The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-23
THE OrD AxD TRUE DEMOCRACY.

| eminent interference win piNa'S
and private business.
In taking this stand we have preached
| pure Democracy as we understand H. ana
vet we have been harshly criticised as
though we were preaching some strange
doctrine.
But there Is nothing new in this doc
trine. 1t IS as old as the Republic we
are much pleased with an editorial on
this subject from the New York Journal
| % Commerce, which IS a recognized au-
thorlty in this country on questions OF
business and finance. In referring "
tbose who desire to extend Government
control over the widest possible sphere OF
oc,,vitv the Journal OF Commerce de-
olares that this Is not at all a Democtauc
,dea-he essence Of Democracy being 'ne
restriction OF Government interference
,..,,,,, tho narrowest bounds compatible
with the performance Of certain deiesateu
functions. II was Popuiism' anu no'
| Democracy, which triumphed DIT O"'
eago. II says. and when the requests
snose their minds freely at st. Louis. they
demanded the issue Of "a national money
NV some lust. equitable, and efficient
means Of distribution direct TO the peo-
ple. Government ownership OF iaiiio9'9
and telegraph lines. and the employment
Of labor on public works.
Referring next to the popular deiusio"
that the Government can make 80 cents
worth Of silver equal to dollar in value
nv its fat. the Journal Of Commerce
adds:
rbat the state can create prosperity by
,ootsIaf,on IS a fa-dCy that has been IN
dustriously cultivated by many peop'e
,,.no ont against IT when it appears Ia
the enlse OF Socialism or Fopulism' IL -
a .sallacv which must receive the stamp
~ nopular discTedit before we shail DC
nd Of the pestgent brood OF undemo-
cratic decisions which II has propasalvu'
with II must disappear the TWIN laliaO!
t,at any work Of general public utility
can be better and more cheaply done Dy
Governmental than by any other agency
L. mint of fact. the Government inva-
riablv provides the most costly and the
least capable methods OF doing any KIND
Of work whatever.
The PostofIice Department IS constantly
held up by the Socialists as evidence that
the Government can successfully transact
business for the people. but the Journal
of Commerce calls attenthn TO the fact
that # fs the deliberate judgment OF the
chairman Of the House Committee on
Postoffices and Postroads that private
means could as well or better be adapted
n the transmission Of our mails, which
could be so done much more cheaply. with
quicker dispatch and better satisfaction
to the people.
We have no sort of doubt Of this. II
the Government should decide to 90 out
of the postal business, private companies
would be organized in less than thirty
days to undertake TO transmit the mails
Of the country at a less rate Of postage
than the Government now charges.
1t has recently been shown that by
abuse Of the privilege Of what is known
as second-class matter. the Government
has lost millions Of dollars, and. from our
examination Of this question, we are salts
fed that no private corporation would for
y moment have tolerated such an abuse
II almost invariably happens that 1t costs
J the Government more than it costs in
dividuals TO do u given work, and TINS Is
true Of State and municipal Government
as well as Of the national Government
# is not hard TO find reason Tor TINS
when we reflect that individuals con-
d,ct their affairs on business principles,
and can and do act quickly to meet an
emergency. whereas the Governments al
fairs are invariably mixed mp with poll
tics and reforms. If made at all, must
necessarily be slow.
In conclusion. the Journal Of Commerce
saws there is but one rule which can
he applied to all forms of governmental
interference with business which can be
done without Government aid. and that is
contained in the compact formula "hahuS
off,
But TO show tlat we are not preaching
strange doctrine or a new doctrine we
call up higher authority. and an older
authority than the Journal Of Commerce
In 1891 this country had Il financial
nanic-one OF the worst that the country
has ever known. There was period Of
hard times similar to the period through
which the country has just passed. Mr.
Van Buren, was President, having been
elected by the Democrats, and in his
message 10 Congress, in speaking OF the
financial situation he said:
81 cannot doubt that ON this, as on all
! similar occasions. the Federal Govern
ment will ind its agency most conducive
10 Tie security and happl ~ of the peo-
pie when limited 10 the exercise OF its
! conceded powers. IN never assuming
| even for q well-meant object, such powers
as were not designed 10 be conferred
upon Il. we shall. in reality, do most Tor
the general welfare. To avoid every un-
| necessary interference with the pursuits
OF the citizen will result I'm more benefit
! than TO adopt measures which could only
assist limited interests. and are eagerly
but perhaps naturally sought for under
the pressure Of temporary circumstances
II. therefore. / refrain from suggesting
TO Congress any specific plan for rcsu-
gievlng mercantile embarrassments. or in
terfering with the ordinary operations Of
fore gn or domestic commerce. il is from
a conviction that such measures are not
within the constitutional province Of the