The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-27
WHAT DEMOCRACY IMPLIES.

Democracy is a principle, not meas
IRE. or series of measures. Democracy
implies the government of the people,
under whatever form of government.
Republicanism is a form of govern
ment. it may be Democratic or Aristo-
cratic. Measures may need to be
changed, and adapted to circum-
stances; but they should always be
consistent with the Democratic prin-
.cfple. which cannot change. Measures
which originate with the wealthy
class, which tend to make the rich
richer, and the poor poorer, are not
Democratic, in any sense of the word.
The Protective" policy, so-called,
was projected by, and is fastened by
capitalists. It is pretended that the
projections" or taxation Of foreign
goods when imported, is for the bene-
fit of the Iaboring class. But while the
Goods manufactured abroad are heayl-
Iy taxed, no tax is imposed on imported
laborers, who are brought here to nm
der-bid native Iaborers. There IS an
act. of Congress which forbids the inn
Dortation of labOrers under contract;
but there is no tax on the laborer who
comes without the inducement of
written contract; and the act is easily
evaded. Imported goods need to be
paid for, even if smnggled, but labor
ers can come Of their own accord, and
they do come by the hundred thousand,
annually. They do underbid native la
borers; and the fact is notorious that
the operatives in the Northern facto-
ries and mines are nearly all foreign
born. and of comparatively recent I'M
portation. The cotton factories of New
England are supplied from Canada,
with laborers. The iron factories and
mines of Pennsylvania, and other
States are supplied with operatives
from Italy, Hungary, and Poland, who
consort together in clans, and mob
and drive out native Americans. Their
labor is cheaper than American labor
would be. if it had not been brought
down by this foreign competition, and
therefore the foreign labor is preferred
as a matter of course, by capitalists.
What the capitalists demand, and
what the laws give them, is protection
against foreign manufactures, and
R,.oa oda In foraioru Ia hop
In like manner, monometalIism is I'M
democratic. It originated with the
millionaires, the bankers, the bond
holders of Europe, and it finds hearty
response from the same or correspond
ing classes in this country. 1t makes
money scarce and dear, and goods and
labor cheap. 1t makes debts heavy,
and hard to pay, and checks enter
prises of every kind. 1t throws labor
ers out of employment, or reduces
them to the necessity of laboring for
half wages. The depression, the hard
times, the stagnation in business 1T
has brought upon the South, and upon
the people OF all classes, except the
capitalists, is seen and felt by the peo-
pie of all parties in the South and West;
and yet, Northern Democratic politl-
clans call upon the people to send rep
resentatives to the National Conven-
ton in favor Of Mr.. Carlisle or some
other advocate Of or apologist for the
gold standard.
The Democracy of the South and
West have been taught that it is wise
10 submit to the rule Of the majority
when it expresses itself in convention
assembled. 1T Is certain that, judg-
ing by any test that may be proposed
the majority of the Democrats are for
silver. In both the Houses, at every
session of Congress when vote was
taken since 1873,a majority of the Dem
ocrat recorded themselves for free
coinage. The attempt being made to
control the National Convention to re-
yolutionize the policy Of the party will