The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-11

rendered his state and the country at large. They are written indelibly in the annals of the nation, and 1 trust there will arise some biographer who will do full and complete justice to the memory and fame of his brilliant and useful life. From a standpoint of material develop ment, Senator Morgan, in his persistent and successful leadership of the isthmian canal project, has builded monument more enduring than bronze or marble. It is one of the most pathetic features of his death that he did not live to see tho ultimate completion of that vast enter prise. Others have sought to claim great CT credit than he for the building of the canal, but the historian of truth will write that John T Morgan was the father of that splendid proposition and that no spacious claimant can rob him of the fame of his achievement.
 The people of the south will never for get that fateful time In our political his tory when the congress was attempting to enact the iniquitous force bill which would have deprived our people of their most cherished principle of local self government and inflicted upon us the most abominable conditions. When 1t ap- peared almost certain that the measure would pass Senator Morgan secured the floor. and by interposing his logic, pa- triotism and parliamentary skill against every assault of the opposition finally, by virtue of his dogged persistence and splen- did courage, routed the enemy and killed the bill For that service all the south ern people should hold his memory sacred.
 Senator Morgan's life was gentle. In social intercourse he was always affable. considerate and just. His affectionate solicitude for the happiness of his house. hold was beautiful in it's tenderness. He was scrupulously honest and fair in all his dealings with men. "He locked his lips too closely to speak lie. He washed his hands too white to touch a bribe." A great brain has ceased from it's toll, and a brave, true and noble heart has fallen into godly sleep.
 I trust that this legislature before it's adjournment will make an appropriation for handsome statue to Senator Nor gan to be erected fin Statuary Hall in the capitol al Washington under whose dome for so many years and with such brillian- cy he served his people
 Duty to Alabama.
 Having paid our tribute to the illus trious dead. let us turn to the living and discuss briefly our duty to Alabama We can justly boast of having made the near est approach to true democracy of any state in the union. Here we go directly tC AAlc Ol dll ppWeT-IHe people who are supreme and from whose verdict there is no appeal. Our laws are made and executed by those who are chosen by us, hence ours is a government of a ma Jority and ii Is the duty of those who represent us to put into operation and effect the will of the majority as ex- pressed in the platform of the party in the state or nation.
 We believe in the cardinal doctrines Of the QPnorro fio are best suited for representative gov ernment
 We are democrats because we believe in the greatest personal liberty consistent with the rights and privileges of others As democrats we believe in home rule and the right of thes tate to regulate it's own internal affairs without inter- ference or dictation from the national government.
 We are democrats because we believe in equal and exact justice to all per- sons and interests.
 As democrats we are opposed to a high protective tariff because it is not Just .sand equal distribution of the blessings and burdens of government and because the protective tariff enriches the few at the expense of the masses and is the parent of trusts and monopolies against which the hand of the democratic party is firmly set Democrats are not free traders as some charge, but we stand for tariff for revenue, equal and suf- ficient for the wants of the government economically administered and 20 ad- justed to give American capital and labor the benefit of that protection which all tariffs must necessarily produce Pro- lection is an incident to tariff for revenue to the extent of the levy and cannot in any way be avoided
 Democrats are opposed to militarism i,r,t,f f.1ft ruie of alien races without their con- sent.'
 . Trusts Regulation.
 As a senator from Alabama I will stand for the principles and policies laid down in the last national democratic platform. As member of Congress from the Sixth congressional district, I have fer the last twenty years voted for every measure looking 10 the suppression of trusts and. unlawful combinations which restrain trade and for all measures seek ing to control and regulate interstate railroads and interstate traffic l shall continue to so vote. I do not believe that the federal government has any right or power to interfere in any way with the rights of state to control and reg ulate intra-s state railroad rates and intra- state traffic. An effort on the part of the federal government to interfere with the internal affairs of a state would be a usurpation of power and an invasion ol the rights of the state such as would call for the most energetic denial on the part of the state.
 Congress alone can regulate interstate commerce. The state alone has power to regulate intra-state railroads and traf- fife. This right of the state must be jealously guarded and defended for con centration of power In the federal gov ernment is the greatest danger which threatens the republic.
 Railroad Ownership.
 TO talk of the ownership of railroads by the government Is to threaten the life of the nation. Government ownership of railroads will be the beginning of the end of republican government In this country.
 When the government owns the rail- roads who will direct their management? Men skilled in the business or repudiated politicians? The latter of course. The railroad system oa the country would become a political asset controlled by the party in power to perpetuate its own corrupt rule. Graft would be the watch word and conditions intolerable would result. Is the railroad map in Alabama complete? Have we all the railrpads we need for the development of the match less resources of the state?
 Who are h hnild fba now roads