The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-17

the present administration. Others spoke
in the same vein as Mr.. Taggart, and all
viewed the situation optimistically-
Behold the answer Of Democracy 10
the demands Of Socialism which are
daily growing louder by reason of the
startling results of Republican palicies
But the message proceeds, when
the laws undertake TO add these natural
and just artificial distinctions, to grant
titles, fratutiies, and exclusive privileges.
to make the rich richer and the potent
more powerful. the humble members or
society-the farmers, mechanics and Ia
borers-who have neither the time nor
the means of securing like favors to
themselves, have a right to complain Of
the injustice of their government"
Under pressure of local interests or
the seeming need of temporary conces-
sion some Democrats have now and
then fiinched in the application of this
truth But the great body of the party
have stood staeadfastly for it in good
and evil days alike. They have gone t.
political martyrdom for their faith. like
President Cleveland in 1888. And in the
field, workshop and countying- house-ev-
erywhere through all the years. the DEM
ocratic motto has been ITO every man
his own; to no man more"
It is those who by the procurement
or by the disregard of laws have gotten
and wish to keep on getting more than
their own who dread a change of admin
istration to alarm the timid, profess
fears about rights Of property in case
Of a change.
Again, There are no necessary evils
in government. Its evils exist only in its
abuses. If it would confine itself to
equal protection. and, as Heaven does its
rains, shower its favors alike on the
high and the low, the rich and the poor,
it would be an unqualified blessing
Bank bills have to be sent for re-
demption to the bank or branch which
issued them. This was a great hardship
in those days of imperfect facilities. The
act required the bank to receive its bills
when presented by other incorporated
banks, no matter where they were pay
able, but left private citizens subject
to the burden of transmitting them to
the place of payment. This the mes
sage pointed out as one of the unequal
privileges of the act. 1t was plain. And
il illustrated how, when the movement
deals out special favors, they always go
to the strong, the urgent and the organ
lied and never reach the rest of the
people. The bankers were on hand when
tn bill was drawn, like the agents of the
favored interests at the fixing up of a
tariff bill The people were at home and
at work. so their rights were forgotten.
The message went on:
Experience should teach us wisdom
Most of the difficulties our government
now encounters and most of the dangers
which impend over our Union have sprung
from an abandonment OF the legislature
objects of government by our national
legislation, and the adoption Of such
principles as are embodied in this act.
Many of our rich men have not been
content with equal protection and equal
benefits. but have besought us to make
them richer by act OF congress. 1t is
time to pause in our career to review
our principles and if possible revive
that devoted patriotism and spirit Of
compromise which distinguished the
sages of the Revolution and the fathers
of our Union"
The stock of the first bank had been
more than trebled. It's chief element OF
value was the monopoly the bank enjoy
ed at the hands Of the government The
message stated that others had offered
better terms and that it was unjust to
the people not to have competition and
so give all an equal chance as well as
get the most for the grant of public
franchises.
But. the banks capital and exclu-
sive rights went far beyond its needs as
an agency of the government, it was to
that extent merely a private enterprise
which the government could not properly
advance by the grant OF special privi-
leges Here is the Democratic maxim
that the government should undertake
only matters which are for the general
benefit and carry them with an equal
hand. Whatever is for private advantage
must be left 10 private enterprises; and
to this the government can justly give
special aid and encoura cement only when
a fair return is rendered by way of
some public service.
The POSTMASTER announced without
reading their contents that letters of
regreat had been received from ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland. Justice Ryan, Richard
Olney, David B. Hill. W. r. Hearst, Ad-
lai E. Stevenson, Horace Boies and a
number of other distinguished Democrats
who were unable to attend.