The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-06-01
wAY HE CHANGED.
representative Towne, of N. Y, At
tacks Policy of Republican Leaders
And Tells Why He Left The Party.


extended, he spoke for nearly two hours and
half At the conclusion of his speech every
Democrat in the House and many Republicans
congratulated him.
Mr.. Towne emphasized the issue raised
upon the tariff question. He said the Repub
| lican party is controlled by influences upon
| which 1t depends for success and from which
it cannot be divorced, though these influences
are in conflict with the interests of the great
mass of American people. he declared that
the abuses of the present tariff system could
not be excused or covered by the pretense
that to attempt correction was to enter into
free trade. He contended that the Issue was
not between protection and free trade, and
that the evils of the protective system could
not be disguised by crying free trade where
| the contention as opposed to the protective
system in force was for fair dealing and free
| opportunity for all the people. He said that
| the Republican party had ceased to represent
the people and had become the instrument OF
confederated sel6shness. The resction from
this confederation of selfish interests, he said,
| tended dangerously in the direction of social
ism. The Democratic party, he contended,
stood firmly between the tyranny of monopoly
on the one side and the dangers of anarchy on
| the other; the party stood for the invlolabihty
| of private property and the defense of individ-
ual liberty.
| He said that there was a demand through
| out the country for a revision of the tariff. aud
that the Republican party had definitely de
| cided to disregard this demand. while the
Democratic party proposed to undertake the
work of doing the Justice which the people
| demanded
ROOSEVELT TIED TO HIS PARTY.
Speaking of the impossibility of RepubH'
can President accomplishing what was in con
| iict with the fundamental characteristics OF
/ his party, he said that Roosevelt seemed for a
| time to be-and might have been and contin-
| ued to be-abovs the trammel OF mere party
allegiance, with the power to direct his own
party. through his ability to command Dem.
oeratic alliance But this power he had
| thrown away as an essential consequence OF
| his party environment and the inability of one
man to resist the power of she party which
| places him in authority.
In consequence, be said, of the phenomenal
popular vote by which Roosevelt was elected
| he seemed TO regard himself as vested by
| sort Of plebiscite as the immediate and su
preme representative of the penple, nearer TO
them than even the Representative IN the
| House. This commanding attitude enables
| him to choose his allies from either parry and
| 20 hold the Republican machine in check by
the power TO secure Democratic support.
This unique position of power he seemed at
| first to realize, and might indefinitely have
| preserved. If be had possessed the qualities he
was supposed to possess But at the critical
moment be deserted his allies, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans, including has own At
torney General, without notice, and snrreu
dered Internationally TO the chief manipHia-
tor Of the Republican Senate machine. Nos,
like a CAractacus shorn cf hrs ancient barbara
strength, he walked bound and submissive to
his chains by the wheels of the imperial
chariot of his insolsut conqGorer, the Dnke OF
Rhode Island
WHY HI LEFT REPUBLICANS
Commenting upon = curious anomaly in
American politics. Mr.. roNue said:
Nothing is more common in the hppani
speech Of party enthusiasm than attacks upou
men Who. for one reason OF another have
changed their political AfhliAiion; and yet dur
/ lug the organization Of our campaigns con
mitteees that collect and dlsbarEe our moneys.
print our literature aud make our arguments
are prediCaled entirely upon the proposition
that We may successfully appeal to the Judg
ment and reason Of partisAns and secure
change Of party Affiliaiion in the judgment OF
men who change for the benefit, best progress
and welfare Of the country.
Mr.. ToEne said be had some special per
sonal experience 10 this connection thai be
would not mention were Il not that Il had
been from time To time the subject Of more
OF less INRltNAs AAA lAAAN vs. ttNH AAANt@AH
reference 10 augmentation upon the Repub
ican side" He referred particularly to the
speech made By Representative eastman, Of
Washington. on April p, and declared thai
Cushman on that occasion did the best be
could to rise TO the not unreasonable expee
tasion Of those who had put hIm forward Is
the funny champion Of desperate cause.
Mr. Towne then addressed himself TO the
campaign Of 1896, which had been referred 20
in recent speeches in the House, by both Mr..
Cushman and Mr. Charles B. lands, Of Ind
ana.
at il true" declared Mr. Towne. that the
immediate occasion for my departure from the
Republican party vas the difference ! eutsr-
tanned with il upon the subject Of bimetalisJn
10 1896.
at is however due to the philosophy Of pol.
itics, To- the truth OF history and 10 a yindlea-
ton Of my own action, 10 call attention to
what everybody knows-thAt the position Of
tie Republican party upon the money ques
ton was onsy specific evidence OF its generic
abandonment Of the cause of the people IN
every particular. Loud applause the
Democratic side | wish 10 add that | alzs
sure there is not one siuEle thing today tha, Is
recognized as a crucial Republican doctrine
that is historic 10 the organization. bat that
that party has already turned It's back on
everything that made II glorious in all the his
tory OF It's heroic days. Loud applause on
the Democratic side.
SAYS II DESERTED THE PEOPLE.
al did leave the party on the money ques-
ton, and If had BOT left il then ! would have
left It so lzses since. In 1895 |, s1th others,
was somewhat strenuous supporter Of the
proposition to restore silver TO equal power
and dignity with gold as q money metal. not
10 establish the silver standard. When, With
u IL q
took that position | was IN strict accord with
the platform Of my party on ths subject.
Political party organization implies the
right. aud therefore, al time, the duty upon
the part of an honest man, now and thea, to
change his party affiliations. | 20 further and
say that, now and then, il IS incumbent upon
a man to change bis opinions because his
opinions undergo an honest difference from
those be formerly entertained, by reason Of
increased reflection. new information, or any
other causes that influence the Judgment OF
honest men. But, Notwithstanding that pro-
position, desire TO say that ! stand today, in
regard TO every great general political Prinei
pie | ever ayowed OF felt. exactly where /
stood when avowed and felt it.
II was born back in the old historic days of
the Republican party. Ny early infancy was
Graded under the tutelage of the companions
of the great Lincoln himself, and | say that in
all the history OF this country you Will not mud
one single man whose general political beliefs
and sympathies were more nearly akin to
those of the founder Of the Democratic party
Thomas Jefferson-than was Abraham Lin.
coin. Applause on the Democratic side.
Mr.. 1owne read from the Republican plat.
forms of 1888 aud 1892 their planks in favor
cf bimetallism. He then admitted that 1.-THE
Democratic party made a serious tactical err
ror in the enunciation of its position upon the
coinage question in 1896" He said the Dem
ocrats did not at that time take adequate &C
count of two things-the difficulties of the sub.
ject and the cunning of the enemy.
FLOOD OF GOLD SAVED THEN.
at was, in my opinion" be said, "a uiis
take to put the ratio of 10 to ! or any other
ratio into the PLATFORM and then pointed out
the increased production of gold since 1896 /
throughout the world. which was claimed as
part of the assets of the Mckinley Admins. /
tration and the Republican party.
Now, my friends, - said Mr.. Towne, turn. |
ing toward the Republicans, this increase of |
the gold supply saved your faces as well as |
your offices The people, mistakenly, in my |
Judgment, at the tune decided not to open the |
mint, but Heaven decided to open the mines. |
1t was both wiser and kinder than you 1t |
did not make any difference from our stand |
point whether this access of basic money came |
from ono N, atal or the other If Won had O ioipt