The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08
.The Wessenger.
TENDENC les, DIFFERENCES AND
PRINCIPLES.

It's history shows that through the
last thirty odd years the republi-
can party has really changed the con-
stitution of the United States in sever
al important particulars. We are not
living now under the government the
wise and very able forefathers set in
motion, laying the foundations so
broadly and firmly. Nothing is abso-
1utely more historic, and yet deplora-
bl, than this statement made in a re-
cent address by Hon. j. L. NJ. Curry,
LID, a native of Alabama, we think:
From frugality and economy u gov
eminent has lapsed into Billion Con-
gresses,' the most e~xtravagant expen-
ditures Of the p ople's money, and a
position, on the part Of the states, as
well as of persons, to look to a pater-
nal government for protection and sup
port" You will find nothing Of this
vile business during the first half cen
fury of the constitutional government,
OH our SuOIb5. IL 10 OuC VI IL ICdLuiC %
of degeneration, of low personal and
political standards of right, honor and
justice, and of ignorance of free insti-
tutions, their origin, history and true
meaning. A rich, powerful, centraliz-
ed, paternal government has caught
the eye of adventures and schemers
and demagogues, and they have cap
tured the people to no little extent with
their receptions and promises and now
the government has been SO changed
as to make it possible, perhaps easy,
to convert it into a great grinding Rus
sian power under which men are en-
shaved and ground dOwn-the very es-
sence and expression of p~aternalism. A
great republic converted into a vast
power, resting not upon the will and
patriotism Of a mighty free people, but
based upon and controlled by vast
plutocratic combinations of incOrpor-
ated wealth,"-a power that debauches
and p%atronizes and buys even, menac-
ing personal freedom, individual lib
erty and state autonomy" to gain
quote DR.. Curry.
The great patriot statesmen of the
past in our W land, as we'll as the
truest and wisest of English statesmen,
like Chatham and Burke, held that it
was best for the people that govern
ments should be poor rather than rich.
DR.. Curry quotes the wonderful and IL
lustrious Calhoun as saying that it was
wise always ito keep the government
poor for the most fatal vices have
come from a plethoric treasury" Our
own government has proved no eXcep-
ton. T~hirty-four years ago President
Buchanan, a democrat, so conducted
the government that the total annual
expenditures did not exceed $50, 000, 600
Under Presidents Harrison and Nc
Kinley, both republicans, they exceed
ed more than six times that amount.
With the great Increase and wealth
have come corruption galore" abuses
and usurpations, extravaganza and
waste. criminal use of money in cleo
tions, delivering votes to corpora
tiOns,' and what is perhaps worst of
all enlarged executive patronage
coupled with abuses Of power and in
vasion of the constitution.
Paternalism will not do. 1t is a
blind as we'll as a curse-a tax as we'll
as broadcast debasement and enslave-
ment. Executive intervention has be-
come so frequent and aggressive as to
assume the very aspect of paternalism,
and is subversive and ruinous in re-
suits. DR.. Curry says that "a mystic
rious power residing in the state to
make money and to direct profitable
industries is inculcated by demagog-
ues." The popular mind has to an ex-
tent become debauched by promises OF
and reliance upon the promises of gov
ernmental help and by intrusive
guardianship in private affairs, di-
v~orcing ethics from politics, and plac-
ing politics upon the low level of a
mercenary scramble" CDR. Curry.)
The democratic party is the party
of the people. 1t is neither Influenced
on the one hand by pleas for paternal-
IN government nor an advocate for
~plutocratic rule On the other hand.
1t is purely and genuinely the advo-
cate of a free, honest, just, constitu-
tional governmental government of
the people and by the people and for
the people. 1t is the pronounced en-
envy, open and defiant of centralized
power and paternal ownership. 1t is
precisely opposed to the republican
party in this as it is in currency and
tariff taxatioO and the very fun6ampn-