Evening star., 1896-03-06
HOPEFUL. DEMOCRAT
Mr. Jefferson n Levy Discusses the Future
Of the Party.
He Says DEMOCRATS Must Believe in
Sound Money or Give Up Faith
In Thoma9, Jefferson.

I'LL. JelerSoH M. Levy, WHO Is Ill iihpof-
tant factor in dsmocyatic politics in New
York. and who owns Monticello, the home
and burial place Of Thomas Jefferson. is in
Washington. and chatted with a Star re-
porter at the Arlington this morning over
the political outlook.
Il believe the prospects of the democratic
party are brightenit every day." said Mr.
Levy, with an emphasis that bespoke conf
dence. I'm New York state the republicans
are demon allied beyond any hope Of getting
together again, and it will be a surprise to
every intelligent student Of politics in that
state If the democrats do not carry it at the
fall elections by 10000 majority. Why? Be-
cause the business men are disgusted with
the attitude of the republicans, both In Con-
gress and in the state itself Particularly
Is the indigna tion and anger widespread In
the latter instance. The republicans have
had control of the city government Of New
York less than year and half, and in
that time have increased the amount col
lected by way of taxes ana bonded lndebt-
edneSS from the people of the city over $l9,-
100000. The present year viii see those fig
ures increase to $25 0OO,0OO, and there Is to
be a still further increased taxation on
basis of an II creased assessment valuation.
The republican legislature has been rush
ing gag laws through with outrageous eff
frontery Bills have been passed largely
taxing away the power OF cities to govern
themselv s and placing their most vital in
terests In the hands of state commissioners.
Complaint of the Rnines Bill.
"The Raines bill is a good example Of
this species Of legislation Heretofore the
great charitable Institutions in New York
city have been supported largely from the
fund secured by excise taxation. The
Raines hill takes all this money away from
these institutions and turns it over to the
state. There Is storm OF indignation
over this. as we'll as over the proposition
to extend New York citys limits so as to
take in all the cities and towns, large and
small, within q radius OF many miles. Ihs
would take in Brooklyn, with its bonded
Indebtedness and it's immense taxation on
an assessment equal and in many in
stances greater than the actual value of the
real estate. These are only few OF the
republican acts and expectations that have
set New Workers wild. And the anger and
d.ssa tisfaction extends throughout the
state. Even Gov. Morton has been COM
PEELED to call halt and the other day In
leader, denounced the body uf which he was
member in unmeasured terms"
Can this have any national effect?" in
Qulred the reporter.
Free Silver n Fallacy.
"Well. as New York goes, so goes the
country replied Mr.. Levy. 1.-The demo-
cratic party can reap the benefits of repub-
lican Misrepresentation If 1t only keeps 1t
self free from financial mistake. 1t is a
great error to call man democrat who
believes in free silver. l take 1t that a
democrat is a man VINO believes in ard
subscribes to the principles enunciated by
Thomas Jefferson. There Is no denying that
proposition. Such being the case, follower
of Jefferson must be a champion of sound
| money. Why? Because when Thomas JEFF
ferson became President, in $780, silver was
then being carried at a ratio of - to l. with
gold, but he stopped it, and declared that
this country could not afford to do so and
compete with the rest of the world '
1.-The democrats of the SOUTH" continued
Mr. Levy, do not know what they are do
ing when they listen to the fantasies of the
free sil1erites The argument Is made that
1t would be possible for them to pay their
debts for fifty cents on the dollar. With
silver given free coinage at the favored
ratio OF 16 to l, it would be harder for the
debtor to get fifty cents then than it is for
MIN to get 50 now. Any man in the finan-
cial world will tell you the same thing.
so, I say, and honestly believe it, that
the democratic party has ever Frightening
prospects for success at the coming cleo
tiors, wi ich can only be tarnished by TAX
ing silly stand on the silver question. We
all see how hopelessy divided the repub-
hcanS are on that subject, and we can
profit immensely by letting them keep up
their straddle on the fence and taking our
decided stand on the side of sound m oney
And repeat that democrat who believes
other than a sound money man. The So
called democrats who follow the free sill
yer will-o'-the-wisp that will lead them
into the bog and quicksand Of natioral
bankruptcy are really socialist-populists
That Is their proper name"