The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-07-04
natl. who spoke on What It Means te
be Democrat Mr.. Baker said:

MFR. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
When I am asked the question. "What
does II mean to be Democratr' there
comes ,nvoiuntsrIly to my lips the an
lover OF liberty: champion OF honest
and economical government; a believer In
the equal rights and opportunities Of all
the people; and man who sticks to his
party.
that government Is an instrument for pri-
vato advantage and personal gain. who
wants liberty and representative gov
crnment In the fullest sense and In the
largest measure for himself and for his
countrymen, but at the same time Is en-
tirely willing that alien weaker races
shall be subjugated and held as the fruits
OF conquest, that man Is not a Democrat.
Whoever has no objection to laws be-
ing enacted that promote and foster COM
binations OF rich and powerful men, who
are able under such cover to control the
very necessities of life and by this means
compel the payment OF exaggerated prices
by those who can Ill AFFORD to do so. and
who gives his assistance to legislation
that by Act OF Congress gives to a few
the controlling right TO tax through tar
IN schedules the pockets OF the people
solely to make few men rich, you like.
wise find man who has no Instinct OF
Democracy in him.
Such men are not patriots; they are not
concerned about the rights OF others;
they are not Interested In the general
welfare. save as they are selfishly bene-
fted by II; and they never understand
nor care for the principles OF representa-
the consent OF the governed. and tho idea
Of doing the greatest good and working
the greatest benefit to all the people.
lineage e%itss sna s History a %ss foSndss Sr
/ by Thomas Jefferson. who. wrote the
Declaration of Independence. who
formulated and enacted the laws TINT Sc
cured and guaranteed religious liberty.
and who founded great university, for
he believed in higher education and its
Lac ats,n ~. nv hA xxNna aaAn
1t fourished as the party Of the people
In the days and under the administration
Of Andrew Jackson, the hero OF New Or
leans; warrior and statesman. and came
of victorious under his leadership in its
death grapple with the United States
Bank. that sought to add politics and the
management OF the national finances to
/ Its legitimate banking business. and had
come to assume the authority to say who
should and who should not be elected
! President OF tho United states.
! The Democratic Party with Jackson as
Its leader smashed both Blddle and his
bank.
Democratic Party controlled the 6es-
tinies OF the nation, and added to Its area
as II did to its population In legitimate
expansion, until Il ranked the greatest
nation of the earth and spread its domain
from sea to sea.
II has not been In favor OF contracted
territory and paucity In population, for
It gathered into the national domain the
great Northwest. II acquired under JEFF
ferson the Louisiana Purchase. and Il
fixed the Mexican boundary under Polk
at the Rio Grande. Every, foot of our
soil that contiguous. touches the two
oceans. was given to the nation and to
the American people by the Democratic
II has always encouraged and welcomed
the migration to our shores OF the best
and worthiest of foreign citizenship. and
1t believes in tariff laws that raise am
pie revenues to pay the expenses Of tho
sions to our soldiers and sailors. con.
struct internal improvements, and main
tain great navy as well as sufbcient
army, while at the same time protecting
and fostering every Industry whose pro.
motion means the development of the
country's resources and the advantage of
labor.
II denies the right Of any man or set
OF men to orga nize and direct combina-
tions that are consptracies In violation of
law the purposes OF which are to control
stiae independent business endeavor.
and all at the expense of financial ruin
and disaster to every business rival and
II has believed In n currency under the
control OF tho people through their gov.
,ha shanEd OF be
steadfast. unhuctuating. reliable medium
Of exchange. that should be subject to
Clique 'i or Business M and that Should dan amply ~
respond to the needs Of the people.
II does not believe In foreign conquest
or asSrapqSdIzement II would not change
liberty or give us death" to "Give them
liberty or give them deathP'
\ does not believe in engrafting the
republic. following the acquisition by
force OF arms with governing peoples
nS whS saxns equally with US the
and governed by torch and sword. -
1t believes in home rule, In the, Just
distribution OF the burdens as well as the
benefits OF government. state and local.
In equal taxation, In the Just and equit-
able. lsvying and collection OF taxes
eEcape. while the weak and the poor
shall be uneapaliy bsrdened. That polit-
ical influence shall not count In allowing
some interests 70 escape taxation while
the control Of politics and policies shall
not find its way as the result OF barter
and sale. Into hands that seek to control
a fair share i Of al public burdens. Thai
every man and every company, and every
corporation shall be equally taxed upor
the value OF It's political influence. or con
tributions to political campaigns.
This II the very essence and creed oi
ssnsf pesa.sssa and essee oppSr,unisS ana sd
vantage before the law.-equal and exac
burdens In maintaining the eovernment
means or should mean to be a Democrat
Party chickering's and auarrels and strlf'
must cease. In Representatives govern
msnt there must be parties In Q coun
try like ours. vast as i is. the individual
necessarily 10 OF little consequence
Whatever ones influence to . ,complisi
good must be exerted within his party.
There may be at times things In n plat
form Of about candidate that one MAJ
not agree with or have objection to. !
this were to be made the ground for bolt
ing a ticket or abandoning the party. dis
organization would at once follow.
We must sometimes be willing to yier
somewhat In our Judgment and IN ou
opinion. forit r. our duty to stand by ou
party. II on the whole, II honestly repre-
Asnts and stands for what we bciiave.
The ambitions OF leaders are not 4
stand in the way Of or imDeach part!
discipHne. The Democratic Party ~ big
ger than any leader In II: It 10 bigge
than all the leaders In It.. t-
Let us stop once and for all the per
gonal .bnptroysrsies and tealousiee ran
factionai differences that at times threat
en- to overwhsim and destroy us.
1T Y: gss tcssthssr. Let us us bf, friend srs
ana build each other up; pot. seek TO tea