Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

The Democratic party is not the
enemy of property or property
rights; it is, on the contrary, the
best defender Of both, because it de.
fends human rights, and human
rights are the only foundation upon
which property and property rights
can rest secure. The Democratic
party does not menace a single
dollar legitimately accumulated; on
the contrary it insists upon the
protection Of rich and poor alike in
the enjoyment of that which they
have honestly earned. The Demo.
cratic party does not discourage
thrift, but, on the contrary, stimu-
lates each individual to the high.
est endeavor by assuring him that
he will not be deprived of the
fruits Of his toll. If we can but re-
peal the laws which enable men to
reap where they have not sown, laws
which enable them to garner into
their overAowing barns the harvests
that belong to others rs-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
plutocracy rests. To take away
these supports and to elevate the
benelicia,ies OF special Legislation in
the path of honest effort ought to be
the purpose of our party. And who
can suffer injury by just taxation,
impartial laws and the application
Of the Jetfersonian doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privileges
to none?-only those whose accumu-
lations are stained with dishonesty
and whose immoral methods have
given them a distorted view of bust
ness society and government. Ac-
cumulating by conscious fraud more
money than they can proftably use
upon themselves, wisely distribute
or safely leave to their children,
these denounce as public enemies Of
all who question their methods OF
throw light upon their crimes
Plutocracy is abhorent to the re.
public; tits more despotic than mon
archy, more heartless than aristo.
cracy, more selfish than bureaucracy
1t preys upon the nation in time Of
peace and conspires againt it in the
house Of its calamity. Conscience
less, compassionless and devoid o.
wisdom, it enervates its votaries
while it impoverishes it's victims
1t is already sapping the strength
of the nation, vulgarizing social life
and making mockery of morals
The time is ripe for its overthrow
Let US attack it boldly, making oul
appeal to the awakened concience o
the nation in the name of the count
ing room which it has defled, il
the name of business honor which i
mas sullled, IN the name OF the peo
pie whom it has oppressed, in the
, name of the homes W hi C h it ha
despoiled, and in the name of til,
religion upon which it has place.
the stigma of hypocrisy. And if
may be permitted to suggest battl
hymn | propose stanza but slight
changed, from one of the stronges
of the poems of Scotland's grea
democratic bard:
Columbia. my dear. my native land.
For whom my warmeSt wish to heaven Is sen
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toll
BE biest with health, and peace and sweet cor
tent.
And o. may heaven their simple lives prevcr
From luxury's c0ntagi0n. weak and vile;
Then. tho unearned wealth to wlckedness /
lent,
A virtuous populace may rise and stand
wall Of fire round their much-l0yed land.
w. j. Bryan.