Willmar tribune., 1900-05-09

81
11ative and referendum, so that the
people could control their government
under all circumstances and thus in a
measure at least put an end to the
or1oery and debauchery, the chicanery
and the trickery that are destroying
republican institutions in America.
He Would Crush Monopoly.
10th. How about trusts? Jefferson
would abolish all monopoly, and all
speclal privileges. This much we know
1or ne has told us. If this were done,
there would not be trust left in Am
erica. But how would he do it? In
my judgment and speak only for N.Y.
sel1, there is only one way, and that
IS 10 nave the people own and oper-
ate all necessary monopolies, such as
municipal utilities and TRANSPORTATION.
Ih1s done most Of the others would
dissolve. There would be no private
monopoly In this country. Leave ev-
erythlng possible to individual enter
prise, and where that will not suffice.
let the people do it in their collective
capacity. for they are all equally In
| terested.
But is this not opposed to the prin-
clples OF Jefferson? On the contrary it
is In harmony with them.
Government in his day was some-
thing distinct from the people, and he
wanted that government to meddls as
little as possible with their affairs.
But he always labored to have ev-
erything possible left directly with tue
| people. He had confidence in them.
and wanted them to govern directly.
He and Lincoln were alike in regard
to having confidence in the people.
The Menace of Corporationa
Experience has shown that a c>,r-
poration standing between the people
and the state will, when possible, plum
der the one and debauch the other, and
Is therefore constant menace to free
government.
Having confidence in the people AMI
making their welfare his guide, l j.-
lleVe he would have them keep every
thing possible in their own hands and
not put it in the power of any set cf
men to plunder them.
But no matter what the method Of
procedure, we know that he would en-.
force the law, and no attorney general
from New Jersey would be paid a SAL
ary by the government to find out how
not to do it.
18th. Jefferson would establish lust
income tax, and require concentrated
capital to bear its share of the burdens
OF government and thus tighten the
burdens of the smaller taxpayer.
Well, but what would he do as a
citizen in the year 1900 If he were
here? That question has already been
answered. It is clear from his utter
ances, his character and his course
that he would with all his might and
main support the Chicago platform
and William J. Bryan.
The Chicago platform is the breath
OF Jefferson and Bryan is his grea,
| prototype.
If we would follow Jefferson we
must be honest with the people and
protect them from spoliation.
We must be progressive and aggres-
sive, and we must stand for definite
things
Men who make fair promises to the
people and then slip up the rear stairs
Of corporations and betray their con-
stituents should be prohibited by law
from even whispering the name Of Jef-
ferson. for it is sacrilege.
It was this progressive and aggres-
sive spirit of Jefferson, this standing
for definite things, this solicitude for
the welfare of the people, thai caused
the scattered but liberty-loving fore
fathers to rally around him and form
the great Democratic party.
And it was this same spirit tha:
gave to that party an impetus, a mo-
mentum which enabled it to remain
in power quarter Of century, and
to shape the destiny OF the nation for
nearly half century.
Time for Aggressive Action.
This world is swayed by aggressive
movements and is controlled by az.
gressive men.
| Wrong when aggressive will tri-
umph over right that is hesi.ating.
In war and in politics aggression
wins.
All of the great generals from Alex
ander, Hannibal and Caesar down to
Napoleon led advancing armies
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, Lee
Jackson and Stewart won Immortality
by forward movements.
The Republican party got tremend.
Gus impetus by being not only right
but aggressive, on the slavery ques-
ton. For the last twenty-five years ii
has been wrong on every great ques-
ton. Yet it has maintained its ncl1
on the American people by constantly
assuming the aggressive while it's op-
ponent stood hesitating.
Both the woman and the party tha!
hesitates is lost.
In 1884 and 1892 we won not by rea-
son Of anything we stood for but SIM
ply because the Republicans them
selves were weary of their leaders,.
Had we risen to the occasion, had we
possessed the progressive and fearless
spirit Of Jefferson, had we been true