us sulbmon
him to our council board to teach, unite
and lead us as We go forth to battle.
| What should wo say to him of the
present. its parties, it's issues and the
questions before the people? Speak
ing broadly, wo could truthfully say
that present issues involve the old con
test over the proper power and func-
tionssof government, the old issue he
tween the Use of that power for public
purposes and its use for class or sec
| tional or private interests, and that the
| great party he founded has need TO as
sert tho principles he proclaimed.
1t finds as its opponent party
which was born of great agitation
for worthy mission now long accom-
plished; that since that party has been
drifting with no fixed principle or pur-
pose but the prey of selfish interests,
which demand in return for their sup
port Legislation for their benefit; that
firmly established in power it yielded
10 corruption, which in successive re-
volts drove from it its old leaders and
much Of its conscience vote; that for
nearly generation il has sought sue
cess through stirring up sectional
prejudice and hatred among people
reunited in love and loyalty; that il
fosters now within its ranks a faction
who would divide MS ON race and re
ligious lines and substitute for freedom
OF conscience proscriptiye bigotry;
that ii has used the nations power to
invade the rights of the States and it's
appropriations TO supplant their duties;
that, repudiating its early professions,
it has maintained and increased war
taxation of the people, and not for
revenue, but for special, selfish inter-
ests that it has won elections through
their support and then paid for them
with bounties and protective taxes out
of the peoples pockets; that now
within it's ranks it is discussing the
question whether such bargain is cor
rupt in determining its candidate, and
yet honorable, in aiding his election;
that 1t is now considering the union of
two special interests-silver and pro-
lection which If successful means I'M
pairment OF the nations credit and
greater burden on her people; that its
recent policy in power, since twice re-
pudiated by an indignant and injured
people, has squanderod great surplus,
instituted an era of wild extravaganza
and set a precedent for national profit
gacy; that throughout its career it has
made spoils Of the public service, using
both the peoples Offices and their laws
to further partisan success rather than
for public purposes. And now that
party on the most important question
Of the day finds its leaders hating,
silent, drifting, not guiding, waiting
for the chance breeze to move them
onward, and not ready to take the helm
and set their party ship upon course.
WHERE JEFFERSON WOULD STAND.
Who doubts where Jefferson would
stand in a contest with such party
over present issues?
He would find that the Democratic
party, true to his teaching. was still
the broad national people party. That
it knew no South or North or East or
West, but only the whole nation, whose
States IL has protected in their ranks
ana whose people it has bound together
in "a more perfect union' that it
has upheld freedom of conscience and
personal liberty, and has fought every
proscriptive movement of class, of race
or of roigiou; that through a long
agitation and 4 struggle within ite
ranks 1t has asserted that taxation is
TO Ds only for revenue and public pur-
poses. 10 this end, upon the emphatic
demand of the country, ii has reversed
her war tariff policy. This it has done
conseryatively, and on the broad lines
of tirst cheapening the nrcessaries of
life and freeing tho raw materials of
industries. 1t has not sought to reach
the goal by one effort, but step by
step, with all the aid experience can
give. 1t now demands fair teat of
It's law. II vigorously opposes any reac-
tion or return 10 Il tariff policy defeated,
and discarded, and recognizes the right
of business intcrosts to a period of rest
1t firmly believes in the separation of
government and taxation from the con
troll of private interests and selfish in
fluences and confidently expects that
the history of 1876 and 1857 will be re-
poated, and. through discussion and
education, wo shall, with the hearty
approval OF tho country, return 10 the
sound principles and tariff policy OF tho
| days before tho war. Yes, and to the
| principle declared by Jefferson in his
| first message agriculture, manufac-
lures, commerce and navigation, the
four pillars of our prosperity, are the
most thriving when left most free to in
dividual enterprise. ="
Jeilorson il with us would find also
to his satisfaction that his party,
through the work of a courageous and
patriotic administration, had lifted the
civil service above craftsmanship, had
made ita officers servants of the people,
not political combatants, and by a
practical and wholesome reform had
placed ii upon Il broad and just basis.
What 10 more democratic than TO break
down the barrier which excludes from
public service half of the people be-
cause OF honest political convictions,
and to open that service TO any one
who can meet the tests he prescribed
la he honest? Is he capable? Is he
faithful 10 the CONSTITUTIONS
FREE SILVER COINAGE NOT DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLE.
Ono further question remains, for
whose solution we turn to Jefferson