New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-02-24
N. Y. Journal
IN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION LIES THE
HOPE OF RELIEF.

IN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION LIES THE
HOPE OF RELIEF.
Geo. Fred. Williams, the bold
Democratic fighter of Massachu-
setts said at the Chicago antitrust
conference last week: e
"If, as we hope, this convention
has opened the rallying and recruit
ing of the anti-monopoly forces in
our republic, we may as well realize
at the outset that our army is to be
trained for political action. Nor
are our forces to be armed with the
broom and the mop for cleaning or
even with the ak for destruction,
but with the constructive instru-
ments which may build up a new
structure upon democratic founda-
tions. By votes and through the
medium of the statute book we are
to accomplish our results. We
must create an anti-inonopoly party,
which must strike at the very roots
of our existing methods. The truth
is that the spirit of commercialism,
the impulse of greed, the demands
of privilege have, in the last CEN
tury insidiously undermined our
economic and political institutions.
We do not admit that the right
to the pursuit of happiness in our
republic has become mere by
product Of capitalism. God did
not create school Of political
economy to prove out of his law
that he is more relentless than fate,
and that no ray Of His mercy pen
etrates the darkness of poverty,
disease and crime. God made man,
not property, in His image. And
ours is the religious task Of assert
ing humanity against wealth, even
though the tables of the money
changers must be overthrown in
the temple Of humanity.
Our whole problem is to take
the government of this republic
from the monopolistic forces and
restore it to the hands Of the peo-
pie who are the victims of the pres
ent disorder. First and foremost
in our work is the necessity Of
bringing to the problems which
confront us the highest political
power and wisdom which repub-
lican form of government can Sc
cure. Be not deceived. The mas
ses are ready for the conflict. They
have only lost faith in the political
parties because they have been SO
often deceived. They have been
tossed from one party to the
other only to fnd that they are
still bound to a chariot. It is abso-
lutely imperative that we should
direct ourselves forthwith to the
obtaining Of political ascendency.
II both the great political parties
be false, or prove false, a new one
must be formed. If one Of the
parties be hopelessly delivered over
to the service Of monopoly, if it be
dependent upon the enemy for its
campaign funds, its control o.
voting, its selection Of policies,
then it is the veriest crime for any
man here to take part in our deliber-
atoms with the purpose of main
tanning the ascendency Of that
party. II there be one Of the great
political parties which give promise
Of hope, Of cooperation, which has
sympathy for humanity, and which
is free from monopolistic dictation,
it is clear duty to encourage and
stimulate a high purpose in this
party to enter its councils and
strengthen its purposes.
II believe there is such a party
now in the field; that this party
has cleansed and purged itself for
the very contest which we propose
that it has demonstrated its ability
TO Withstand the terrible engine
Of power which capitalism can direct
upon its foes; that it has proved its
capacity to rally millions Of the
people against our enemies; that it
has thrown out from the leadership
the tools Of monopoly; that it does
not sell its principles or the rights
Of the people for the contributions
Of those who extort from tho people.
"The party Of which / speak is