Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-24
MIR. BAYARD'S ADMONlTION.

respect gratifying. 1t would not be
easy to name any American who 30 well
az Mr.. Bayard represents the states
manship of an earlier, and in some
vital particulars better. day ir our
national development. His long politi-
cal career began in the time OF repnb-
lican eilnplicity, whom the functions |
of the general government we're re-
garded as strictly limited by the Con |
stitutiou, and when the eStravagant |
expenditure and oppressive taxation |
from which We now suffer would have
almost caused popular rebslion. The
political traditions. in which he was
trained were those Of freedom. He was
brought up in a school OF statesmanship
which held to the theory that govern.
ment, as il involved the restraint Of
citizens by authority, should be care
fully restricted to such measures as
we're universally admitted TO he nooes
sary, and should not be allowed to en-
poy its coercive powers in the interest
OF particular classes or particular in-
dividuals. This fundamental doctrine.
the Fundamental doctrine OF the Demo-
cratic party, and indeed the funda.
mental principle Of sound popular.
government. is by the present leaders
Of both parties either openly repudlated
or qiiotly abandoned. That its oldest
and most dignifisd representative should
be selected for especial honor by an
ASSOCIATION Of earnest and patriotic re-
formers is sign that we need not
despair Of the republic.
The craftsmanship of which Mr..
Bayard is type differs also from the
present style in that it implies true
l.. IL. .,,n La kA
position Of many of our public men,
even the most prominent of them, We
are reminded of the story OF the French
revolutionist who pointed to a group
| of men at harricade, excla1mlng, "Il
fart bien les suivre, ,le suis leur
chef.' Tho aim OF those who, for the
present take the place of leaders is TO
| find out what is popular. to learn what
cry will be most taking with the press
and the politicians and to join 10 th6t.
Mr.. Bayard still preserves the tradi.
/ tions OF period when public men
\ appeared as the advocates of principles
which they explained 10 and urged
upon the people, instead OF posing as
mere expopents OF supposed popular
demands The maxim OF modern states
men in. too many cases seems to be,
Find out what tho people desire, and
proclaim. that they must have it. -
| instead Of, Find out what the people
really need, and insist that they must
learn to desire IT.. 1t was hardly to
be expected that statesman accus-
toned to these old standards, and de-
voted to the exposure Of the fallacies Of
protection. should Suppress his con
victions even at his post as Ambas-
sador, merely because Of sudden
change in the political complexion of
Congress-.
As to our present situation, Mr.
Bayard's words were singuiarly forcible
and impressive. His declaration that
tine most dangerous abuse of our govern
ment consists in taking public property
for private usa is one of those effective
CONGRATULATIONS that will pass into the
common speech OF men. It, this
abuse that especially threatens the
stability Of institutions founded on
tue theory of equal rights, and that
especially iniures the weaker members
of the community. "Tbere must be
some hand to hold the scales aloft out
of the roach of the strong and the
rapacious and the ambitious, otherwise
the weak, feeble, and poorer members
of society have an additional weigh
added TO their inequalities. The true
nobility of the American system lay ii
its just recognition of manhood anC
denial of privilege. Standing on tbil
firm foundation, Mr.. Bayard made AT
appeal to his couptrymen which may
well be taken as summary OF Demo
cratiG doctrine. EUs
The great charter excludes title,
of nobility and the whole inatrument
is luminous with the intent to preven
unequal favors or unequal burdens
among its citizens. Therefore,
earnestly insist and prayerfully entrea
my countrymen to take firm, early, ant
, uucompromising stand in opposition II
i and denial of every claim by Legislative
, or executive power which contains th,
fatal principle that the sovereign powei
OF taxation can be controlled or usec
for private advantage, and any Law
which is stained by such purposes ant
has such results should be removed
from the statute. books. Ii is law o
political health tina. the results of Law
full industry should inure to the band
, or brain that worked to produce them
and when the powers OF government arr
substituted for individual endeavor
the virus Of sncialistic interference ant
tho tyranny which is its inevitahl,
, companion enter the veins of the bod,
, polite. say this with the preaen
proceedings of Congress- in full view
= and In a session in which the corner
! stone of public safety, the very key
!, stone OF public credit, has not only no
received the cold respect of passing
!, notice, but such measures OF cruel an,
= excessive taxation are pending. will
threatened succOss, az must decreAs
! our foreign commerce, increase ou
i commercial isolation, and cause re
4 taliatory Legislation by nations who ar
seeking friendly and reciprocal relation
with our people. Such measures al
n the fruitful parents of just diHconten
n among the wage.earning and agricul
:, tural classes of our countrymen, am
= blind are those who will not see tb
immediate danger they constitute /
the public credit"
:. Mr.. Bayard's account of his foYeig
q stewardship is simple and dignified
: lie declined, as he said, to recogpiz
n the distinction which had been mad
q by Those who had referred to him q
: the Ambassador of good feeling rathe
!. than OF diplomacy. lie has distin
Is guished himself and honored his coun
il try in being the representative, not 4
If the passions and iealousies and ami
ii mosities of his countrymen, not OF th
: ambitions, preiudices, or selfish in
y forests of individuals or classes, but b
d being the exponent in courtesy and i
II | oOQd faith of tho iyipnlv affaofions Z,