The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-03
WILMINGTON N. c., JUNE 8, 1904
that have aourished during recent

lhat nave HourlSneu during recent
years.
Democracy would relieve the cour,-
try of the menace of miIitaryism and
imperialism by following the example
set by this country in its dealing with
Cuba, and giving the Filipinos an im-
mediate promise of ultimate indeper-
dence. The administration of a col
onial system, according to menarchi-
cal principles, is repugnant to our
theory of government, and cannot be
depended upon without the assertion
of doctrines which, if carried out, will
undermine free government in the
United States.
Democracy would restore the tar
III to a revenue basis and administer
it for revenue only, thus demolishing
the legal bulwarks behind which the
predatory trusts have found refuge.
Protection for projections sake is an
ingenious device for the exploitation
of the masses by the privileged class
es; it has brought great injustice to
the consumers and has been the fruit
ful source of widespread political cor
ruption.
Democracy would administer the
treasury department in behalf of the
public, not as now, in the interest
of Wall street; it would prevent the
re-coinage of legal tender silver dol
lars into limited tender subsidiary
coin; it would secure TO the people
volume of standard money sufficient
to keep pace with the demand for
money. 1t would favor paper money,
issued by the government without in
tervention of national banks. It
would resist the attempt to establish
an asset currency and branch banks,
and it would oppose the loaning of
government money to favored banks
"a scheme by which the peoples
money is employed to lay a founda-
ton for campaign fund and to bribe
the financial interests to oppose any
reduction of taxation. The present
administration of the treasury depart
ment is progressively beneficial to the
capitalistic class and progressively
harmful to the producers of wealth.
Democracy would make taxation
more equitable by collecting a part
of the revenues from an income tax,
secured by a constitutional amend
ment nearer to the people, by the
popular election of United States Sen
ators and direct legislation.
Democracy would strictly regulate
the railroads, thus protecting far
merS from excessive rates and dis
ordinations
Democracy would safeguard the
interests of the wage-earner and the
artisan, by providing for an eight
hour dav: by substituting arbitration
for strikes and lockouts, and by re-
storing the right of trial by jury, now
suspended through government by in
junction.
Democracy would secure to the
surviving soldiers and sailors and
their dependents generous pensions,
not by any arbitrary executive order,
but by Legislation which a grateful
people stand ready to enact.
Democracy would construct an
isthmian canal without a violation of
treaty obligations and without exclt-
ing suspicion among our sister re-
publics of Central and South Ameri-
ca.
Democracy would regard public
office as public trust, provide for
an honest and economical admins
tration of the government and punish
with severity any betrayal of official
duty.
Democracy has nothing to gain
from ambiguity and nothing to fear
from the light. Democratic plat
forms should, therefore, set forth
Democratic principles, policies and
purposes with frankness, clearness
and definiteness. Those who cham
pion the principles embodied in a
truly Democratic creed can appeal to
the moral sense of the country and
trust for vindication TO the awakened
conscience of an intelligent and patri-
Otic citizenship"