The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-07-06
HON. l. P. PADGETT
Speaks to a Large Crowd at the
Courthouse.
Maj. Whitthorne Called on and
Makes Reply, and They Both
Have Rejoinders.

According to announc ament made
some days ago, Hon. l.. p. Padgett,
candidate for Congress, addressed
the voters of Maury county Mon
day afternoon In the Circuit Court
room. Notwithstanding the heavy
rain storm, there was a large crowd
in attendance when he began his
speech, and later on, as the rain
subsidized, the audience increased
until the room was packed.
Mr.. Padgett presented his views
on the leading questions of the day
in a clear, forcible and eloquent
manner, and his address maze a
most favorable impression. AT the
beginning of this Government, be
said, there were no political parties
or different political creeds, but near
the close of President Washington's
administration there aiose man,
Alexander Hamilton, who said that
the masses Of the people should not
be allowed to make their own laws
governing themselves. From this
theory there sprung set of followers
what was afterwards known as the
old Federalist party. No sooner
had this idea been presented by
Hamilton than there arose another
man, Thomas Jefferson, who COM
bated this theory, and said that the
masses of the people had right to
make their own laws and should be
allowed to govern themselves.
The Republican party, said Mr..
Padgett, is the natural off spring of
N 20 oh In Of III m n
its very beginning, 1t has always been
in favor of the classes as opposed
to the masses. The Democratic
party on the contrary, includes as its
fundamental principles the doctrine
OF Jefferson, and 1t has always been
protector of the interests of the
masses.
Mr.. Padeett then proceeded to dis
cuss the record of the Republican
party and the laws it had placed
upon the. statute books, He spoke
of the tariff and financial laws, and
of the effects they had in forcing
tribute from the great body of the
people in order to advance the in
terests of the capitalists and the
manufacturers. Years ago, he said,
there were only a few millionaries
in the country, and they counted
their wealth by one, two, three, and
possibly few by the five millions
Now, it is said, there are more than
thousand millionaries in the
country, and they count their wealth
not by one, two, three or five nil
lions, but by the tens and hundreds
of millions. This is the direct result
of legislation enacted by tie Re-
publican party.
After discussing the trusts and
combines and speaking of their
blighting effects upon the country,
Mr.. Padgett took up the various
questions growing out of the war
with Spain. He attacked the i'm
perialistic policy of the Republican
party, and spoke of the evil effects
of large standing army. He re-
ferred to the extravagant appropria-
tions of the late Republican Con-
gress, and the reckless manner in
which they had thrown away
the peoples money. The Repub.
licans, he said, had delayed the con
struction of the Nicaraguan canal
In order that the business of the rail-
roads betting the country from
ocean to ocean might not be affected
In concluding his address, he
stated that his idea of a congressman
was man of intellect-a man who
should be able to comprehend the
great underlying truths of the laws
governing his country. He should
also be a man with a heart-a man
of kindness and charity, devoted to
his people and their interests; but
not only that, he should be a man
with backbone-a man who Ia not
afraid to express his opinions and
stand by his convictions. Ii the
people saw fit to honor him with
their confidence, he would thank
them for the trust thus imposed, and
would discharge the duties of the
Office rs he thought public servant
should. This county was very dear
to him, as he was born and raised
here, and he would ever keep the
welfare of his friends at heart.