Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-09-20

principles announced Dy AleXanuer
Hamilton, the first and greatest teacher
of Republican doctrines, though some
of them carried Hamiltonism far beyond
even the dreams of Hamilton.
During the last session of Congress
the adherents of Thomas Jefferson went
further still. By an Act of Congress
voted for by every professed disciple of
Thomas Jefferson representing a gulf
State, the Federal government is re-
quired to police and safeguard the en-
tire gulf coast against the introduction
of yellow fever, and in face of the ad-
mitted right of the several states topro-
tect themselves and at their own ex-
pense. If this be not Capitalization with
vengeance, then Capitalization with a
vengeance is impossible. If this would
not make Jefferson vince, what would?
"Not only this, but. the professed dis
ciples of Thomas Jefferson are the chief
advocates of the proposition that the
Federal government shall build high
ways through the several states, and
pay the expense thereof out of the ma
tional treasury.
"And finally, as fitting climax to all
this Democratic inconsistency and in
apparent demonstration that Jefferson
ian principles are no longer respected
by the adherents of the party which
claims to be founded on his teachings,
the twice defeated and still ambitious
candidate for the position of national
standard bearer of his party, in his
speech at Madison Square Garden the
night of his return, vies with his rival
for chief honors of his party, Mr.. Hearst,
in declaring in favor of State and Gov
ernment ownership of railroads. To my
mind, our opponents should quit profess
sing adherence to Jeffersonian princi-
pies, or they should adhere to the prin-
ciples which they profess.
eff it be said that the Republican
party is not unit on elementary prin-
ciples, then wish to register an en-
phatic denial. The Republican party is
united in favor of the single gold stan
dard and in favor of a protective tariff.
The personnel of the party may not
agree on the rate of duty appropriate to
be imposed on certain articles. This,
however, is detail and does not involve
the principle of protection. A few Re-
publicans voted against the rate bill en-
acted at the last session of Congress,
but not one of them opposed government
control of railroads. Those who voted
against the measure did so because of
some detail which they thought not only
unwise, but actually harmful. do not
criticise the Democratic party because
the personnel Of the party disagree on
details. My criticism is that while the
party continues to declare in favor of
tariff for revenue only, the members OF
the party insist that the products of
their respective localities shall be pro-
tected; and while the perty denounces
Capitalization and paternalism, the
members of that party vote to support
every Capitalization measure which is
supposed to benefit the several districts
and states they represent. With such
a party, wise legislation and sustained,
coherent administration are alike i'm
possible.
'It may be interesting to the younger
men present to know that the Demo
cratic party was organized by pnr-
aggregation of men having no
plan, no purpose, no aim. Itwas form
ed to correct no evil, it sought to teach
no principle, and it promised no progress
sive policy. It's first national conven-
ton was held in 1882, and fearing to de-
clare for anything, and being equally
afraid to declare against anything
the now fruitful subject, trusts, not
having been developed-it passed the
following resolution:
Resolved, that it be recommended
that in place of general address from
this body, the eseveral delegations in this
make such declaration, by
report or otherwise, to their
constituents of the objects,
and the result of this meet
ing as they may deem expedient.'
"What we now denominate a plat
form appears then to have been called
a general address. The newly formed
Democratic party, therefore, instead of
laying down a principle or making
promise, authorized the delegations
from the several states to promise any
thing and everything that they sever
ally thought expedient.
"My dread of Democratic control,
repeat, rests chiefly in the fact that
the party stands for nothing in particu-
lar, possesses no we'll defined principles
to which it will adhere, and has no aim,
no plan, no purpose, no policy, except a
to gain political control
Of the country"