The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-04
APRIL 4, 1896.
This paper is Democratic in principles
and is Independent in IFS rie,rs on all local


AT a time like this, it is we'll to re-
is Democracy versus Republicanism. All
the rest are matters of detail. The
records of the parties on economic ques-
lions or administrative methods, the
good or evil deeds of individuals are
ephemeral trifes. Mistakes are made and
corrected; experiments are tried until
problems are solved; men are here today
and dead tomorrow. But the principles
upon which the Democracy is founded
are as eternal as the hills, as immutable
as truth, and as essential to human
happiness as the sunlight is to life.
These principles were embodied by the
great founder of the party in the i'm
mortal document. which is not only the
Declaration of Independence" but which
also contains the first and fundamental
proclamation of the Democratic idea
W hold these truths to be s~elf-evident.
that all men are created equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with GER
tain inalienable rights; that among these
are life. liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness. That to secure these ends, gov
ernments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the consent
of the governed" Here is the whole
theory of the Democratic party in a few
words, the right of every man to work
out his W destiny in his own way, I'M
dominated by outside interference; the
Limitation of government to such powers
as will secure to every man that right;
the foundation of the in the
consent of the people alone.
Opposed to this. we have the historic
tendency of the Republican party to
impose upon individuals and groups of
individuals, the will of other individuals.
Instead of allowing the EXCISE of free
will, it strives to force Upon men stand
ards and systems of life and conduct
not congenial n often profoundly re-
pugnant to them. The preservation of
Individual rights is no longer the purpose
of government, but, according to the
Republican theory the State acquires a
vitality of its own for the -sustenance
Of which all the desires, the instincts.
the rights of individuals must be sacri-
feed.
Under Republican rule. we see the
Legislatures of various States encroacb
more and more upon personal liberty.
Paternal legislation with its microscope
dictates The trivialities and prizes into the
secrets Of private life. Artificial stand
ards of conduct are set up, to which the
average instincts of average men and
women give no sanction. Crimes are
invented and disgraceful penalties are
attached to them in qualification of the
d~ictatoriaf spirits Of a small minority.
Heavy taxes are imposed in order that
an army of public officials may be or
ganized and maintained, who presently
develop the internal conviction that they
are the State and the people are their
subjects. The people are divided into
classes with unequal privileges, and
charters, franchises and immunities are
lavished upon the wealthy. who ally
themselves with the ruling party organic
cation.
n such States as Pennsylvania and
New York, where Republicanism has long
held the reins Of power, We see such ten
denotes achieving their most marked re-
suits. y r true that HE Syrannic laws
~ not rigtd1y enforced; hi thia i,