The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-09-30

'agrarau" all things plebean, all things popular all things am'i'"nve?. "
proclamation of cruel scorn of poverty fierce hostility TO equity? b@s"a nd %rVlfe
submission to presumptuous and heartess plutocracy? Or shall js perIetnity
and its future power and glory be assured by a brave return and tictaaheronce
tn tho 1ayrarian" nrincinles o. it's trent founder jefferson, who turned to the
forests and fields and looked to the country. for political righteousness but lev
er dreamed that it could be found except in isolated iniIyhiuaI7 "nl1 tense
ton, ire the companions of cruel greed, mercies avorice and inordinate wealth
Shall the democratic party in the future content itself with rctcr"tInE us mere
nU,aon to the eternal principle. " and with chanting parrot like the empty and
yapjd sophln. Il am a democrat or shall it realize the full meaning OF the
eternal principles" and that their bcnefcence is wholly lost if they are not on
stantly ouplad tothe changing conditions of men? That the mere formal in
dorernent of the most sacred principle, mh&Shr pr1"p% Is oppf"1 Z" "d""d'
opyntiu h,oupl, the affairs of men is the veriet mockeryY That good primer
pies like other good things are designed for use and that " party which forever
pmes of principles, but never reduces its principles to USE never offers I" apply
them to existing conditions will be repudiated by a disappointed and disguised
In vain may Senator Hill summon before the experienced gaze Of the restored
democracy the stale and anhquatel ogre of socialism 1herecl"irned democracy
lis thoroughly conscious of its own identity, and of the Legitimacy Of its claim to
the Jeferpnan inheritance. It's not socialism. Itisn not anarchy, 1t Is not
pmrracy. 1t is not hwlss 1t h not iccntious Its not predatory. It's
not destructive. It comes as Tiden came, with Reform on ITS panher"
healing IN its wings" 1t is apt sympathetic receptive 1t has no Bourbon
copusces in its strong healthy blood. 1t listens with interest, bat with caution
and criticism, to all men. 1t learns from the lndiyiduah't hat safety hS IN
dstrust of power, not only government hut also the power Of property And
it is ad1nonished by the growth, solidarity and boundle% ambition Of property
that monopoies must be covered checked, md con'ron"l by y"'1'""" De"
onacy recognizes the individual as the unit in the social and civil compact. and
has therefore regard for numbers The greatest good to the greatest number
being the desderatum, and the presentation Of the rights and opportunities OF
each individual being the efectual protection of all, Democracy s pledged by its
very genius ito abolish, remove, and destroy the great monoTofc" which having
vanquished competition rule commerce. trade j" Industry WIN " sway """
lutte and exclusive.
In its choice Of means, Democracy, while keeping in view the prhl8 Of pter
naMsm, will nevertheless resort to restriction, segregation and suppression as
likewise taxation, not only of incomes. but of andae accommodations, and by
amendment Of the constitution where necessary.
1t must make railways public highways in fact 10 they are in name and it
must not fhter at any step necessary to accomplish this It'mut Danish protec,
ton and mOnonetalhsn, disincorporate ordinary trade diSchIhIai ihherc
cnandrael labor, and restore to the people their lost right TO live.
The preservation of human rights, the sole aim Of democracy, inpcrntivey
requires that property must be kept under control by yocnmm"'", lest property
conuyJ oorr,umtqt The Magma Charter extOrti from King John by the barpns
was for the barons; the Bill of Right in or constitution was designed to limit
official action and prevent official Entertainments upon the rights Of the people
A new magma charter a new bill of rights must be proclaimed. \ charter can
will be found in the eternal principles Of democracy not only negative, ere
| strictye and prohibitive, bt affirmative and suggestive, which viii reach, treat
and dispose Of wrongs which have grown ny in the very shadow Of the republic
out of industrial. commercial, and economic conditions wholly unforeseen by the
founders Of our institutions. Liberty is the goal; character is the end virtue the
ideal To the possession enjoyment and development of these, materil indie
pendence or at least comfort is Indispensable Laws, therefore, which render
I-.J:ot. pnnbtt Of prnterfv imunslllp and which tend To pIi4Iu
tin and diffusion of existing agyregations of wealth are inp"ratyey demanded
by every consideration which could move a wise, just and humane people.
Civilization rests upon property Property i'"t once The prodrrtand pr NJ
of civilization He who has It can live Is he will lie wbo ls il not must 1--we
as he can. 1t quenches all thirst 1t spleases all hunger. 1t ministers 10 every