The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28
a DEMOCRATIC CRISIS.

DEMOCRATIC CRISIS.
j. more eyer was a time when this
country needed a true and genuine
Democratic revival It is now. II there
ever was a time when the true Demo
Gratis OF this country needed to yet TO-
Eefner and declare their principles and
fight for them. 1t is now. II there ever
had an opportunity 10 do Its country
a great and necessary service 1t is now.
une country is ruil or political heresy
and political heretics. The President OF
inc United states has proclaimed lar and
wide that the individual States OF the
Union should surrender 10 the Federal
Government their right TO govern cor
pora1ons ana commit that power soleiy
to the National congress. Inc Speaker OF
the House or Representatives declares
that the government should protect the
giant corporations OF the country from
competition with foreign corporations.
and because he detected a disposition on
the part OF some Of his constituents 10
take away from some OF the corpora
lions the benefits OF tariff which they
enjoy, he declines TO stand for re-elec-
uon. lie agrees with the President that
Congress alone should have the riSat
10 control corporations. but he goes far-
Their than that and declares That Con-
gross should coddIe these corporations
ana save them from competition with
foreigners. There are others who 80
step FARTHER sui and say that the f'edc-
raj Government should .ake hold of the
coal mines and the railroads and the
steamship nnes, the telegraph lines, and
of all sorts OF trusts and not only con-
1roi them, but actually operate them.
Ana so they proceed step by step to-
wards complete communism there Is
more communisuc tax IN TINS country
TO-DAY IMAM ever before within our re-
collection. and il we may judge by this
.aIk, the spirit OF communism is ram
pant.
mere is but one remedy for this, there
Is BAT one preventive of communism
ana ,nat IS Democracy. Democracy Is
the very anttpodc Of communism. Com
munisn means government control o.
everything. democracy means as little
OF government interference as possible
win the personal nberty OF men ano
WITH business uansacaona between man
and man. Democracy is not anarchisrn
Democracy recognizes the necessity for
organic lax. for statutory law. Democ-
raey believe. in government, IN obeaience
to law But Democracy believes that
there are we'll defined functions of gov
eminent and that they are limited.
Democracy believes in enough govern
,nent TO secure to every man his liberty.
ms right to acquire and hold property
has ,lEht to pursue happiness, and his
right generally TO enjoy the blessings OF
COD. il peneyes that the government
should guarantee these rights to every
man and prevent the strong from trss-
passing upon the rights OF the weak.
eminent that thus far it shall go aud
no farther II demands that the gov
crnment snail neither ald nor hinder
any man In his daily pursuits SO long as
he commits no trespass. 1t dospises any
Thing approaching government paternal-
,sm In snort, Democracy believes mat
the best governed people are the least
governed people.
1t is upon this great principle thet
our republic was founSd. and it has
,,..oa ~ ,,a,,,s- ,,,r. ms s,lccaerec where
other republics have failed, because there
has been an adherence more or less to
that principle. The republic has always
been strongest wnen standing nearest
the principe and has been weakest
when it has departed farthest therefrom.
Our republic has been successful be-
cause our people have learned the great
lesson OF self-g government. 1t has been
successful because cacs and every COM
1nunlty s.as been permitted TO take care
OF .ts own anairs and TO make local
laws 10 suit local conditions. leaving
INDIVIDUALS and localities as free as pos
Elnle rrom the domination OF the cen
tralizea power. SO long as that condi-
ton exists the republic viii continue to
live and prosper and our irGttutions will
be safe, but whenever we depart from
these principles and these traditions We
go upon dangerous ground, ana If ever
we depart enurely IRON them the re,
public VIII be doomed
ON that the Democrats of the country
would consider! oh that they woulc
see the danger or communism and ever!
species of communism. from whateve,
source 1t now threatens: Oh that they
would rally once again around the stand
ara OF democracy and declare the 1aitt
wmch was gwen by the SAINTS.
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A PARTYS SACRIFICE.