Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-08-19


Regulation of Trusts-Opposes Mill
tarism and imperialism.
Esopus. n. y, Aug. 1O-The speech
Of acceptance OF Alton Brooks Parker
In reply to the committee which noti-
fed him OF his nomination for the
presidency by the Democratic party is
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Com
mittee:
have resigned the office OF chief Judge
OF the court of appeals OF this state in or
der that may accept the responsibility
that the great convention you represent
has put upon me without possible preju-
dice TO the court TO which had the hon
o- to belong or tc the eminent members
of the Judiciary OF this state, OF whom I
may now say as a private citizen I am
Justly proud.
At the very Threshold of this response
and before dealing with other subjects
must. In Justice to myself and to re-
lieve my sense OF gratitude express my
profound appreciation of the confidence
reposed In me by the convention. After
nominating me ana subsequently receiv-
Ing communication declaring that / re-
garded the gold standard as firmly and
irrevocably established a matter concern
ing which felt it incumbent upon me to
make known my attitude so that here
after no man could justly say that his
support had been secured through indi-
rectiop or mistake, the convention reiter-
ated Its determination that ] should be
the standard bearer OF the party in the
present contest. This mark of trust and
confidence I shall ever esteem as the high
est honor that could be conferred upon
mean honor that. whatever may be the
fate OF the campaign, the future can in
no degree lessen or impair,
The admirable platfOrIrl l1Oon which
the party appeals to the country for It's
confidence and support clearly states the
principles which were 90 well condensed
In the first inaugural address OF Presi-
dent Jefferson and points out with force
and directness the course TO be pursued
through their proper application In order
TO insure needed reforms In both the legfs-
letive and administrative departments Of
the government. While unhesitating in
It's promise to correct abuses and to right
wrongs wherever they appear or however
caused: TO investigate the several admin
istrative departments OF the government
tho conduct OF whose officials has Gre
ated scandals. and TO punish those who
have been guilty OF n breach OF their
trust: to oppose the granting OF special
privileges by which the few may profit at
the expense OF the many: 20 practice
economy In the expenditure OF the mon
eys OF the people and TO that end TO re-
turn once more to the methods or tho
founders of the republic by observing in
disbursing the public funds the care and
caution a prudent individual observes
with respect to his own, still the spirit of
tho platform assures conservative instead
or rash action. the protection of the inno-
cent az well as the punishment OF the
guilty: the encouragement OF industry
economy ana thrift: the protection OF
property and q guarantee or the enforce
ment for tho benefit OF all OF mans in
alienable rights. among which, as said in
the Declaration OF Independence are .Iife
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
Liberty. as understood In this country
means not only the right OF freedom from
actual serv.tude. Imprisonment or re-
straint. but the right OF one to use his
faculties In all lawful ways, 20 live ana
work where he will and 90 pursue any
lawful trade or business. These essen
tial rights OF life, liberty and property
by the constitution OF each OF the sew
eral states, but the states are by the
fourteenth amendment to the conatftu-
tion OF the United States forbidden TO
deprive any person OF any one OF them
without due process OF law.
Occasionally. by reason OF Unnecessary
or impatient agitation for reforms or be-
cause the limitations placed upon the de-
partments OF government by the consti-
tuition are disregarded by officials desir-
Ing TO accomplish that which 10 them
seems good. whether the power exists IN
them or not. IL becomes desirable to call
attention 20 the fact that the people. fn
whom all power resides, have seen ut
through the medium Of the constitution
20 limit the governmental powers COM
ferred and TO say 10 departments created
by It, Thus far shalt thou 60 and no
farther" To secure the ends sought the
people have by the constitution separat-
ed and distributed among the three de-
partments OF government-the executive
legislative and Judicial-certain powers,
and II Is the duty of those administering
each department so to act as to preserve
rather than 10 destroy the potency of
tho coordinate branches of the govern
ment and thus secure the exercise OF all
the powers conferred by the people
Thomas Jefferson. in letter TO William
G. Jarvis touching the perpetuity OF our
institutions. written many years after he
had retired 20 private life. said, ''If the
tnree powers OF our government maintain
their mutual Independence OF each other
II may last aong. but not so f. either oan
assume tho authority OF the other" II
must be confessed that In thescourse of
our history executives have employed
powers not belonging 20 them. Statutes
have been passed that were expressly for
bidden by the constitution, and statutes
have been set aside as unconstitutional
when II was difficult 20 point out the pro-
visions said to be offended against In
thsir enactment. All this has been done
with good purpose. no doubt, but In
disregard nevertheless cf the fact that
ours Is government of laws, not of men
deriving its lust powers from the consent
u the governed" IL we would have our
government continue during the ages to
come for the benefit of those who shall
succeed us We must ever be on our guard
against the danger OF usurpation of that
authority which resides Ia tho whole peo-
pie: whether tho usurpation be by on
cias representing one OF the three great
departments or government or by a body
OF men acting without a commission from
the people.
Impatience OF the restraints of law az
well as of Its delays Is becoming more
ano more manifest from day to day.
within the past few years many instances
have been brought 10 our attention where
In dinerent parts OF our beloved country
supposed criminals have been seized and
punished by mob. Notwithstanding the
Fact that the constitution of each state
guarantees to every person within its
jurisdiction that his life, his liberty or
MS property shall not be taken from him
without due process OF law
In struggle between employers and
employees dynamite is said TO have been
used by the latter. resulting In the loss OF
life and the destruction OF property The
perpetrators OF this offense against the
laws or God and man and all others en-
gagged In the conspiracy with them should
after due trial and conviction, have had
meted out to them the most rigorous pun
ishrnAnt- known TO the law. This crime.
added perhaps to Others led to the forma-
ton OF o committee of citizens that. with
the support Of the military authority. de-
ports from the state without trial persons
suspected OF belonging to the organIza-
ton or which the perpetrators Of the dy-
mantle outrages were supposed to be
members In both cases the reign OF law
gave way to tire reign OF force. These
Illustrations present some evidence OF
the failure OF government TO protect the
citizen and bis property. which not. only
1ustined the action OF your convention IN |
this regard. but made It it's duty to call
attention to the fact that constitutional
guarantees are violated whenever any
citizen Is denied the right to labor. to ao- |
quire and TO enjoy property or to reside |
where his interests or inclination may de- |
termine. and the fulfillment OF the assur- |
nnce TO rebpke and punish all deniais OF |
these rights whether brought about by
individuals or government agencies !
should be enforced by every official and |
supported by every citizen, The essence |
OF good government lies In strict OBJ |
servance OF constitutional limitations. en- |
forcement -of law and order and rugged |
opposition 20 all encroachment upon tho |
sovereignty of the people.
The foregoing suggestions but empha- |
size the diSftnCtlou which extafa shafvraoy. I