The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-11-11
FOR REFORM
Continued from First Page,

pointed out the utility OF any attemp;
to compromise with wrong. or TO patch
up a peace with the great corporations
which are now exploiting the public.
but the southern Democrats were so
alarmed by the race issue that they list
ened. rather reluctantly. be IL said TO
their credit TO the promises Of success
held out by those who had contributed
10 the defeat of the party in the two
preceding campaigns. He continues:
The experiment has been q costly
one. and it is not likely 10 be repeated
during the present generation. The
eastern Democrats were also deceived.
They were led to believe hat the mag
mates and ~monopolies who coerced the
voters in 1896 and supplied an enormous
campaign fund in 10Th 1896 and 1903
would help the Democratic party Il our
party would only be less radical. The
election has opened the eyes of the hun-
dreds of thousands of honest and well
meaning Democrats who a few monthS
ago favored the reorganization Of the
party.
These men now see that they must
either go into the Republican party or
gOtA "AA@A NAC ~ "a fFNoN
and south into making the Democratic
party a positive, aggressive and pro-
gressive reform organization There
is no middle ground
Mr.. Bryan says now that the cam
paign is over he will assist those who
desire to put the Democratic army once
more upon a fighting basis. He win
assist in organizing for the campaign
of 1908.
Mr.. bryan continues: The party
must continue to protest against a large
army, against a large navy, and to-
stan for the independence of the Fill
pinos, for imperialism adds the menace
of militarism to the corrupting inlu-
nee of commercialism, and yet expert
ence has shown that however righteous
the party's position on This subject, the
issue does not arouse the people as
they can be warned by a question which
touches them Immediately and individ-
ually.
THE party must also maintain its
position on the tariff question. The
party must renew it's demand for an
income tax, to be secured through a
constitutional amendment, in order that
wealth nay be made to pay It's share
of the expenses of the government.
The party must maintain its position
in favor of bimetallism. 1t cannot SUR
render it's demand for use of both gold
and silver, as the standard money Of
the country, but the question must re-
! main in allegiance until conditions so
change as to bring the public again
face to face with falling prices and 4
rising dollar. This, therefore, cannot
be made the controlling issue of the
question, upon which we are entering.
1.-The trust question presents the
most acute phase of the contest be-
tween democracy and plutocracy SO far
as economic issues are concerned. The
President virtually admits thai the
trusts contributed to his campaign
fund, but he denies that they received
any promises of aid or immunity. No
well Informed person doubts that the
large corporations have furnished the
Republican campaign fund during the
campaign of 1896 and 1900, and 1904, and
no one can answer the logic of Judge
arraignment of the trusts
contribution. The trusts are run on a
business principle. They do not sub
scribe millions of dollars to a campaign,
unless they are paying for favors al
ready granted, or purchasing favors
for future delivery. The weakness of
Judge Parker's position was that the
charge was made at the close of the
campaign, when it was neutralized by
a counter charge. The trusts cannot
be fought successfully by any party
that depends pom trust funds to win
the election. The Democratic party
must make it's attack upon the trusts
SO vehement that no one will suspect
of secret aid from them. 1t will be to
it's advantage if it will begin the next
campaign with an announcement that
no trust contributions will be accepted
n then prove it's sincerity by giving
the public access to it's contribution list.
president Roosevelt has four years
in which to make good his declaration
that no obligations were incurred by
the acceptance of trust funds. He will
~disappoint either the contributors or
-; the voters. If he disappoints the con-
tributors, the trust question may be
! put in the process of settlement. If he
~disappoints the people. they will have
a chance to settle with his party four
years hence.
The party must continue it's defense
of the interests of the wage earners, 1t
must protect them from the encroach-
ments Of capital. 1t must insist upon
. remedial legislation in regard to hours
and arbitration and must so limit the
authority of the court in contempt
cases a. to overthrow what is known
! as government by injunction.
; The party must continue it's opposi-
ton to national banks of issue and must
insist upon divorcing the treasury de-
partment from Wall street.
THE party must continue its fight
for the popular election of Senators
! n for direct legislation wherever the
principle can be applied. 1t must not
only maintain its position on old issues
but it must advance to the considera-
ton Of new questions as they arise"
| Among these Mr.. Bryan mentioned
the Postal Telegraph system, state
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