Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-05-24
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
THURSDAY. MAY "a, 1900.
POLITICAL INCONSISTENCY.

POLITICAL INCONSISTENCY.
In a recent conversation with group of
Democratic friends We proceeded to call
attention to the many inconsistencies OF
the Virginia Democracy in the treatment
of the suffrage question, as well as the
glaring inconsistencies of the National
Democracy on all leading questions that
have come before the American people in
recent years. AS each inconsistent act of
the party was adverted to the listeners
would admit the truth of our assertion, but
qualify their admission with the remark
that all political parties we're inconsistent.
This was in the nature of what is called in
the science of law a plea Of confession and
avoidance; and is the only plea the Demo-
cratic party can offer for its constant and
oft.repeated changes on issues, State and
National.
Recently the Democratic leaders and
press have been raising great hue and
cry about trusts, and Mr.. Bryan has clear
ly indicated that it is his purpose to make
trusts one of the leading issues of the ap'
preaching campaign. His purpose Or will
is law for the party, and we may, there
fore, prepare ourselves to hear constant
shouts from Democratic stump speakers
against the evils that flow from trusts, and
a vain effort on their part to make the Re-
publican party not only responsible for the
existence of trusts, but positive, untruthful
assertions that the Republicans are pro
tecting what they have created.
Fortunately this is period in which
truth can be rapidly placed before the
people in even the most remote corners Of
the Union. 1t is period when falsehood
can be exposed and political deception
clearly demonstrated through the party
press which now reaches everybody who
can read. The hostility of the Democracy
to monopolies has heretofore consisted of
words and not acts. When that party was
in absolute control of each and every de-
partment Of the National Government, it
did nothing, in the way of legislation, to
control or break up monopOlies. 1t ls
a fact that in very few of the States con-
trolled by the Democrats have there been
any enactments by legislatures to destroy
or regulate trusts. fla Virginia Legisla-
ture has done anything in that direction
we cannot recall it.
All the legislation by Congress for the
regulation of trusts or monopolies has en-
anated from the Republicans. Still we
find the Democrats with brazen, impudent
tongues declaring that they are the enc
mics Of trusts and the Republicans are
their friends.
On Tuesday of last week the Judiciary
Committee Of the House of Representa-.
tives determined to report as an amend
ment to the Constitution the following;
ARTICLE w, Section I.-All powers con.
ferred by this article shall extend to the
several States, the Territories, and the
District of Columbia.
"Section 2.-Congress shall have power
to define, regulate, control, prohibit. or
dissolve trusts, monopolies or combina'
tons, whether existing in the form ola
corporation or otherwise. The several
States may continue to exercise such power
in any manner not in conflict with the
laws of the United States.
Section 3.-Congress shall have the
power to enforce the provisions Of this
article by appropriate legislation.
1t is understood that when the vote was
taken in the Judiciary Committee upon
the question Of reporting, the amendment.
all the Republican members Of the COM
mittee voted for making the report, while
alllthe Democratic members voted against
it. The Democratic members of the COM
mittee must have been acting upon the
advice of their leaders in Congress and on
the outside. Are we to understand that
the Democratic party is going to antagon'
ize any movement to give Congress au'
thority by Constitutional provision to reg
ulate and dissolve trusts ?
We should not be surprised to find the
Democratic party placing itself in this in
consistent attitude. Its chief mission in
recent years has been to antagonize and
obstruct the policies and principles of the
Republican party. This it does persistent
". even at the sacrifice Of consistency. On
the question Of trusts We expect to find it
true to its history as party Of opposition,
nothing more. When the Republicans
undertake to regulate trusts you will see
the Democracy opposing the policy Of the
Republican party.