The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-14
RAYNOR ON THE ISSUES
Government Ownership of Railroads
and Initiative and Referendum Dis
Carded.
Baltimore SUM-

nave UScu ISQuSSISu ny 0'A
to present my views upon the practical
and actual issues between the demo-
cratic and republican parties as | con-
sceive them. SO as to answer from NY
own standpoint, at least, the inquiry
as to what course the democratic par
ty should pursue in the coming presl-
,idential campaign, which [ now pro-
ceed briefly to do.
Il find no difficulty in satisfying my
self on this subject. A great deal has
been said, and truly SO, about the diff
ference of opinion that exists among
various elements and leaders of the
democratic party in relation to the
principles that should govern it in the
future. The republican party, howev-
er, is in the predicament that we
are IN. The division in it's ranks is
wider than it is in ours. There is an
influential faction of the republican
party that is bitterly opposed to the
policies Of President Roosevelt. Thcy
are called reactiOnarieS, a name that
has already been officially given them.
II 1t is safe to prOphesy that in tier
convention the conflict between these
two elements will be at fever neat
and the lines will be clearly drawn be-
tween the radical and conservative
wings OF the party.The republican par
ty is also at sea upon the question of
the tariff. and while the controversy
is now kept in allegiance under the
diplomatic and skillful hand o. the
President, the day is coming, and
quickly, too, when the revisiOnists of
Massachusetts and Iowa and other
manufacturing and agricultural con-
stItuencies will peremptOrily demand
an equitable adjustment of their claims
Thus it will be seen that the charge
that is constantly made agains- rs
that We are divided Upon the great is
sues OF the day, can be made with
equal force and truth against our op-
ponents, who at this very hour are
battling among themselves upon re-
spectlVe lines of governmental policies
h a are in moral conflict with each
other, and that cannot be r~econciIed
except by a surrender upon the part
OIL one or the other of the warning l
factions. /
FALSE DOCTRINES SHOULD BE {
~ GIVEN UP. |
The division in our own party is I
argely upO nOnessentials, and t 0 The I
observer of current events it is S
lot a difficult task to rescue from the
ont1ict of contending views CERTAIN |
fundamental principles hat the dem L
party typifies, and which it L
viii espouse and advocate, and upon /
which there will be no appreciate di- u
lsiOn when the time for action arises. =
The way to make a just and honest .
'resentatiOn Of this subject is to resort "
0 b process of elimination, and then L
ee whether the residue that is left is s
-ot sufficient to commend our cause u
@ the intelligence of the country. o
In the first place, the new theory Il
hat has been sprung upon us over \
light of the governmental ownership )
If railroads, and which finds lodgment t
tmong the radical leaders of the re- u
party as we'll as it does among II
'ur own. will not become a democrat |
C doctrine. Assuming that we could :
;onstitutionally perform this marvel
,us feat, which | very much doubt, it
s at present at least entirely imprac-
,ical and unnecessary, and I would t
be willing to predict hat if the prop l
is mooted in a democratic CON- t
1t would not receive any great l
er support than it would upon the door {
Of a republican convention. In the t
next place, all these new heresies of l
fixing by act of Congress the maxi I
mum amount Of goods that shall be-
the subject Of interstate COM
and other kindred conceptions
will venture to say will not even at
tract to themselves the serious consid-
of a democratic convention.
The federal referendum and initiative
will go by the board. The represent
of the states will not yield to
such innovation because a distinguish
ed traveller while speeding through the
of Europe, found that the
system worked successfully in the
Cantons of Switzerland any more than
they would yield to a governmental
OWNERSHIP of railroads because the SAME
traveller observed what he considered s
be satisfactory operation of rail-
roads by the government in the noun
tain passes of Austria-Hungary. am
trying to foreshadow what ground {
the democratic party will stand o:rGn S
in the next election, and having jetti- {
sOned a part of the cargo that would
her down, / come now to the
valuable treasure that she carries in :
her hold, and that she can probably