The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-07-09

1HERE never was time when there
was greater demand for simple but
full declaration of democratic princi
piles. Those who think the democratic
party will die confound party princi
pie with party organization. The
organization may be captured by the
self seeking and it may be used for a
purpose entirely foreign to that which
justified its origin. But the party
cannot die while devotion to pure
government survives.
The democratic party had its origin
IN perception of the need of sus-
tanning government in the legitimate
exercise of the powers granted to it,
but within the limitations fixed by the
constitution. 1t recognizes govern
ment as human agency designed to
secure to every individual such rights
as are essential to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" and con
sonant with the public good, and also
to enable the people to do collectively
that which is for the public good
which could not or would not be done
Individually. Any party which re-
fers It's acts to the principles under
lying It's organization cannot long be
in error. Any individual who is
a member of a party because of fealty
to the principles which are the origin
and reason of its being, cannot yield
his convictions at the suggestion of
expediency.
The democratic party is in straits
to day because it has sought retention
OF power by Ignoring its traditions
and submitting to the embraces Of the
harlot Protection in the guise of Free
Silver. II has acceded to the sug-
gestion that this government suspend
It's Legitimate functions and assume
the role of commercial agent for a
class. 1t accepts the lie that wealth
may be created instantly by legis
lation and that the public is benefited
by enabling one half the people to
rob the other half 1t has yielded to
the bandit cry of Protection and seeks
to make robbery respectable by legal
ling it. Just as tie laborer was
fooled with the assurance that pro
lection was for his benefit is the
farmer fooled with the declaration
that the free silver escheme is I'M
seltishly designed for his good.
1t Is wrong to say the democratic
party has so far cast of its integrity
and detiled the temple with the Jingle
of coin. 1t is those who have assumed
temporary control of the organization
and who want to make it an instru-
ment of their selfish desires, as pro
tected interests have done with the
republican party The organization
ceases to act for the democratic party
when it becomes yoke fellow of the
republican party which always pan
dered to class interests.
One can easily trace line of rel
evancy through every movement
which has shook the foundation of
the governments: through every vagary
which has made people wonder at the
tickleness of the multitude and trem-
bic at their Inconsistency and wavering
purpose; through all this unrest and
disquietude; this blind cropping for
something, they know not what. feel
ing that something is wrong and
yielding to the impulse of righting it
by smashing things in the fnry of
mob purpose. All come from de
parture from true principles of gov
eminent.
When protection was enthroned
good government abdicated. The
labOrer was assured it was through
the heneticence of the government he
secured his living and he asked for
an advance He saw wealth accumu
lated and monopoly established and
attributed their creation to the gov
eminent which had become the great
producer, the source of wealth. the
dispenser OF prosperity. He came to
doubt that the indirect manner in
which he was made one of the bene-
ticlarles of the tariff was the best, and
sought means of his own to get the
sunshine of government liberality
The government was to enlarge its
functions and depart still further from
the purpose for which government is
instituted. The populist demands
that the government enter into all the
activities of business life including
that of money broker.
The silver men have caught Oh to
the idea. They want the government
to peryert the power of legislation for
their special benefit Their argu
ments are strikingly similar to those
OF the protectlOnists. Free traders
would turn this country over to the
tender mercies of Great Britain: gold
standard men are acting in conformity
with the wishes of Great Britain. |
Prices are low because of foreign
competition; prices are low because
silver is not coined free A few weeks !
ago Mckinley and protection were a |
panacea for all our troubles; now free
silver will cure every evil. The pro
tectonlst Is actuated solely by motives
OF unseltish concern for the laborer;
the sllvente Is consumed with desire
to help the farmer and the poor man.
The people who are deceived are
not to blame. They are conscious
that something is wrong and leap at
every remedy offered There is no
conviction pushing them to activity,
no intelligence guiding them. The
bind impulse which sent them to Nc
kinley like flock of sheep. has STAN
peded them toward Tillman, Teller
and Altgeldt
The silver craze may die but it will
be succeeded by another. We are
working on false lines. and never can
good come from perversion of func-
ton, The democratic party must as
sert itself, must declare for honest adj
mImstration of public affairs. must in
other words return to first principles.
We have been living in an unhealthy
atmosphere and have absorbed some
Of the poison of protection The
government was honest when ii was
young because not subjected to the
pernicious influences of those who
would not hesitate to corrupt 50 as to
secure an advantage. We must have