The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-01-22

The sooner any man who differs
with this gets out OF the Democratic
party the better It will be for him. He
can expect nothing except defeat at
the hands of Democratic voters. The
people are not going to allow them
selves TO be hugged with one arm and
stabbed with the other they would
rather have ten open enemies than
one secret enemy.
Therefore when statehood comes our
people will follow the scriptural in
junction and Prove all things, hold
fas; that which is good Abstain from
all appearance OF evil" They will
demAnd that every honest class and
interest shall have equal protection
and that all alike must obey the law
They will allow no discrimination
against or in favor of any interest
and will insist that every candidate
for office shall stand or fall alone up
on his individual merits challenge.
impeach and denounce the idea that
our people are anarchists or that they
cannot be trusted They neither in
tend nor desire to inaugurate n sys-
tenn Of destructive legislation against
any honest and useful branch or de-
partment of industry. On the contra
ry they earnestly desire and intend to
protect and encourage all useful lines
OF business. But on the other hand
they are In no humor to be trihed with
or dictated to. They will stamp be-
meath their feet and crush the life
out Of any attempt TO deprive them of
their sovereignty, It matters not un-
der what name or from what source
It comes. This Is an ideal condition
for the promulgation of principles
of democracy as advocated by Jeffer-
son and Jackson and If we wisely
avail ourselves OF it our success Is
certain. Let us remember that demo
cracy stands for the sovereignty OF
the citizen and not for the sovereign
ty of the politician. Democracy teaches
that public officers are public servants
and not public lords. Our people are
tired and sick of the public lords who
with a few honorable exceptions have
ruled them under the bureaucratic
government to which we have been
subjected. They are determined that
in the future we will have public ser
wants. What reasonable and honest
man can object to this? What honest
and useful line of business can be in
jured by this? That such line of con
duct upon our part may excite opposi-
tion and criticism is to be expected.
But abuse never deters a man of cour-
age whose Heart beats in sympathy
with the principles OF justice and lib
erty. Abuse is an evidence of weak
ness and confession Of want of abil.
| ity to make reasonable defense. Who
ever heard of dog barking at a
| train Of cars while It was standing
still Is II not true that the faster the
train is going the louder the NANCY
pup howls? The man who is afraid
OF criticism will never accomplish any
thing worthy of being remembered
For defending the rights of the people
the bitterest and vilest abuse was
heaped upon the heads of Thomas
Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. We
know that the same course has been
pursued, for the same reason, toward
the greatest living Democrat, William
Jennings Bryan.
MY friends, II we would succeed
we must first merit success. If we
desire tho people TO trust us, we must
first trust them. If we are afraid to
trust the people we need not be sur
| prised IL the people are afraid TO trust
us. Therefore, when statehood comes
let us plant ourselves firmly upon the
sovereignty of the citizen. Let us In.
| vite every democrat to attend our
primaries with the fun assurance that
/ " Is our desire and determination that
the voice of the people shall prevail
Let us have a trlal.b by jury OF all pub.
lie questions and all candidates for
Office and let the people be the jury.
No man is worthy Of public confidence
and support who would accept an Of
fee which did not come 20 him as the
free, untrammeled gift Of the people
Candidates nominated by secret in
rigue will serve the ring that secured
their nomination. That NO man can
serve two masters" is not only our
experience, but it Is also the decla
ration of the God whom we worship
Therefore let the officer owe his po
sition alone to the people and he will
serve the people. The candidate who
thinks that he is better than the peo
pie and is therefore too good to appear