The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-02-15
An Intending Conflict Between the
Advocates of Equal Rights to All
and Those Who Seek Special
PriVileges-AdvantageS
Enjoyed by the Latter.

COmuuulCoVCN'
Equal rights to all and special priv
ileges to none," has ever been the shib-
boleth of. Democracy. But in the appli-
cation of this doctrine there has always
been, and as long as man is selfish there
always will be, a conflict with those seek
ing Especial privileges. In this conflict
those who advocate equal rights have on
their side, the best interests of the great
majority of the people, and would always
win, where the people govern themselves,
if the contest we're fairly and openly con-
Quoted. Even where the contest is fair,
the seeker after special favors has a great
advantage in the fact that he can keep
his purposes secret whereas the champion
of the people must disclose the plan he
advocates, and explain how it will work.
Thus, for example, in the controversy
between the people and the money
power, which began in Washington's
Cabinet and has continued to the present,
the plans of the bank advocates have
always been either hidden. or, held up as
something different from what they really
were.
Hamilton's first scheme for the United
States to assume and pay at par, all the
old debts incurred by the States in the
Revolution, was carried through, against
Jefferson's opposition, under the righteous
plea of public honor and strengthening
the public credit. 1t was in reality,
scheme to enrich few spectators who
bought up these old and worthless debts
for asong, and history records that such
was its effect.
Some similar subterfuge has marked
every act obtained by the money power
from that day to this. The same is true
of protective tariffs, always secured under
. the pretence of benefting the country,
but always operating to, take money out
of the pockets of the many and put it into
those of the favored few. So likewise,
the ship subsidy bill is urged upon the
patriotic ground of building up our carry
ing trade, and providing auxiliary cruisers
and transports for the governmental time
.of war, but it is simply an effort of few
steamship companies to further enrich
themselves out Of the public treasury.
Another advantage on the side of those
seeking special favors, is that they can
keep their object in view and work for il
for any length of time, gain it little by
little, and even suffer defeats without ever
giving up; whereas the people are apt to
become discouraged, with the failure Of
one or two efforts, and are too ready to
listen to those false teachers who say, we
can't win, we must give it up.
The manufacturer, seeking to tax the
public for his benefit, the bank thirsting
for the stupendous power and profits of
money monopoly, the ship company try
ing to get its hands into the, treatury, the
steel company bent on robbing the people
in the sale of armor plate to the govern
2ment, never give up. They are instant in
season and out of season, by fair means
or foul, they press their demands until
they gain them. whether it takes one
, effort, or two, or ten, or an hundred.
g No one thing perhaps, delays the final
triumph of the peoples rights SO much as
the disposition to change about from one
policy to another in the face of enemies
who keep up an unceasing effort for an
unchanging purpose-the unchanging
purpose of trying to put something into
their pockets that is produced by the toll
Of others.
THE reason the people are tickle and
ask for a change is because the Demo-
cratic party offers them nothing tangible.
Will our correspondent who speaks for
that Association, tell us what the Mary
land Democratic Association proposes TO
offer in place of the outrageous conditions
championed by the Republican party?
The weakness of the Democratic party,
visible in the barren results of its forty
years history. is found in its dry rot con-
servatism. 1t is afraid to propose any
thing. Its opposition to vicious measures
of the plutocracy is all right, but what
does it offer instead? Echo answers
what?-ED. jour-.