The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-08-02
TRUE DEMOCRAT
STANDS STRICTLY FOR EQUAL
TY BEFORE The LAW.
Opposition 20 All Taxes That Tend 10
Foster Monopoly Is Cardinal Prin-
elple Of the Disciple OF Jefferson.


The dictionaries and Mr.. Bryan de-
fino 3 Democrat as one who adheres
10 = government by the people. But
that is only a nominal definition-one
which explains only the meaning or
the term defined without indicating
anything more OF the nature OF the
thing signified by IL than is implied
by the term itself 20 everybody who
understands its meaning. Ii is equlya-
lent 10 saying that a Democrat Is a
Democrat.
What is needed at this time is not
a nominal but real definition OF the
word-one which will explain the ma
ture OF the thing defined by reference
20 its origin and history in connection
with American politics Such a def
milton would necessarily relate back
10 the principles set forth by Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison in 1898
and 1899, when those men founded the
Democratic party of the United States
those principles being embodied in
certain resolutions. and in a report
made by James Madison to the vir-
ginia legislature. insisting upon a
strict construction of the language OF
the federal constitution respecting the
powers granted TO the general gov
eminent and those reserved 10 the
states
A Democrat. then, is a strict-con-
structionist That is his chief char
acteristic. lie believes in the doctrine
of state rights. or local self-govern-
ment-that is. home rule-as opposed
TO Capitalization and Imperialism. He
believes in equality before the law.
and therefore opposes the creation Of
vested rights or prerogatives and pri-
vate monopolses by legislation. He be-
lieves in taxation for revenue only.
and therefore opposes any and all
taxes that foster monopoly, as our
tariff laws do at this time. He be
lieves in the right OF trial by jury as
that right is guarded by the Consti-
tuition; and is therefore opposed to-
government by injunction lie be-
lieves in majority rule in every loca-
~. but that a majority OF the people
III Ant " HOlt nave lnt IAkuA 10
rule the minority only so long as II
rules in conformity with the com
pact expressed in the Constitution:
whereby It is agreed that a majority
OF the representatives OF the people
in one branch of congress. and a ma
jority OF senators representing sover-
eign states in the other branch. shall
make general laws subject to a quail
fed veto by the president, and TO
numerous restrictions imposed by the
terms OF the constitutional compact
A Democrat also associates himself
with the political party which. from
its birth in 1898, has always stood
pledged 10 carry out its policies In
accordance with these general princi-
pies. He opposes those who seek to
evade or nullify constitutional provi
sions by stretching and twisting such
provisions in applying them to cur
rent legislation or current judicial pro-
ceedings. He is plainly distinguish
able from an Ochlocrat, on the one
hand. and from an imperialist on the
other. For ochlocracy is a form OF
government in which the multitude
rule directly; whereas, in a democra-
cy like ours. they govern through
their representatives. And imperial
ism-even such as the imperial dem
ocracy OF Athens-denies TO it's sub
jects the right OF representation in its
legislative body and taxes them with
out their consent; whereas our democ-
racy. both In its origin and in its CON
tinuing purpose. repudiates that sys-
TEN
Perhaps 90 per cent OF the people
OF this country honestly adhere to the
theory Of government by the people
and may, in that sense. be called
democrats But many OF them believe
In ochlocracy. and many others be
lieve in imperial democracy In party
however. only those
who believe in representative democ
ratio government. and adhere to the
strict construction OF the Constitution
are Democrats.