Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-07-31
HOPE In DEMOCRACY.
Former Senator Villas Tells How to
Restore Peoples Rights.
Republican Plotters and the Protec
tive Tariff Foster Trusts and
Rob the Consumer-Democ-
racy's Opportunity.

Ex-senator William F. Villas, who
was secretary of the interior under
President Cleveland, urges democratic
unity, discusses issues that are now
before the people and are to be de-
cided so far as possible at the coming
congressional election, and predicts
that the voters of the nation are ready
not only to begin the overthrow of the
republican party in congress, but also
two years hence in the white house
itself. The e~x-senator's views are set
den, chairman of the democratic state
central committee, in response to a
request for an expression of opinion as
to political conditions, the possibili-
ties of democratic harmony and the
assurances of the party's restoration
to power and the relief of the people
from Republican maladministration."
Ex-senator Villas declares that the
present offers a golden opportunity to
the democratic party. He would let
the past bury its dead, and would
unite the party in a solid phalanx,
which, marching forward under a
banner bearing the basic principles of
the democracy, should strike down
protection first, then would fall the
trusts, the "conspiracies of wealth
suckers" unjust taxation, militarism
and desire for colonial dependencies.
He scores the republican party as the
party of greed and asserts that its mall
administration in the state of Wiscon-
sin, as in the nation, is robbing the
people annually of millions. He shows
how the trusts are dependent for ex-
istence on the republican policy of pro-
lection. He declares the people gem
orally are awakening to the evil and
crying for the eradication of the pol
icy. He shows also that legislatures
and congresses bend to the will of the
great combines and enact laws which
permit the sitting of competition till
commerce and even agriculture are
wrested from the control of the
masses, who become the veritable
slaves of the new moneyed kings.
Following are portions of the letter
which bear more particularly upon the
burning questions at issue:
"A. F. Warden, Chairman Democratic
State Central Committee, Waukesha, Wis.
My Dear Sir: I am very sensible OF the
distinction of your request. AS a democrat
IOcannot hesitate to respond, for could you
so have the least aid to democratic unity !
should be recreant to withhold it, and the
more because of the country's need of a re-
turn to democratic principles could hardly
be greater than at the present time.
whether anything new stands In the
way of a harmonious and enthusiastic
democracy in Wisconsin depends upon the
sentiments of many others which | cannot
presume to know. But l earnestly believe
nothing ought to stand in the way and
hope that nothing will. 1t appears to me
as simply a question of patriotic devotion
to the public welfare, and good men can
not but see their duty to strive for unity
In such a cause.
"That our party division has been de-
plorable in resulting public injury I think
all true democrats agree. But no concord
will follow any inquiry into its causes,
reasons or history, and especially into the
fault of 1t. Wisdom not less than justice
dictates honest acknowledgment of the real
truth that former differences stood upon
sincere convictions, however diverse or
unhappy. There can be no further profit
able political discussion of them.
Speak for Unity.
"Yet upright men can put by such differ
ences with no loss Of mutual respect in
patriotic submission 10 present duty and
Loyalty cooperate upon common ground
for principles all know to be right and nee
1rrpp,r 20 tbatr nnIrtrytc p0n1 Mnthjnp
can be more evident to one who takes a
broad view of the nature of public affairs
or of our political history than that achieve
ment of good is only to be won by leav-
ing to the past the burial of its W dead
and pushing on undisturbed to the great
ends open in the future.
1.-THE political movement of a great PEG.
pie is like the flow of a mighty river-on.
ward, irresistably onward The wise mar
will no more permit disappointment of
opinion to thwart or warp his contribution
to future objects than by driving a stake in
it he would think to check the rivers flood
1t needs but a thought upon the immensely
of the concerns of so numerous a people
upon the happiness that belongs of right
to the millions of home circles which are
the treasures and rewards of the freemer
of America, both to show the futility an(
sin of trying to block progress with the
lu6ctS u SUIlIU'
versy and to impress on every high-mindeG
man the sense of duty to SO discharge his
part toward the hopes of the future tina
he need never cringe before his ~self-re.
spect,
IAN equal partner in his country's pol
Icy, self-branded when he stoops to mar 1t
the brain and heart of every true man tel
him the common good of his countrymer
ought to override every conflicting %interes
or feeling.
Peoples Hope in Democracy.
"And thus he comes to the Fundamental
doctrine Of democracy. First of all, will
liberty and justice, equal rights for all mel
and special privileges to none, are its es
, sential and eternal demand for the govern
! ment Of Americans; yea, also Of all man
kind. Our national independence spranl
from these cardinal principles of the right
} Of man and our future demands, with in
creasing need, their faithful observance
From its beginning they have been the bas,
and bond of union of the democratic party
+, their perfect accomplishment its mission
, Cannot we, therefore, on all hands, recu,
, to them now as fundamental principle
!, we all alike accept and establish our line
= in unison under their leadership, sure tina
their eternal truth will guide Alright?
"Whatever the alignments on past issues
, the democratic party remains to-day tn
hope of the people of this land. Or no othe
can be placed any just expectation of
rescue from the menacing conditions tina
beset us.
Republican PIOtters.
"Anyone can see, who will see the truth
that all the combinations of greed, all tn
plotters who work upon our government t
/ win special gains at the cost of the peopl
= at large, are to be found supporting tn
party now in power; for the Democrat
party they have, as always, only hostility
1t must, of course, be so, because whoeve
will sacrifice the public good for private @
class advantage, can expect no countenanc
from a party which stands devotedly fo
the common welfare of all.
: MANY there are, indeed, who know tina
@ their prosperity will be sufficient If 1t cor
n sdst with justice for all; who prefer tina
justice without any personal reckoning
. ami who, If so allied as to share gains de
rived at the cost of their fellow mer
.-..t .nNL4~ a. 49, L-I ii 49, -