The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-22
ON DEMOCRATS
SAFETY DEPENDS
It'll
Party is Today the Hope of
the People
Mr.. Villas GIVES OPINION
Says the only Chance of Deliverance
From Rapacious Combinations Is
Through Democratic Party.
Cooperation is Needed.

Milwaukee, wis. July 2i-The Hon.
William F. Villas, who was secretary Of
the interior in President Cleveland's cab
met, was asked recently by Mr.. A. A.
Warden, chairman of the Democratic
central state committee, to give his opin-
ion respecting political conditions, the
possibilities of Democratic harmony and
the assurances of the partys restora-
ton to power and the relief of the people
from the Republican maladminlstration.
Mr.. Villas replied today IN part as fol-
lows:
Nothing can be more evident to one
who takes broad view of the nature
of public affairs, or of our political his
tory, than that achievement of good is
only to be won by leaving to the past the
burial of its own dead, ana pushing
undisturbed to the great ends open in the
future. 1t needs but thought upon the
immensely of the concerns OF so numer-
Gus a people, upon the happiness that
belongs of right to the millions of home
circles which are the treasures and re-
ward of the free men OF America, both to
show the futinty and sin of trying to
fagots of extinguished controversy. and
to impress on every high-minded man the
sense Of duty to SO discharge his part
toward the hopes of the future that he
need never cringe before his self-respect
Hope of the People.
whatever the allignments on past is
sues, the Democratic party remains today
the hope of the people of this land. On
no other can be placed any just expecta-
ton of a rescue from the menacing condi-
tions that beset us. Anyone can see, who
work upon our government to win spe-
cial gain at the cost of the people at
large are to be found supporting the party
now in power; for the Democratic party
they have as always, only hostility. 1t
must, of course be so; because whoever
will sacrifice the public good for private
or class advantage can expect no coun-
| renance from a party which stands de-
votedly for the common welfare of all.
| Many there are indeed, who know that
their prosperity will be sufficient If it
consists of justice to all; who prefer that
justice without any personal reckoning;
and who, If so allied as to share gains
derived at the cost of their fellow men
! would rather yield than hold them on
such terms. The truth remains, that If
| ever deliverance is to come from the
| rapacious combinations now in real con-
troll of the country's affairs, If the abuses
| of power which have put to shame our
national principles and traditions are to
| find redress the relief must spring from
| a party which will unite the people in de-
| Tense of common welfare, In unflinching
hostility to its insidious and powerful
| enemies.
| Cooperation Needed.
1.-THE overruling need is of concentra-
ton of opinion and cooperation in poll
teal action by the people. Under the
false and deceitful name of protection to
industry, there has arisen such a sys-
| tenn of combining devices of legislation
with the vices of business management
to obtain mastery of the people as was
never before seen In this or any other
land; the iniquity of which 1t would be
hard to find any parallel for, unless in
oriental countries At the pace the
movement has attained, 1t can be but a
! few years, If 1t go unchecked, before
| substantially the entire range Of manu-
! facture mining, trade and Transported
| ton will stand composed of a few mas
tiers and millions of employees, the latter
| constrained to trade only at what may
| be called practically Company stores"
and all agriculture will be helplessly en-
shared, as 1t already is to no small ex-
| tent. Liberty in the pursuit of iiveli-
hood will well nigh have disappeared,
| for, with the devices of our modern in
vention, it is unnecessary longer to
manacle the condemned with ball and
| chains.
1.-THE people must aim their stroke at
the root of the poisonous tree. 1t is idle
to complain of mere incidents, to mere
| ly attack particular evils, to begin law
| suits against some special conspiracy.
The policy of the illustrious Grant, whose
lot1i ,,,f t1an ofat31 pf
or the subjugation of districts, but the de-
| struction of the armies Of secession, must
| be ours in the intending conflict The
| victory to be won which alone is worth
| winning, Is the overthrow of the grand
central governing conspiracy Of protec-
tion. When the browning mercy shall
be vouchsafed. the very publication of
the nations soul by the fires of the strife
will easily enable 1t to. subdue the lesser
forms in which satan is embodied in our
national life.
Cannot Be Postponed.
1.-THE contest cannot be longer post
poned but with the utmost peril to the
rights of our countrymen. Though mas
ter now, protection knows Its danger, and
is vigilant to secure every element of
strength, every 'coign Of vantage and,
as ever, on both sides Of the field 1t is
making new alliances, controlling more
Industries, increasing its political power.
How arrogantly it has but just def1ed the
appeal of national kindness and Justice,
bound, by the law of its seir-preserva-
ton, to stand by every confederate In
whatever enactment.
1T is a painful record we have writ
tep on the pages Of three years past for
Americans who look to Washington, JEFF
ferson, Madison, the Adamses and their
compeers of the Declaration and the
constitution, for the rule of national con-
duct that should enlighten the world with
the love and truth of liberty. And that
same must yet be wiped off by future
treatment of the unhappy Filipinos ac-
cording to the principles we have inher-
tied, or, so surely as justice rules the
world, America will bitterly atone for 1t
in resulting suffering of her own"