Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-07-28
MEASURED BY ITS LEADERSHIP.

MEASURED BY ITS LEADERSHIP.
There is but one certain rule (which
men can measure the worth and sincerity
of any human organization, be it social,
religious or political. That rule is the one
which determines the character OF its
leadership. If the leaders who mould the
opinions of the membership and direct the
policy Of political organization are sin
cere or insincere the character or quality
of their party is fixed accordingly. Meas
ured by this rule, what is the character Of
the Democratic party of today? Is it sin
cere and worthy of the support Of those
citizens who hold that honesty of purpose
and sincerity of expression should govern
the conduct of all party leaders? If these
questions be answered by the conduct and
words of the Democratic leaders who con-
trolled the recent convention at st. Louis,
and by the actions of the candidate it
named for President, the character Of the
Democratic party on the lines of SINGER
ity and consistency is not very COM
meudable.
The chairman of the Committee on
Resolutions was Senator John w. Dan
iel, of Virginia lie unblushingly aban-
doned the convictions he had held,
expressed and defended for the pact twen-
ty-6ve years on the paramount" money
question and could assign no other rea-
son for his course but "expediency." Not
only did he do that but be tried to shift to
MIR. Bryan's shoulders responsibility for
the defeats sustained by the Democratic
party on account of it's wild free silver pol
icy, of which policy Senator Daniel had
been one of the original, chief archi-
teCts.
The permanent chairman of the st.
LOUIS Convention was the Hon. Champ
Clark, of Missouri. AS Senator Daniel
demonstrated in the convention the insin-
cerity of his party on the money question,
so did Mr.. Clark disclose its hypocrisy on
the tariff. Before taking the gavel to pre-
side over the convention Mr.. Clark made
a speech, in which he said;
sit would be precisely as true and fair
to denounce the Republican party as the
party of atheism as to denominate the
Democratic party as the party of Free
Trade 1t never was Free Trade party
and is not now"
This emphatic expression, undisputed by
facts, would leave no doubt about the sin
cere position of Mr.. Clark and his party
on the tariff. But Mr.. Clark's declara-
tons at St. Louis are fatty contradicted
by his previous more emphatic words,
used in a speech in the House of Repre-
sentatives, March 81, 1897, in debate on
the tariff. Here is what he then said:
81 repeat, SO that all men may hear,
that am q Free Trader, and proudly take
my stand with Sir Robert Peel, Richard
Golden, John Bright and Henry George.
may be an humble member'of that illus
trious company, but it is better to be a
doorkeeper in the house of honest Free
Traders than to dwell in the tents of
wicked Protectionists.
81 would destroy every custom house in
America. If / had my way to-
day, cir, would tear them all down from
turret to foundation stone, for from the
beginning they have been nothing but
den Of robbers"
When Mr.. Clark in his St. Louis speech
declared: cit never was Free Trade
party and is not now" he uttered an I'M
truth, as proved by his declarations in
Congress in 1897. When be took his po-
sition for Free Trade it was upon the posi-
tive assurance that such was the policy OF
the Democratic party. He based bis con-
yictions on the expressed convictions of
other prominent men in the party. Here
is what few of them said about the tar
if:
1.-THE Democratic party lie a free trade
party on it is nothing."-Henry Waiter
SOD.
"All trade should be as free as pos
sibIs. "-Ex.Speaker Carlisle.
"Add to the free list as many articles as
possible. "-Ex.S Secretary Fairchild.
81 desire Free Trade, and / will not
help to perfect any law that stands in the
way of Free Trade. Roger A. Mills.
"Mr Cleveland stands before the coun-
try as the champion of Free Trade against
Henry George.