The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-22
in DEMOCRACY IS
THEIR ONLY HOPE
Industrial Slavery is Drawing
Steadily Nearer.
.ITISBORN OF PROTECTION
Which Fosters the Trusts and 0ppres
ses the People.
THE OPINIONS OF WILLIAM f, Villas
He Speaks on Political Conditions and rossi-
biIities Of Democratic Harmony. HI
Points to Protection as the Great
est Of All Issues.
(By the Associated Press.)


Milwaukee, Wis, July 21-Hon. Will
liam F. Villas, who was Secretary of the
Interior in President Cleveland's Cabi-
het, was recently asked by A. F. War
den, chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee, to give his opinion
respecting political conditions, the possi-
bilties of Democratic harmony, "and the
assurances Of the partys restoration to
power and the relief of the people from
Republican administration, Mr..
Villas replied today in part as follows;
whatever the alligments on past is
sues, the Democratic party remains to-
day the hope of the people of this land.
On no other can be placed any just eA-
[ectation of a rescue from the menacing
conditions that beset u.s. Anyone can
see. who will see the truth, that all the
combinations of greed, all the plotters
who work upon our government to win
special gain at the cost of the people at
large, are to be found supporting the
Iarty now in power; for the Democratic
party they have, as always, only hos
tility.
1.-The overruling need is of concentra-
tion of opinion and a cooperation in po-
litical action by the people
Under the false and deceitful name OF
protection to industry, there has arisen
such a system 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
it would be hard to find any parallel
for, unless in Oriental countries.
"At the pace the movement has attained
it can be but a few years, if it go un-
checked, before substantially the entire
range of manufacture, mining, trade and
transportation will stand composed of
few masters and millions of employees,
the latter constrained to trade only at
what may be called practically com
pany's stores and all agriculture will
be helplessly ensnared, as it already is
to no small extent Liberty in the pur
suit of livelihood will we'll nigh have
disappeared, for, with the devices of our
modern invention, it is unnecessary Ion
ger to manacle the condemned with ball
and chains.
THE people must aim their stroke at
the root of the poisonous tree. 1t is
idle to complain of mere incidents, to
merely attack particular evils, to begin
lawsuits against some special conspiracy.
The policy of the illustrious Grant.
whose objective was not the capture of
towns or the subjugation of districts,
but the destruction 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 conspi-
racy of protection. When that "crowning
mercy" shall be vouchsafed, the very
publication of the nation"s soul by the
fires of the strife will easily enable it to
subdue the lesser forms in which satan
is embodied in our national life.
"The contest cannot be longer post
poned but with the utmost peril to the
rights of our countrymen. Though mas
ter now, projections 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 it's political pow
er. How arrogantly it has but just de-
filed the appeal of national kindness
ana Justice, DOunU Dy tne law Oh llS sell
preservation, to stand by every confed
crate in whatever enactment
'It is painful record We have written
on the pages of three years past, for
Americans who look to Washington.
jefferson, Madison, the Adamses and
their compeers fthe Declaration and
the Constitution, for the rule of national
conduct that should enlighten the world
with the love and truth of liberty. And
that same must yet be wiped off by fu-
ture treatment of the unhappy Filipinos,
according to the principles we have in
herited, or so surely as justice rules the
world, America will bitterly atone for it
in resulting suffering of her own. But
not at once can all national wrongs be
and those borne by our coun-
trymen must challenge first relief |
fear distraction. Protection is quick to
profit by it. It's shrewd counsels have
fOmented war, have set the nation in
quest of military glory, and find its ac-
count in the controversy over imperial
ISM We may justly hold protection it
self responsible for these conditions; it
will craftily keep agitation of such oues-
tions alive, and we may be sure, also. as
the careful observer cannot but see the
fact now to be, that il will prevent array
of parties on any issue arising from
them that may imperil its own party's
strength.