The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-10-25
PRINCIPLES OF THE PARTY.

What Democracy Stands For.
The fundamental principles Of the
Democratic party are best expressed in
the Declaration Of Independence. The
Democracy stands for individual free
dom, for equality of rights and oppor-
tunities. for political, religious and in
dustrial liberty. Its trend has always
been in the direction Of popular gov
ernment, although more than once its
machinery has fallen into the hands
of the enemies Of the people and has
been devoted to the interests Of special
classes. This had happened before the
great re-birth Of the party of Thomas
jefferson in 1896. That year witness
ell revolution in the party and the
beginning of a revolution in the coun-
try. The Democracy again took solid
ground upon the great principles Of the
Declaration and it has since held that
ground with courage. with zeal and
with lofty determination.
The Democratic platform in 1896 de-
clared no new or strange doctrine. 1t
but rested and reaffirmed old truths
for which the party had stood in its
best days and under its greatest lead
ership. The spirit of it was long be-
fore voiced In the philosophy Of ThOm-
as Jefferson and in the heroic policy of
Andrew Jackson. 1t dealt with new
phases Of old questions; and in essence
it marked the revolt of the tribute-pay-
erS against the tribute-takerS.
upon the old foundations. 1t is still
the champion of equal rights. 1t is still
the evangel of liberty. 1t still stands
in solid phalanx against the forces of
privilege. In 1896 the apparent issue
involved the question of coinage; but
the real issue was whether this coun-
try should continue TO be governed by
the people or whether 1t should give up
its old ideals and become the submis-
sive appanage of grasping plutOc-
racy.
The real issue is the same this year
that it was four years ago. New mani
festations have been developed, but it
is still question whether class for
class shall control the country or
whether it shall be controlled by the
people for the people. The ancient war
between Hamilton and Jefferson is be-
ing fought again under the opposing
standards Of Mckinley and Bryan.
The latter stands as Jefferson stood for
the principles of the Declaration of In
dependence. The former stands as
Hamilton stood for government Of a
class, by class, for a class.
The Democratic party believes that
governments were instituted among
men, not for the purpose of exploiting
the masses and the enrichment of fav-
Orites. but for the purpose of securing
TO all their inalienable right to life. to
liberty and to the pursuit of happiness.
1t believes that governments derive
their just powers from the consent of
the governed. 1t therefore stands in
and inflexible opposition to
which is the denial of the
right of self government. II holds that
we cannot hold subject colony with
ont violating the fundamental princi-
pie of the republic; and it condemns as
wicked and wantOn war that is being
waged without legal authority for the
overthrow of free government in for
eign land and the establishment there
Of sovereignty against the wishes and
in defiance of the rights of its inhab-
itants.
If the United States have a right to
overthrow the Filipino republic they
have the right to overthrow any other
or any other government they
may select for a victim. They may go
10 Central America and to South Ameri- |
ca or to China or to Africa and under
pretext of civilizing and christianizing
the inhabitants they may destroy their
and institutions and COM !
pei them to submit to American rule. |
The pretense that we bought from |
Spain the sovereignty of the Philip !
pines in no sense saves us from the in |
hcrcnt wickedness of our assault upon !
the liberties of a foreign people. The |
latter had rights; and these rights were |
not owned by Spain. Spain therefore !,
could not sell them. Nor could we buy |
them. What Spain sold was her out
lasved claim to trample upon those |
rights. What we purchased was this |
claim; and the Republican party is as
serting it with brute force in defiance
Of morals and law and the foundation
principles of our own free institutions.
But the Democratic party stands for !
freedom at home as well as for freedom