The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-06-06
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.

A Kansas democratic club asks the
Commoner to set forth briefly some of
the reasons which can be given by dem
ocrats for the support of their party's
position, and the request is cheerfully
complied with by Mr.. Bryan, as follows:
First-The democratic party believes
in the theory of government set forth
In the Declaration of Independence
namely, that governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed. The party was formed by
Thomas Jefferson, the author of the
Declaration of independence, and has
bourne the impress of his personality.
While all parties have until recent
years to greater or less extent given
adherence to the doctrines set forth in
the Declaration of independence, the
democratic party has differed from the
parties which have opposed it in that it
has emphasized the fact that the repre-
sentative is the servant of his constitu-
ents, while the parties that take their
inspiration from Alexander Hamilton
regard the representative as more or
less independent of his constituents. 1t
makes a great deal of difference wheth
er the public official recognizes it as
his duty to give expression to the
3 wishes of those who elected him or con-
siders himself sort Of superior being
elected to act for the people but not to
be controlled by them. The official who
assumes the right to disregard the
wishes of those who elect him strikes
at the very foundation of popular gov
eminent.
Second-The democratic party be-
lieves in the inalienable rights of the
individual and jealousy guards those
rights from Infringement. There are
individual rights sacred from the touch
even of the majority, as for instance,
the right to life, to liberty and to the
pursuit of happiness, and the amend
mentS TO the constitution have named
freedom of speech, freedom of the press,
and freedom of conscience as necessary
to the preservation of the inalienable
rights of man.
Third-The democratic party is the
champion of local self government, be-
lieving that the government is best
nearest to the people and that the peo-
pie can act most intelligently upon the
subjects with which they are most
familiar.
Fourth-The democratic party, be-
lieving in the inalienable rights of the
individual and in the wisdom of local
self government, insists upon respect
being shown to the constitutional pro-
vision which reserves to the states and
to the people respectively the powers
not expressly delegated to the federal
government or denied to the states.
This balance OF powers between the
tial to the life of the republic.
Fifth-Tho Ianoono n no wv, Lol;
in the exercise by the federal govern
ment of it's delegated powers in such a
way as to protect the interests of all
the people without giving favoritism to
any part of the country-equal rights
to all and special privileges 20 none
being it's motto.
Sixth-The democratic party believ-
ing that governments rest upon the
consent of the governed, is in favor of
such improvements in the methods of
government as will make the govern
ment more directly responsible to the
people and more responsive to the will
of the people. 1t naturally favors the
election of senators by direct vote of
the people, the direct primary and the
initiative and referendum.
Seventh-In taxation the democratic
party believes that the burdens of gov
eminent should be collected in such a
way that each citizen will contribute
in proportion to the benefits received
under the protection of the government.
Carrying out this theory of taxation, it
has opposed tariff levied purely for
the purpose of protection and has urged
the income tax as a means of equaliz-
ing taxation,
Eighth--The democratic party be-
lieves in economy in public expendi-
lures. Taxation being not blessing
but necessary evil, should be limited
to the needs of the government econom-
ically administered.
Ninth-The democratic party being
the foe of special privilege, is the nat
ural enemy of the private monopoly. 1t
has presented the only sound and con-
sistent antitrust platform in declaring
that private monopoly is indefensible
and intolerable.
Tenth-The democratic party believes
that the corporation created by law
should ever be subservient to the law.
1t would insert in each corporation
charter, Remember thou thy creator"
not only in youth but throughout it's
existence.
Eleventh-The democratic party in
dt us ouOFUS W SECURE Ule equal UFedUuouU
of all the people according to their
merits, naturally takes the part of the
laboring man in his opposition to gov
eminent by injunction and in his de-
mands for arbitrat ion and an eight hour
day.
Twelfth-The democratic party is OPP
posed to Imperialism at home or abroad,
and denies that republic can consist
emily hold colonies and administer gov
ernments outside of and in conflict with
the principles Of the constitution of the
United States.
Thirteenth-As might be inferred
from the foregoing, the democratic
party is opposed to swollen fortunes,
and it would relieve the country of the
menace Of such fortunes by Withdraw
ing the special privileges which have
enabled these fabulous fortunes to be
accumulated in so short time. 1t
would restore in society Gods law of
q rewards SO far as government is able to
do so. Gods law, as shown in nature,
Suits the regard to the contribution one