The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-06-27
BENSETTsv!LLE. June Especial: Int
following correspondence explains itself

FLORENCE, S. c., June 8. 1901.
Hon. John L. McLaurln, Bennetts'lile
:. C.-Dear Sir: have taken great inter
est in the political outlook, and as mat
ter of instruction ask that you dl1eren'
tiute between your views ana the views
held by leading Republicans. Most OF u
| SEE no difference, but perhaps you car
| show some difference; if so. please do 1t,
| as | am not inclined to condemn you With
'''' 9 ''~ ". +. CLAYTON.
BENHETTsvILLE, S. c., June 4, 1901.
Mr.. W. +. Clayton. Florence, ,. -
| Dear Sir: In your letter of June 3you ask
| me TO diiferentiate between my views
aud the views of leading Republicans, as
most of Us Bee no ditfe, enc-." am very
| busy ut this time, but will dictate a few
| thoughts as they occur to me In reply td
| your question I do this with the more
| pleasure because you have been opposed
! to Inc politically, but show a desire to
| seek the truth.
At the time of the adoption Of the Uni.
ted States Constitution there we're seVera'
| distinct plans Of government proposed.
| OF these plans the fight was made upon
| two: the Hamiitonian idea and the Jeffer-
sonian idea. Alexander Hamilton openly
| maintained that the British Constitution
was the most perfect instrument OF ats
kind ever in existence. He wanted all
| laws for the government OF the States tU
be passed By the Congress OF the United
| States. He wanted the President or the
| United States and tho Senators to hold
office during good behavior. He wanted
the Governors Of the States appointed 6y
| the President OF the United States and he
wanted the Federal Government to as.
| sume the debts of the State. He wanted
q strong Senate and a weak House OF Rep
| rssentatives. r and openly proclaimed bus
| belief that the people were incaple of self
| government. john Jay WAS sent as mlo'
| lister to England III order to make com.
mercial treaty, which would have placed
our commerce under the control OF Great
Britain. The Hamiltonian idea was so far
carried out that hs succeeded In prevent
| inc 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. ibis
brought about the revolution in Pennsyl-
vania and came very near dlsruptlng the
new Republic. Thomas Jefferson forced
the bill of rights into the Constitution as
all amendment. AS minister to France he
succeeded in defeating the purposes OF the
Jay treaty with England. Hamilton IA
vored and Jefferson opposed the granting
of monopolies, the establishing of u Unlted
States bank aud the assumption OF the
State debts by the Federal Govern ment.
| Associated with Jefferson were Madison,
Monroe, Samuel Adams, Albert Gallatin,
George Clinton and Benjamin Franklin
Associated with Hamilton were John
Marshall, John Jay, John Adams ana
Pinckney. The Democratic party has been
in continuous existence ever since the
adoption of the Constitution, while the
| Federal party. of which the Republicans
| are the successors, has passed through
number of changes The Federal party,
at first successful, finally committed sui
eide BY carrying their doctrine of CEN
tralized government so far as to pass ene
alien and sedition law. Under this law
the President was authorized upon MS
own yolitton to expel from the country
any alien whom he might suspect as dan
perous to the peace and liberty OF the
Country. etc. This radical measure crea-
ted powerful reaction.
The Democrats then remained in power
almost without interruption until lSoo.
During this time all Of the territory &C.
Quired by the United States up TO ieeo
was secured except the Territory OF Alas,
ka, and every foot of it was encountered
by the vigorous denunciation OF the he-
publicans
During this entire time the Democrats
were the progressive men. They held to
the principle that the people should rule.
but that the General Government, While
keeping taxation at the lowest rate con-
sistent with good government, should ex.
pend the fund thus derived for the good
Of the whole people. In 1855 they favored
subsidizing the Pacific Railroad. About
the Collins Line Of steamshlps between
the United States and England. Based
upon the principle of the JeHersentan
commercial treaty with France, they had
concluded treaties 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 adm1rasion
of the entire world They had, under
General jackson, stopped imprisonment
for debt: They had fought two 70 successful
wars with foreign nations. They had es,
tablished credit throughout the world
second to nonation on earth. They were
fighting for the principles of liberty OF
thought and action and the freedom oi
American citizenship. Matters of internal
concern the leaders of the party differed
about. General Jackson was the hrst to
| make reciprocity treaty. The next reel,
procity treaty was made py ffesioeh.
Pierce John Randolph, acting against the
, leaders of his party, voted against the
Embargo Act, and was finally successful
In defeating that legislation. Clay, Cal
houn. Cheves and Lowndes actively op,
posed Pres dent jefferson in the matter OF
, decreasing the army. The first propagation
of a protective tariff for the purpose OF
protection came from James Madison. and
:; Calhoun and Lowndes Joined with Madi
son in it's favor The Federalists opposed
protection. Clay and Calhoun favored
, measures of internal improvement, and
Madison vetoed them. Our great dtstinc'
tive foreign policy known as the Monroe
doctrine was a Democratic policy. The
Democrats defeated the scheme OF the
Republicans to turn over Oregon and
Washington to Great Britain.
The Democratic party has never set Go
MED to any man within its lines the PRIV
leee of free thought and free speech. II
I when it has made them. 1t has lost nc
;. 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 nations of the earth hac
failed.
The party has never been inconsistent
and vet It has never stultifled itself by
adhering to previous platforms when tht
conditions which demanded them haC
/, changed. Until 1886 the Democrats haC
p denied the power in the Federal Govern
!. ment to make internal improvements. ant
ret it was the first to advocate the grea,
Improvement OF the Pacific railroads ane
Z the Eicaraguan Canal.
In the matter of tariff it was protec
tion panty under the leadership of james
y Madison; declared for free trade in lSlS
( for Incidental protection In ls8S;
tariff for revenue only in 1880, and In lSS:
>. the Convention said:
"Moreover, many industries have CONF
to rely upon Legislation for successful
corsipuance, so that any change of Law
J Must he at every step regardful OF th'
y labor and capital thus involved. The ne
:. cessary reduction and taxation can ane
: must be effected without deprivipg Amer
lean labor of the ability o compete auc
), oessfuliy with foreign labor and without
Imposing lower rates of duty than will b'
Il ample to cover any increased cost of pro
!, ductlon which may exist In consequence
: of the higher rate of wages prevailing II
G this country"
$ In 1883 the platform still recognized tha
other things besides revenue were to u
| taken into account in framing tariff leSla