The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-10-20
TIE DOLLAR FIRST TIKI
NAN SECOND.

the ablest Republicans in this State.
was one of the speakers. From a
Republican standpoint Mr.. Howell's
speech was good one. But, like
consistent Republican, Mr.
Howell is an unqualified advocate
of the infamous doctrine that the
dollar comes first, and then the
man. One would think from the
utterances of the latter-day followers
of Lincoln that this government
> was instituted not to secure life,
liberty and the pursuits of happi-
ness, but to enable privileged
class to grow rich at the expense of
the masses. According to this new
idea everything should be measured
by the dollar. Intellect, patriotism
and principle do not count. The
sordid materialism of Hanna seems
to have taken the place Of every
thing which made American citizen
ship admired throughout the world
wherever human liberty found an
exponent.
When our forefathers builded
this government they did not think
of making any special provisions to
enable men to accumulate wealth.
g Nothing was further from their
minds. Ben Franklin, Jefferson
and most of the statesmen of those
times were poor men who valued
liberty more than money. Had it
been the purpose to make this a
only aim in life is to become rich,
the work of framing constitution
would have been entrusted to shy
locks, moneylenders and traders.
That kind of government would no |
doubt have suited the Republicans
of to-day, who speak to us of the
dinner pail and the treasures in the
Philippines to justify an unjust and
inhuman war.
In the opinion of the present
day Republican Jay Gould was a !
greater man than Jefferson and
Rockefeller has done more for
humanity than Washington. A
statesman who did not die rich re-
ceives but scant admiration at the
hands of the average imPerialist.
An advocate Of Repuolicanism at
the Falk hall meeting, who paid
very high compliment to Mr.. Will
liams, prefaced his remarks with the
statement that the Republican nom
inee would no doubt make an ex-
cellent Congressman because he
had displayed his ability in states
manship by making large fortune
for himself; that a man who could :
make money possessed the qualities
of statesman. The Republican ,
party's fondness for men of wealth {
has been betrayed many times ,
since the war, but we do not think
that party has, before this cam :
paign, SO completely delivered itself '
over to the money power. 1t has
abandoned its former pretensions t
20 being ''Party of moral ideas"
It has thrown off its mask of hypo- =
,racy and it can now be seen in its 6
rue colors as a champion of the in d
erests of the favored few; it is the 4
of the trusts and corpor-
ltions that furnish the corruption =
und without which Republicanism. I
would soon fall to pieces. Under {
he leadership of Hanna, the Re c
publican party has become indsso- :.
ubly wedd ed to the idea that alone =
5 that good government which +
lelPs its favorites to amass wealth; n
hat mans liberty is commodity b
or trade and barter Heretofore =
he Republican party assumed a
ofty position and through class
egislation feathered the nests Of
is prot<g&s, but the present leaders al
# that party do not even try to m
ave appearances. They boldly pro o,
lain their faith in the doctrine p:
hat governments are created to d,
rOtect q mans dollar and to null &C
iply Is. no matter what becomes Of H
be owner. 80