The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-24
Small Speaks.

Gentlemen of the convention: As
the representative of a great
party, whose birth was co-evaI with
the Constitution. it is not inappropri-
ate that we should take our bearings
ascertain our position and inquire
whether we have deviated from the
chart of our great founder.
The Democratic party stands for
equal rights under the law. equal op-
portunlties in every pursuit. and spe-
clal privileges to none. We believe
IN the people, are not afraid to trust
them and further that a trained, intel
l1gent and patriotic citizenship is the
safeguard of the State and of the Re-
public. We believe that taxes direct
or indirect, are burden, which should
be limited to the necessities of govern
ment and should bear equally upon
all property, classes and sections We
are also party of progress. AS civ
lllzatlon advances, as conditions
change and new problems are present
ed, we believe that the cardinal doc
trines of Democracy may be applied
so as to preserve the best in the past
and promote the best of the present
How we have maintained the faith
and preserved the integrity of our
fathers? In all truth it may be said
that we have held with remarkable
times we may have listened to the
siren song and left temporarily the
straight and narrow way of our po-
litical faith, but these deviations were
always toward what seemed to be
larger opportunities and greater bene-
fits to the masses of the people. We
have not Sinned in the interest of mo-
nopoly, we have not bent the "preg-
nant hinges of tho knee" to organized
.1-,%g
thrift might follow fawning The
Federalist, the Whig and other par
ties have occupied the political stage
and sometimes welded power, but our
party has witnessed their birth and
stood at their bier. The Republican
party was not barren of good works
in its inception nor of great men in
the early days of it's history, but what
ever of the spirit of humanity and
broad patriotism it possessed has been
supplanted by the love of pelf, and
power and greed; with them principle
has degenerated into policy. the pow
er of might has overturned the doc
trine of right party exigency is higher
than the Constitution, the dollar is
above the law and monopoly is their
aegis. SO sure as this shall remain
a government of. for and by the peo-
pie, lust as surely has that party
passed the zenith of its power and
must Wano in the political armament.
In spite of its splendid organization.
the people will discover it's disloyalty
to their cause and viii divest it of
authority and power. Then will the
same people as of old turn their eyes
toward that party which has ever
been their shield and preserver. and
Democracy will again prevail in the
councils of the Republic.
We are just entering upon a quad
rennial campaign for political suprem-
acy. The issue involves the election
of a Chief Magistrate the most pow
erful executive on earth, and the su-
premacy of one or the other of gov
ernmental policies which are perhaps
more sharply defined than ever in
our history. The Republican party
has just met in National Convention.
not for deliberation or discussion of
candidates or platform. but to register
the will of its militant rough rider
and its reigning political bosses. It's
candidate for President has been
known for months and it's platform
was prepared under orders long be-
fore and submitted TO the beneficiaries
of that party for the approval. Moth
ing was left incomplete except the
bauble of the Vice Presidency. Some
thing must be left for the delegates
to discuss.
The Contract Between Parties.
What a contrast is presented by the
Democratic party, whose National
Convention is soon to meet in ST.
Louis. Our party represents the peo-
pie in all our vast domain, the peo-
pie who have no interests to subserve
except life, liberty. and the pursuit
of happiness and the best method of
their attainment. We shall meet TO
consider, to reconcile differences and
to interpret the Will of the majority