The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-04-04
ON DANGEROUS GROUND.

Hon. David b. Hill, like ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland, was invited to the din
ner given short time ago by the Cres-
cent Democratic club of Baltimore, and
like Mr.. Cleveland he sent his regrets.
Inc letter which he wrote for that oc-
cas1on contains several sentences
which indicate that Mr.. Hill is on
dangerous ground. He seems to con-
Tess the criticisms made against the
democratic party by the republicans
and by the democrats who opposed the
ticket.
He says Labor and capital should
be equally respected, but neither
should be unnecessarily assaulted" The
democratic party has never been ac-
cused of assailing labor, but it is a
1avorite pastime with the republicans
to accuse 1t of assailing capital. The
democratic party distinguishes be-
tween legitimate accumulations and
predatory wealth, but whenever pre-
datory wealth is attacked it tries to
shield itself behind honest capital.
Mr.. Hill says Opposition to dan
gerous corporate combinations should
not be allowed to degenerate into in
discriminate attacks upon chartered
rights" That is almost Identical with
| the language used by the republicans
in defending the trusts. They are al
| ways careful to assure the public that
they condemn "hurtful," injurious"
and dangerous" combinations, but
they are solicitous about vested rights
and are fearful lest the attacks may
| be "indiscriminate." The language
used by Mr.. Hill is generally en-
| ployed by those who have no remedy
| to propose for the trusts, but oppose
any remedy suggested.
But he gets even nearer to the re-
publican line, if possible, when he
says, "The people want safe and con-
sentative administration of public at
fairs" That is just exactly what the
republicans always promise. Safe
and conservative "-everybody wants a
safe administration and conservatism
is an almost universal trait But the
republicans prate so much about safe
ty' and conservatism" that demo-
crat ought not to use the terms with
out explaining what he means by
them.
Mr.. Hill adds: "There must be no
question of our intention to fearlessly
maintain the national credit under any
and all circumstances" AS the demo-
cratic party has never attacked the
national credit that advice is gratuiti-
Gus unless Mr.. Hill means to condemn
the Chicago and Kansas City plat
forms. and if such is his intention, he
ought t. make the attack openly and
boldly.
In another part of the letter he says:
eve should coneiliate rather than an.
tagonize the great business interests
of the country" How is this concilia
ton to be accomplished? The policie:
advocated by the democratic party arr
as good for the ordinary business mai
as they are for the laboring -man o
the farmer, but the great railroad in
terests are opposed to the democf2tl
party because the party opposes extof
tionate rates, rebates and discrimina
lions; because it opposes wateret
stock and fictitious capitalization. l
cannot conciliate these interests with
out abandoning the people generally
Mr.. Wells OF st. Louis was nomi
mated to please the "busitess inter
.ests "-thex, would .nothe satisfied will
a candidate who had voted the demo
nit that he believed in democratic
cratic principles or at their demand
| abandon democratic principles?
Mr.. Hill is sc skilful in the use of
words that he should have no difficulty
in making his meaning plain. 1t is not
necessary for him to borrow republic
can phraseology. He owes it to the
party to give expression to his views
in clear and unambiguous language.
If he joins with Mr.. Cleveland, Mr..
Whitney ct al. in their effort to repub-
licanize the democratic party he will
be tower of strength to their side. If
he intends to cast in his lot with the
six millions and more who kept the
faith in 1896 and 1900 he should avoid
the yerbiage that republicans and gold
democrats have employed to conceal
their sinister purposes
| ~ hot oh