The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-04-26
FOR STATE RIGHTS
PARTY ALWAYS
RIGHT ON THE QUESTION.
Present Republican Policy of concen
trating Power at Washington 10
Contrary 70 the Spirit Of
the Constitution.

the constitution.
The Democratic demand for state
rights and home rule is no new claim.
1t is coequal with the federal govern.
ment and is expressly provided for in
the constitution. When the Demo
Gratis claimed in 1860 that the Repub
llcan party and Mr.. Lincoln were at.
tempting TO overthrow the rights Of
the states on the allabsorbing slav.
cry issue, tine Republican national
platform replied to the charge by re-
solving:
THAT the maintenance inviolate OF
the rights OF the states and especially
the right of each state 20 order and
control its own domestic institutions
according to its own Judgment, ex
clusiyely. is essential to that balance
OF power on which the perfection and
endurance Of our political fabric de.
pend"
That was an ultra state right declar
alton and was quite as strong as any
such from Democratic sources. In
1876 the Republican party HAD mod.
fed Its state rights doctrine and de-
clared:
by the combined workings OF the
national and state governments. under
their respective constitutions, the
rights of every citizen are secured at
home and abroad, and the common
vpo1foro prpp,nta1 Union 1891 mr..
rived the Republican party seemed to
regret that the constitution prevented
the overthrow Of the reserved rights
OF the states. for In the national plat
form of that year 1t stated as one of
its principles and purposes that:
Some powers are denied to the ma.
ton, while others are denied to the
states, but the boundary between the
powers delegated and those reserved
Is TO he determined by the national
and not by the state tribunal"
In 1884 a more conservative tone
prevailed, for the Democratic declara.
ton in 1875 and 1880 for the principle
of home rule and the rights OF the
states had taken firm hold of the
majority of the people, so the Repub-
llcan platform of that year acknowl.
edged that the state rights should be
faithfully maintained" the resolution
adopted declared THE national gov.
eminent is supreme within the sphere
of Its national duties; but the states
have reserved rights which should be
faithfully maintained; each should DO
guarded with Jealous care; so that
the harmony of our system of govern.
ment may be preserved and the union
kept invlolate." Since 1884 no declar
alton has been made by the Republic
an national conventions on the ques
ton of state rights, but as the Re
publican party through its leaders is
trying with all Its might to concen.
trate all political power at Washing
ton and ignore the reserved rights of
the states, the question OF home rule
will be so paramount in 1908 that
even the party of notification cannot
ignore II, Such are Republican creeds
and doctrines on this important sub.
ject.
The Democratic party will in the
future as in the past, declare for home
rule and the powers reserved to the
states or to the people nor prohibited
to them by the constitution and the
rights therein enumerated shall not
be construed to deny or dlsparage
others retained by the people. Such
are the constitutional bonds that bind
the federal government, the states,
and the people, and are always ex.
pressed or implied in Democratic
creeds and are unalterable until the
constitution shall be amended.