The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-23
MIR. Villas, LETTER.


The letter of Hon. William F. Villas,
which we published yesterday, on tbs
possibilities of Democratic harmony
ought to assist Democrats in getting
together. Mr.. Villas has not been
! prominent in political affairs since he
was member of Mr.. Cleveland's cab
| met. but he has been a close observer
and a keen student of political con-
| ditions, and no man in the country is
better qualified to make an appeal for
Democratic harmony than he. If he
could have his way past differences
in the party would be buried in the
grave of forgetfulness, and Democrats
in all parts of the country would join
hands and make a strong effort for
party success. He does not see why
the fact that there were Democrats
who were not particularly active in. the
campaign of 1896 or 1900 should be told
to keep in the background, or why
other Democrats should be charged
with having more sympathy with Pop
ulism than with Democracy. His idea
Is That al VI liltSG ollO0td bS
forgotten, and that Democrats. without
regard to the position they occupied
IN 1896 and 1900, should clasp hands
for the purpose of putting their party
in power The Democratic party, as
Mr.. Villas points out is the hope of the
people. They depend upon it to relieve
them from the evils of Republican rule.
Mr. Villas says that one of the great
est of these evils is that of the trusts.
In his opinion, if something is not done
to check the trusts it will not be long
before they will have the people COM
pletely in their power. A few very
rich men will be masters of the trans
portion lines, the industries, the agri-
cultural and mining interests and will
practically dominate the government.
He does not believe in. striking at
trust here and there by means of suits,
because he does not believe that much
can be accomplished in that way. He
believes in striking at the very root
of the trusts--the protective tariff. On
this point he says: Under the false
and deceitful name of protection to in
dustry there has arisen such system
of combining devices of legislation
with vices of business management to
obtain mastery of the people as was
never before seen in this or any 9th
land; the iniquity of which it would
hard to find any parallel for, unless in
oriental countries
The truth of what Mr.. Villas says is
quite generally admitted. The Repub-
lican party cannot be depended upon
to protect the people against this trust
evil from which they now suffer, and
from which they will have to endure
far greater suffering, if relief is not
afforded them. That party will not
touch the tariff with the view of re-
forming it. If the trust evil is attack
ed through the tariff the attack must
be made By the Democratic party. 1t
is of the utmost Importance therefore
that Democrats should get together
should forget past differences for the
good of the party and for the benefit
of the people. If there are those who
prefer to air their grievances and in
sist upon dragging past differences to
the front upon every occasion they
should be warned that they are in
danger of losing whatever influence
they may have with their party as
sociates. Democratic leaders should
strive for party harmony and victory
Past differences should be permitted to
drop out of sight.