The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-12
MIR. M'LAURIN'S DEMOCRACY.


From which he Concludes that
the Platform Does Not Make the
Party, but the Party Makes the
Platform. and the Platform IL Free
auently Changed For One Reason
or AuOther-He Points Out the
Principles that Have Actuated the
Federal or Republican Party on
One Hand and the Democratic
Party on the Other-ShOws that
Each Party has been on Both Sides
Of the Free silver Question, but
That the Republican Party has Al
WAS Been the Party Of Centraliza-
ton and u Strong Government
While the DemOcrOtic Party has
Always stood for Individual Liber-
ty and Constitutional Government
He Thinks That the Democratic
Platforms Made Under the Inhu'
ence of w. j. Bryan and his Fol-
lowers Were u Mistake and That
1t is Time for the Democratic
Party TO Go Back to its Old Stand
ards.
Rennettsyille, June I.-Specal: The follow
ing correspondence explains itselE
Florence, S. c., June 3, 1901.
Hon John l.. McLaurin' Bepnettsville. S. &.
Dear Sir: l have taken great interest IN
the political outlook, and as a matter of in
struction ask that you dimereaLiaie id S oel%een e
Republicans. Most Of US see no dlference,
but perhaps you can show some dlfference; II
go. please do it. as am not inclined TO con-
denim you without hearing,
Benneltsville. S. G., June 4. 1901.
Mr.. WE. Clayton, Florence, 5. C.LDear SiI:
diffsrentiate between my views and the views
of leading Republicans, as most OF US see no
difference" 1 am very busy at this time, but
will dictate few thoughts as they occur TO
me in reply to your question. DO tnls Win
the more pleasure because you nave oeen
opposed to me politically, but show desire
to seek the truth.
At the time OF the adoption of the United
tinct plans OF government proposed. or these
plans the fight was made up on two; the Hamil-
topian idea and the Jeffersoni Ian idea. Alex.
ander Hamilton openly maintained that the
British Constitution was the most perfect
Instrument OF its kind ever In existence. He
States TO be passed by the Congress OF the
United states. He wanted the President OF
the United States and the Senators to hold
office during good behavior. He wanted the
Governors or the States appointed by the
President of the United States and he wanted
the Federal Government to assume the debts
of the State. He wanted strong senate and
proclaimed his belief that the people were
incapable of selfgovernment. John Jay was
sent as minister TO England In order TO make
q commercial treaty, which would have
placed our commerce Under the control OF
Great Britain. The HauIiltonian idea was 80
far carried out that he succeeded 10 prevent
ing the incorporation OF bill Of rights In the
Federal Constitution. Under his leadership
the Congress imposed the excise tax, which
made the rich escape the burdens OF taxation
and placed those burdens upon the poor
This brought about the revolution in Penn.
sylvania and came very nearly disrupting the
new Republic. Thomas Jefferson forced the
bill OF rights into the Consstution HtIS as an an
ceeded in defeating the purposes Of the Jay
treaty with England. Hamilton favored and
Jefferson opposed the granting OF monopolies
the assumption Of the State debts by the Fed
eral Government. Associated with Jefferson
were Madison, Monroe, Samuel Adams,
Albert Gallatin, George Clinton and Ben.
jamin Franklin. Associated with Hamilton
were John Marshall, John jay, John Adams
and Pinckney. The Democratic party has
adoption of the Constitution. while the Fed
eraf party, OF which the Republicans are the
successors. has passed through number OF
changes. The Federal party, at first success
their doctrine OF a centralized government 80
far as to pass the alien and sedition law:
Under this law the President was authorized
upon his own volition to expel from the
country any alien whom he might suspect as
dangerous to the peace and liberty OF the
country, etc. This radical measure created
powerful reaction.
The Democrats then remained in power
almost without interruption until 1850. Dur.
ing this time all OF the territory acquired by
the United States up to ISIS was secured ex-
cept the Territory Of Alaska, and every foot
OF IL was encountered by the vigorous denun-
citation OF the Republicans.
During this entire time the Democrats were
the progressive men. They held TO the prin-
ciple that the people should rule, but that the
General Government. while keeping taxation
at the lowest rate consistent with good gov
k,l,@ fbn md RI u
ed for the good OF the whole people. La 1856
they favored subsldizing the Pacific Railroad.
About the same time they started the subsidy
to the Collins Line Of steamships between the
United States and England. Based upon the
principle Of the Jeffersonian commercial
treaty with France, they had concluded treat.
les with all The principal nations and those
treaties are still In force. They had built up
our foreign commerce until 1t excited the
wonder and admiration OF the entire world.
They had. under Gen. Jackson, stopped Inn
prisonment for debt. They had fought two
successful wars with foreign nations. They
had established credit throughout the world
second TO no nation on earth. They were
fighting for the principles Of liberty q, OF
can citizenship. Matters OF internal concern
the leaders Of the party differed about. Gen.
Jackson was the first TO make reciprocity
treaty. The next reciprocity treaty was
made by President Pierce. John Randolph,
acting against the leaders OF his party, voted
against the Embargo Act, and was finally
J,
Calhoun, Cheves and Lowndes actively OPP
posed President Jefferson In the matter OF
decreasing the army. The first proposition OF
protective tariff for the purposes d Of pTo1eS
and Lownnes Joined with Madison In It's
favor. The Federalists opposed protection.
Clay and Calhoun favored measures OF inter-
nal Improvement, and Madison vetoed them.
Our great distinctive foreign policy known as
the Monroe doctrine was Democratic policy
The Democrats defeated the scheme Of the
Republicans to turn over Oregon and Wash
ington TO Great Britain.
The Democratic party has never yet denied
to any man within its lines the privilege OF
free thought and free speech. It has never
made them. II has lost no opportunity TO
build up the merchant marine and open up
our trade With foreign ports. 1t opened up
the japanese ports when all of the rations OF
the earth had failed.
The party has never been inconsistent, and
yet 1t has never stultifed Itself by adherlng TO
previous platforms when the conditions
which demanded them had changed. Until
1855 the Democrats had denied the power In
the Federal Government to make Internal
improvements, and yet 1t was the first to
&c railroads and the Ncaraguan Canal.
In the matter of tariff 1t was protection
party under the leadership Of James Madison;
declared for free trade in 1913; for "incidental
protection" in 1855; q tariff for revenue only
in 1850. and in 1884 the Convention said:
Moreover many Industries have come to
reply upon legl6IatlOn lot SucceSSlul cOntln-
uance, so that any change OF law must be at
every step regardful of the labor and capital
thus involved. The necessary reduction and
taxation can and must be effected without
deprivlng American labor OF the ability TO
compete successfully with foreign labor and
without imposing lower rates OF duty than
will be ample TO cover any Increased cost OF
production which may exist In consequence
OF the higher rate OF wages prevailing in this
country"
In 1883 the platform still recognized that
other things besides revenue we're TO be taken