The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-07
Railroad Question.

all the private monopolies have receiv-
ed rebates or secured other advan-
tages over competitors. Absolute
equality of treatment at the hands of
the railroads would go far toward
gripping the trusts, and / rejoice that
the President has had the courage to
press the question upon Congress.
While the law as it was finally dis
torted by the Senate is not all that
could be wished, it deserves a fair
trial
Strength of Socialism.
Socialism presents a consistent
theory, but theory which, in my judg-
ment, does not take human nature in
to account. It's strength is in its at
tack upon evils, the existence of which
is confessed. It's weakness is that it
would substitute new disease-if not
a worse one-for the disease from
which we suffer The Socialist is hon
est in the belief that he has found
a remedy for human ills, and with
a remedy for human ills, and he must
be answered with argument, not with
abuse. The best way to oppose so
cialism is to remedy the abuses which
have grown up under individualism,
but which are not necessary part of
individualism, and the SOONER the rem
edy is applied the better.
THE Democratic party is not the
enemy of property or of property
rights; it is on the contrary, the best
defender of both because it defends
human rights, and human rights are
the only foundation upon which prop
erty and property rights can rest Sc
curely. The Democratic party does
not menace a single dollar legitimately
sists upon the protection of rich and
poor alike in the enjoyment of that
which they have honestly earned. The
Democratic party does not discourage
thrift; but, on the contrary, stimulates
each individual to highest endeavor by
assuring him that he will not be de-
prived of the fruits of his toll If we
can but repeal the laws which enable
men to reap where they have not sovn.
laws which enable them to garner into
their overlooking barns the harvests
that belong 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 privilege gain-these
are the twin pillars upon which plu.
tocracy rests. To take away these
supports and to elevate the benefici-
aries of special legislation to the path
of honest effort ought to be the pur-
pose of our party.
Who Can Thus Suffer?
"And who can suffer injury by just /,
taxation, impartial laws and the appll |
cation of the Jeffersonian doctrine Of
equal rights to all and special priv
ileges to none? Only those whose ac-
cummulations are stained with dis ,
honesty and whose immoral methods
have given them distorted view of
business, society and government. Ac- :,
by conscious fraud more
money than they can profitably use !,
upon themselves, wisely distribute or
safely leave I'd their children, they de-
nouce as public enemies all who ques-
ton their methods or throw a light ;,
upon their crimes.
"Plutocracy is abhorrent to re-
public. It is more despotic than mon
archy, more heartless than aristocracy,
more selfish than bureaucracy 1t
preys upon the Nation in time of peace
and conspires against 1t in the hour of
is calamity. Conscientiousless, COM
and devoid of wisdom, it
it's votaries while 1t impov- s
erishes its victims. 1t is already sap s
'ihS thC StAC1Sln VI luc ANdt4Ou, VII
sarizing social life and making a mock
cry of morals. The time is ripe Tor
is overthrow. Let us attack It boldly ]
making our appeal to the awakened
of the Nation in the name
# the counting room which it has de-
lied, in the name of business honor
which it has sullied, in the name of
he people whom it has oppressed, in
he name of the home which it has
espoiled, and in the name of religions I
Ipon which it has placed the stigma
4 hypocrisy.
"And If l may be permitted to sug-
'est battle hymn, propose a stanza,
ut slightly changed, from one Of the