The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-19
Makes Classes Rich By Law.

II u party makes certain classes rich by law will 1t not naturally turn to these classes for contributions during the cam paign? If congress votes millions of dol lars annually to tariff barons, money magnates and monopoists, Is it not nat ural that aldermen should traffic in the small Legislation of a city council and If officials high and low use the government as If It were a private asset. Is 1t surpris- ing that many individuals who are with out official position yield to the tempta ton to sell the only political influence they have, namely the ballot? There is but one remedy-an appeal to the moral sense of the country and an awakening of public conscience.
 And how can this appeal be made? Not by showing a greater desire for the spells of office than for reforms. but turning q deaf ear to the contemptible cry of anything to win and by announc- ing an honest and straightforward posi- tion on every public question.
 Shall we accept imperialism as an ae- complished fact in order 10 appease those who are willing to endorse government without the consent of the governed? There can be no thought of such a sur render for who would trust us to deal with other questions if we prove false to the fundamental principles of self govern ment.
 Shall We Change Position.
 Shall we change our position on the trust question in order to secure the sup port of the trust magnates? Not for moment can we think of 1t. Their opposi- ton Is proof of our party's fidelity The support would cast suspicion on us.
 Shall we abandon our advocacy of bi- metallism in order 10 conciiate those who defeated the party in other campaigns? :? 1F f1,a, fa ways before congresses and no one can predict when the coinage phase of the money question will again become acute. No reform of any kind would be possible with the money changers in control of the party.
 Shall we change our position on the tariff question In order to win over dem ocrats who are enoying the benefits of protection?
 Ut is absurd to suggest 1t for the same vicious principle runs through all of the abuses from which the people suffer. And so with the party's position on the labor question. The election of senators by the people on watered stock. control of corpo- rations and on other issues.
 Kansas City Platform Sound.
 "Ihe Kansas City platform is sound in every plank and the first act of the next democratic convention should be to re- offirm it in it's entirety and its next act should be the adoption of new blanks in harmony with It. and covering such new questions as demand consideration.
 Then the convention should elect can ddates who believe In the platform. democrats whose democracy will not be an issue in the campaign and whose idel- ity to democratic principle will not be doubted at the election. Then the com mittee should say that it will neither ask or receive contributions from those who gre entreiiched behind the bulwarks which we are attacking. And then let us defend our position. not upon the low ground of collars and cents but by showing how republican policies violate moral prnci- rles and invita the punishment that soon CT or later overtakes the wrongdoer.
 "Will such course secure victory? The best that our party can do is to de- serve victory and an appeal to the con science of the American people is sure to win ultimately and offers the best promise of immediate success.