The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-17


 some agency was needed to aid in set ting the financial results of the war with England, which had just closed. and nothing better was offered. The misman- agemcnt of this bank had been the chief cause of the money troubles of the early twenties, but it had recovered and was prosperous when Jackson became Presi- dent.
 He was always a consistent opponent of both banks. In l796 as the first repre- sentative from Tennessee he had re- fused to vote for the address approving the administration because 1t included the bank of the Joy treaty. In each of his messages to Congress he expressed his dsapprovaf of the bank. though its char ter would not expire during his term. Finally. to counteract the effect of this the friends of the bank. who con trolled both houses, proceeded three years before the charter would expire to pass a bill renewing it. This was done under Clay's leadership and timed so as to force the issue on the President during his second campaign and either secure his approval or set the business interests of the country against him.
 The result was this message, July 10, 1882 the defeat of the bill and Jackson's reelection over Clay by Q majority of more than four to one.
 '"The parts of the message which dealt with general principle of government make up large part of the Democratic faith and fit our present situation as II they were written today. Here are some of them:
 "It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Dis tinctons in society will always exist un- der every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions: In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior indus try, economy and virtue, every man is anfif lAd fa YFnf " The Answer of Democracy. Behold the answer of Democracy to l the demands of socialism which are daily | growing louder by reason of the startling | results of Republican policies. ! But the message proceeds. when the | laws undertake to add to these natural I and just advantages artificial distinctions, | to grant titles. gratuities, and exclusive | privileges. to make the rich richer ana | the potent more powerful. the humble members of society-the farmers mechan- l ies and laborers-who have neither the l time nor the means of securing like fa- | vors to themselves. havo right to com- plain of the injustice of their govern | ment.'
 Under pressure of local interests or l the seeming need of temporary concession | some Democrats have now and then | fiinched in the application of this truth. | But the great body of the party have | stood steadfastly for 1t in good and evil days alike. Some have gone to political martyrdom for their faith, like President Cleveland in 1sSs And in the field, work
 shop and counting house-everywhere through all the years, the Democratic motto has been 'To every man his own; to no man more.
 Tt is those who by the procurement or by the disregard of laws have gotten ard
 wish to keep on getting more than their
 own who dread a change of administra-
 ton. and, to alarm the timid. profess
 fears about rights of property in case of
 a charge
 Again. There are 10 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 it's favors alike on the high and
 the low, the rich and the poor. 1t would be
 an unqualified blessihgg.
 Bank bills had to pc sent for redemp-
 ton to the hank or branch which issued
 them This was a great hardship in those
 days of imperfect facilities. The act re-
 quired the bank to receive its bills when
 presented by other incorporated banks, no
 matter where they were payable, but left
 private citizens subject to the burden of 1 transmitting them to the place of pay
 ment. This the message pointed out as one of the unequal privileges of the act It was plain. And 1t Illustrated how
 when the Government deals out specia
 favors, they always go to the strong, the urgent and the organized and never reach | the rest of the people. The bankers were } oh hand when the bill was drawn, like , the agents of the favored interests at tho
 fixing up of tariff bill. The people were
 at home and at work, so their rights were , forfotten.
 The message went on:
 'ExperienCe should teach us wisdom
 Most of the difficulties our Governmen [ TOW encounters and m1t of the danger: , which impend over Cur Union hav' , sprung from an abandonment of the le
 gitimate objects of government by ou
 national legislation, and the adoption O l such principles as are embodied in thi! [ act. Many of our rich men have no
 been content with equal protection anC
 equal benefits. but have besought us tc make them richer by act of Congress I It is time to pause in our career ) to review our principles, and if possible revive that devoted patriotism and spir
 of compromise which distinguished tn, , sages of the Revolution and the fathers O : our Union
 Competition Desired. The stock of the first bank had beer : more than trebled. It's chief element Q ! value was the monopoly the bank enjoyed at the hands of the Government. Th I message stated that others had offered l better terms and that 1t was unjust t the people not to have competition and s' give all an equal chance as well as ge
 the most for the grant of public fran 3 chlses.
 But. as the banks capital and exclu sive rights went far beyond its needs al a an agency of the Government, 1t was t'
 that extent merely private enterpris
 which the Government could not properl,
 advance by the grant of special privileges l Here is the Democratic maxim that thu | Government should undertake only mat
 ters which are for the general benefit ant , l carry them on with an equal hand What ever is for private advantage must be lief to private enterprise; and to this the Gov
 ernment can justly give special aid am | encoura gemeht, only when fair retur c is rendered by way of some public ser
 vice.
 The attempt to trace remote or indi
 rect benefits to the people at large iron e special favors granted at their expense t a false pretense. If the people are abl :. to thrive in spite of the imposition, credi - l is claimed. If they are not, then the re
 suit is laid to other causes. Is 1t possi
 ble to fool anybody into believing he get
 a benefit from being made to pay nor
 for almost everything he has to buy tha
 the same makers sell the same things fO | abroad? Let the farmer, for instance tr , | to figure out his gain from paying q Q average of 74 per cent more for wire an
 wire nails than the trust sells them fo
 10 foreigners.
 "The fact that those who are not ir > vited to the table can never hope fo k more than crumbs and have to talk 7 chances on them.
 Finally, the message laid down a hu
 mane rule without which reforms ma
 work hardships. Justice is sublime whic extends even to those who have thrive - by injustice. when that injustice has bee r. sanctioned by unwise laws. It said: O If we cannot at once. in justice to ir n terests vested under improvident legisls t l ton make Our government what 1t ougt