The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-09

I shall, at an early day, and in a more
formal manner, accept the nomination
which you tender, and shall at that timo
discuss the various questions covered by
the Democratic platform. 1t may not be
OUT of place, however, to submit a few
observations at this time upon the general
character OF the contest before us, and
upon the question which is declared to be
of paramount importance in this cam
paign.
When I say that the contest of 1900 Is a
contest between Democracy on the one
hand and plutocracy on the other, / do
not mean 10 say that all our opponents
have deliberately chosen to give TO organ
izsd wealth a predominating influence in
the affairs of the government, but l do
assert that on the important issues of the
day the Republican party Is dominated by
those influences which constantly tend TO
elevate pecrniary considerations and ig-
mere human rights.
In 1853 Lincoln said that the Republican
party believed in the man and the dollar
but that in case of conflict it believed in
the man before the dollar. This is the
proper relation which should exist between
the Two. Man. the handiwOrk of God
comes first. money, the handiwork OF man.
is of inferior importance. Man is the mas
ter, money the servant but upon all i'm
portant questions to-day, Republican legis-
lation tends to make money the master
and man the servant.
The maxim OF Jefferson, equal rights
to all and sn, cial privileges to none" and
the doctrine of Lincoln that this should he
a government "of the people, by the peo-
pie, and for the people" are being disre-
garded and the instrumentalities of gov
crnment arc being used to advance the in
terests of those who are in a position 10
secure favors from the government.
The Democratic party is not making war
upon the honest acquisition of wealth; IL
has no desire to discourage industry
economy and thrift. on the contrary, it
gives TO every citizen the greatest possible
stimulus to honest toll, when it promises
him pro- ection in the enjoyment of the
proceeds of his labor. Property rights are
most secure when human rights are re-
spected. Democracy strives for civiH-
cation in which every member of society
will share according to his merits.
No one has a right to expect from So
cietv more than a fair compensation for
the service which he renders to society. If
he secures more. 1t is at the expense of
someone else. 1t is no injustice to him
TO prevent his doing injustice to another.
To him who would, either through class
legislation or in the absence of necessary
legislation trespass upon the rights of
another, the Democratic party says Thou
shalt not"
Profit in RepubIicanism.
Against us ere arrayed a comparatively
small but politically and finacially pow
erful, number VINO really profit by Repub-
lican pelicies: but with them are associated
large number who, because of their at
tachmcni - the party name. are giving
their support to doctrines antagonistic 10
the former teachings of their own
party Republicans who used TO
advocate bmetallism, now try to
convince themselves that the gold stand
ard is good; Republicans who were for
merly attached to the greenback are now
seeking an excuse for giving national
banks control of the nations paper
money; Republicans who used 10 boast
that the Republican party was paying off
the national debt, are now looking for
reasons TO support a perpetual and in
creaSing debt Republicans who formerly
abhorred a trust, now beguile themselves
with the delusion that there are good
trusts and bad trusts. while. in their
minds, the line between the two is be-
coming more and more obscure; Repub-
licans who, in times past, congratulated
the country upon the small expense of
our standing army, are now making light
of the objections which are urged against
a large increase In the permanent mill
tary establishment; Republicans who
gloried in our independence when the
nation was less powerful, now look with
favor upon the foreign alliance; Repub-
licans who three years ago condemned
"forcible annexation" as so immoral and
even criminal. are now sure that it is
both immoral and criminal to oppose
forcible annexation. That partisanship
IA odt- cd tn lar
gers is certain; how large a portion of the
Republican party can be drawn over TO
the new policies remains to be seen.
Republican Roasting.
For time Republican leaders were in
clined to deny to opponents the right to
criticise the Philippine policy of the ad-
ministration. but upon investigation they
found that both Lincoln and Clay asserted
and exercised the right to critcise a
President during the progress of the Mex
lean war.
Instead of meeting the issue to'dly and
submitting a clear and positive plan for
dealing with the Philippine question, the
Republican convention adopted a platform
the larger part of which was devoted 10
boasting and self congratulation.
In attempting to press economic ques-
lions upon the country to the exclusion
of those which involve the very structure
of our government, the Republican lead
ers give new evidence of their abandon
ment of the earlier ideals of the party and
of their complete subserviency to pecuni-
airy considerations.
But they shall not be permitted to evade
the stupendous and far-reaching issues
which they have deliberately brought into
the arena of politics. When the President,
supported by a practically unanimous
vote of the House and Senate, entered
upon war with Spain for the purpose of
aiding the struggling patriots in Cuba.
the country without regard TO party, app
plauded. Although the Democrats recog-
nized that the administration would nee
essarily gain a political advantage from
the conduct of a war which. in the very
nature of the case, must soon end in a
complete victory. they We'd with the Re-
publcans in the support which they gave
to the President. When the war was over
and the Republican leaders began to sug-
opposition at once manifested itself. When
the President finally laid before the Sem
ate a treaty which recognized the indie
pendence of Cuba but provided for the
cession of the Philippine Islands to the
United States. the menace of Imperialism
became so apparent that many preferred
TO reject the treaty and risk the Ills that
might follow rather than take the chance
of correcting the errors of the treaty by
the independent action of this country.
Believed in Ratification.
I was among the number of those who
believed it better to ratify the treaty and
end the war release the volunteers, re-