Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-10-24
SENATOR DANIEL.
His Earnest interest in Bryan'S
Election.
a CITIZEN
Lynchburg, Va, Oct. 1G, 1896.

Lynchburg, Va, Oct. 1G, 1896.
Carter Glass, Editor of the News:
You and were members of the Ma
tional Democratic Convention which
nominated Bryan and Sewall, and
YOU are well aware Of the great
anxiety l have felt to participate
actively and continuously in the
canvass. You are also familiar with
the circumstances of professional
obligation which called me to Europe
for some weeks after the convention,
and of the trial Of the case in the
United States Court, in this city,
which began September 23rd and
closed inconclusively at II o'clock
last night In the brief interim be
tween my return from Europe and
the opening of this trial | was earn
estly engaged in the campaign work,
speaking in Bedford, Danville, Rich
mond and Fredericksburg and other
wise aiding the cause to the extent
of my ability. You can, therefore,
appreciate how cruel and unjust are
the criticisms which have been made
upon ME in some newspapers upon
the alleged ground that | have not
been duly active in this campaign.
Permit me to say that there has
never been campaign in which |
have felt a more earnest interest
Could | have honorably commanded
my own time, my physical ability
would have been the only limit to
nv exertions in behalf OF our
splendid ticket, and from now until
the campaign closes there is nothing
that | can do that will not be done
to promote its success.
The suggestion which has been
made that ain sensitive about the
democratic platform, and that l re
card it as repugnant to the resolu-
tions which | offered in the Senate
supporting the President in sending
| troops to defend our postal and in
terstate commerce rights at Chicago,
is a criticism which is utterly ground
less. The democratic platform has
been grossly misrepresented. 1t does
not in the least encroach upon the
principles of that resolution. The
establishment Of postoflices and post
roads and the regulation of interstate
commerce are matters placed by the
Federal Constitution under Federal
Jurisdiction, and the same Constitu-
ton makes it the duty Of the Presi
dent to see that the laws respecting
them are faithfully executed. When
the President sent troops to repel
violence directed against the Federal
postal establishment and against the
vehicles of interstate commerce, l
thought he did right, and still think
so, and if the Chicago platform should
be fairly construed to mean differ
entity | would to that extent dissent
from it. But in my opinion it does
not.
1t denounces the arbitrary inter
ference by Federal authorities in
local affairs, and especially objects
to government by injunction as a
new and highly dangerous form of
oppression by which Federal judges
in contempt of the laws of the States
and rights of citizens become at once
legislators, judges, and executioners.
In naming these as the special sub
iect of its criticism it clearly discloses
the kind of arbitrary interference by
| Federal authorities in local affairs,
which it condemns. 1t is only in the
| imagination Of those who seek pre-
text to stigmatize democrats as an
archists that there exists any repug-
nance between the democratic plat
form and the resolution of the Senate
of which was the author. The
platform approves the bill passed by
the Senate, and OF which Hon. David
i. Hill, of New York, was the author,
which provides for trial by jury in
certain cases of contempt OF court.
and which would in large degree
remove the abuse of the power Of
injunction by Federal judges. The
approval given that bill in the Senate
by the members of all parties is proof
that the supporters of Bryan are not
moving on any eccentric line III their
devotion to popular right and to
trial by jury.
greatest of all the constitutional bull
warks of popular liberty. | believe
also, as did Thomas Jefferson, that
the engine of consolidation to be
feared is the Federal judiciary" Such
powers of injunction as Federal