The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-24
protection of every scheme of exploita- ton that the capitalists can conceive.
 Against Mortgaging Party.

protection of every scheme of exploita- ton that the capitalists can conceive.
 Against Mortgaging Party.
 'I, for one, am not willing that the Democratic party shall become the tool of the corporations; am not willing that it shall be the champion of organized wealth. And 1t Is because believe that the party has a higher mission than to be the exponent of plutocracy that am protesting against the schemes Of those who would put 1t into competition with the Republican party for the support of Wall Street financiers. It Is for this reason that protest against mortgag Ing the party to the capitalists to secure an enormous corruption fund.
 If any who are present tonight or who read what I say think that I am trying to interfere with Democratic suc- cess let me answer that no Democrat is more anxious for the party to succeed than 1 am. No one has suffered more from dissensions and divisions in the party, and no one, l believe, is more eager for the country to enjoy the great benefits which a triumph of real Democ- racy would bring. But l do not desire that the party shall win offices only. If that is the only purpose of the party let its principles be abandoned and It's platform simply declare the party hum gry for the patronage. The lesson of 1894 shows the folly of hoping to win by a surrender to the corporations. but even If success could be bought in such a way 1t would not be worth the price.
 The Party's Opportunity.
 ''No one can defend the Democratic party without defending It's principles, and It's principles ought to be so clearly set forth as to be easily understood. We ought to appeal to the conscience of the public and arraign Republican policies as hostile both to the principles of free government and to the principles of morality. We have an opportunity to make the Democratic party a power in this country. not only a power, but power for good
 "'Let us array tho party against every abuse of government and against every policy that is hurtful to the people. Let us drive out of the party every Demo- crat who betrays his trust, every official who would administer the office for his private advantage. Let us make Democ- racy stand not only for good government flor honest government-but for a gov ernment of the people. by the people, and for the people, And the first step in this direction Is the adoption of a platform that recognizes the right of the people to decide public questions as well as their capacity for understanding public ques- tions To present a platform which Is evasive and ambiguous shows that those who write the platform either distrust the people who are to act upon 1t or have purposes that they desire to conceal.
 New York Platform Evasive.
 The New York platform is ambigu- ous. uncertain. evasive and dishonest. It would disgrace the Democrats of the nation to adopt such a platform. and 1t ought to defeat as an aspirant for a Democratic nomination any man who would be willing to have It go forth as a declaration of his views on public ques- tions In Illinois. In Wisconsin, in Michigan, in Minnesota. In Indiana, in Ohio, and in every State that has not acted it behooves the Democrats to arouse themselves and organize to the end that they may prevent the con summation of the schemes of the re-organizers Their scheme begins with the deception of the rank and file of the party. It Is to be followed up by the debauching of the public. with a cam paign found secured from the corpora tions, and 1t is to be consummated by the betrayal of the party organization and of the country into the hands of those who are today menacing the fiber ties of the country by their exploitation of the producers of wealth."