The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-04

which we suffer. The socialist II hon
est in the belief that he has found a
remedy for human ills, and he mist
be answered with argument, not with
abuse. The best way to- oppose social
ism is TO remedy the abuses which
have grow Up under i~ndividualism.
but which are not a necessary part of
i~ndividualism, and the sooner the
remedy il applied the better. As r
was leaving home I set forth my rea-
sons for opposing the socialist doctrine
that the government should own and
operate all the means Of production
and transportation: my observations
during the past year lave strengthen
ed my convictions on that subject
Because / am anxious to preserve m
dividualism. l am earnest in my desire
TO see the trusts exterminated, root
and branch, that the door OF opportu-I
nifty may be open 10 every American
citizen.
On another occasion i shall call at
tention to the rapidly growing expen-
ditures Of the federal government. But.
at this time | desire to center your,
thought upon the oyershadowing evil
OF the day-the trust-with the pIU-
tocratic tendencies that result there
from. II demands a remedy. and the
people are prepared to administer.
heroic treatment. The democratic
party offers a solution which is both
reasonable and adequate, a solution in
which time honored principles are ap-
piled to new conditions.
The democratic party is not the enc
my 81 ~property rights: 1t is, on the,
contrary, the best defender of both
because it defends human rights, and
human rights are the only foundation
upon which property n property
rights can rest securely. The demo-
cratic party does not menac a single
dollar ~legitimately accumulated: on,
the contrary, it insists upon the pro-
lection of rich and poor alike IN the
enjoyment Of that which they have
honestly earned. The democratic par
ty does not discourage thrift, but. on
the contrary, stimulates each indiVid-
ual to the highest endeaVor by aSsur-.
ing him that he will not be deprived
Of the fruits of his toll. If we can u
repeal the laws which enable men to
reap where they have not sewn-
laws which enable them to garner into
their Overlooking barns the harvests.
that below to others, no one will be
able to accumulate enough to make
his fortune dangerous to the country.
Special privilege and the use Of the
taxing power for private gain-these
are the twin pillars upon which plu-
tocracy rests. To take away these
supports and to elevate the benef-
Charles IF special legislation to the
path Of honest effort ought to be the
purpose Of our party.
PLUTOCRACY.
And who can suffer injury by just
taxation, impartial laws and the ap-i
pIication of the Jeffersonian doctrine:
of equal rights to all, especial privi-i
leges to none? Only those whose ac-I
communications are stained with dishon-
esty and whose immoral methods havel
given them a distorted view OF bus
mess, society and government. Accum-j
mulating by conscious fraud mOrei
money than they can probably use
upon themselves, wisely distribute or
safely leave to their children, these
denounce as public enemies all who
question their methods Or throw a
light upon their crimes.
Plutocracy is abhorrent to- a rcpub-I
lie. 1t is more despOtic than anarchy
more heartless than a~ristocracy, mOrel
selfish han 1t preysl
upon the nation in time of peace and
conspires against 1T in the hour of itsi
calamity. Constituencies, compassion-i
less and devoid of wisdom, it ~enervatesi
its votaries while it impOverishes itsI
victims. It is already sapping theI
strength of the nation, vulgarlzing SOL
cia! life and making a mockery OF
morals. The time is ripe for its over-l
throw. Let us attack it bodily, maklngl
our appeal to the awakened con-
science of the nation in the name of
the counting room which it has del
filed, in the name Of business honor
which it. has sullied. in the name of
the people whom it has oppressed, inE
the name of the homes which it hasl
despOiled. and N the name of religiOnl
upon which it has placed the stigmaI
of hypocricy,
And, if I may be permitted to sug-l
gest q battle hymn, I propose a.,
stanza, but slightly changed from oneI
of the strongest OF the poems of Scott
lands democratic bard.
columbia, My dear, my native soil,
For whom my warmest wish toI
heaven is sent, !
Long may thy hardy sons of rusticI
toll,
Blest with health and peace, and
sweet content,
And O.. may heaven thy simple livesl
prevent
From luxurieS' c~ontagiOn, weak andl
vile,
Then thou unearned wealth to wick
dneSS,
\ virtuous populace may rise and
stand
A wall of fire around their much low
ed land"
--
GOULD AND HERRICK RESIGN
No Man Identified With Wall Street
No,r on RoarS IF niracfarS ~ tbaI