The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-09-21
THE PARTY POSITION.

Nothing could DO more gratify-
ing to the Democratic party at the
present time than It's recognized
position on all the great questions
which confront the government
and affect the whole people:
The Democratic party has, since.
the very formation Of the govern
ment, been the party of the people.
Il has been the embodiment of the
true American idea of government.
It has ever maintained and insist
ed upon the recognition of the ex-
istence of a just equality between
the workingman and the capitalist,
and that the rights of the one are
just as sacred as the other.
The Democratic party opposes
special privileges, trusts and spec
ial protection to the strong. 1t be-
Iieyes in the people and has conf
dence in their ability to govern
themselves. These were the fund
amental principles which guided
Thomas Jefferson when he formu-
lated the doctrine of the party. and.
stood up for the people and Demo-
cratic ideas, against form, aristoc-
racy and paternaI government.
Tho same when Andrew jackson,
with his fearless honesty; defend
ed the best interests of the people
against the banks and the money
power. And the same when VIM.
j. Bryan came CALAMITY to the
breach of his party's need and pro-
claimed their clear enunciation and
true interpretation. They are the
same to-day. The party stands
upon the identical ground occupi-
ed by its founders. It is opposing
the same idea of government that
they fought, and the traditions of
the party oppose.
We are walking in the footsteps
of the fathers, and we have conf
dence in the future by scanning
the past. In the emergencies of
tie past, in the hour of danger, the
people have stood by the Demo
cratic party and have triumphed
over the enemies of justice and the
minions of greed and selfshness.
The welfare of the country, es-
peciaIIy at this period of our natl
onal growth and at this time of
critical status, and of important
Legislation, demands that the Dem
ocratic party shall triumph. There
can be no rational reason why
Democrats should not rally around
their standard, nor why independ-
emit voters should not come to the
rescue.
Under the exigencies of the times
we have a right to predict that they
will do this, and that ultimate vic
tory will be the result. Remem-
berirg the victories of the past,
and holding fast to the sheet an
chor of our faith, nothing should
deter us from waging a fearless and
aggressive warfare upon the doc
trines of that party which, under
some form or name, we have OPP
posed since the days of John Adj
ans.
IF the people are capable of self
government, andswe believe they
are, our cause is bound to prevail.
If the ideas of Hamilton and Adj
ans wax strong and prevail, then
freedom and liberty in this country
are at an end.
The doctrines of these men and
those of Thomas Jefferson, brought
to their ultimate conclusion, are as
widely different as is possible in
two things.
If we stand by the old Federal
doctrince we are not Democrats.
On the other hand If we believe,
as did Thomas jefferson and An
drew jackson, we are Democrats
and should not be afraid or
ashamed of the faith that is in us.
The election straws are not blow
ing the Republican way, SO far this
fall. In Arkansas the Democratic
gains are great and they made a
clean sweep. In Vermont the Re-
publican vote fell off greatly and
thirty-three seats in the LegisIa-
tuTe were lost. In Maine Speaker
Reed got 1900 xotss7sss than he
did two years ago, and in the State
there was an average decrease of