The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-23

passed the national House of Represen- tatives for the first time. A number of Democratic Senators were fearful of the effect of the charge, 1t was a new departure and they were very conserva- tive; but time has either convinced them or forced them to keep silent, and the same influence is at work convert ing Republican leaders or silencing them. The popular election of Senators by the people was endorsed by the Democratic National Convention in 1900 and by the Democratic National Con vention of 1904. While the Committee on Resolutions spent sixteen hours on the 1904 platform, this was one question upon which there was no division or sentiment. Today a man can hardly claim to be a Democrat in his ideas and yet oppose the popular election or United States Senators.
 Initiative and Referendum.
 There is a question. however, upon which there Is at present a d1vislon or opinion among Democrats, namely. the initiative and the referendum, or as the system Is sometimes called, direct legislation. These terms are used to describe the system which gives to the people a large control over their own affairs by permitting them to vote di- rectIy on propositions submitted to them This reform will not abolish representatives, but it will enable the voters to coerce the representatives into obedience to the popular will. As the subject is better understood. It's harmony with Democracy will become more and more apparent, and l have no doubt that the time will come when the people will understand the subject of direct legislation as well as they do the popular election of Senators, and then it will be as difficult for Democrat to oppose the former as it now is tt oppose the latter:
 While the application of the doctrine of direct legislation was naturally made to the city first and to the State af- terward. the principle applies just as the sovernments covering. smaller areas. The. question is, Shall the 2eo, pie rule? And that question is as vital in the government of the nation as in the government of the State, county or city. Of course, in the nation tie equal position of the. States must be respected. and 1t is absurd to talk of by popular vote. for those who favor the application of the initiative and referendum to national questions favor pie of a majority of the States as well as a majority of all the people must concur.
 Individual Left Free.
 One who believes in the right of the people to rule and in the capacity of the people for self government natu- rally accepts the fundamental Demo- cratic doctrine of local self-govern- ern best where they best understand conditions. The Democrat believes that the individual should be left to choose his own course except where his action would injuriously affect others: that each community should attend to it's own matters; that the State should have control of State affairs, and that the Federal Government should be su- preme in it's sphere.
 If man is really democratic in sen- timent, that is. if he really believes in the rule of the people, this belief dom mates him in the consideration of all questions that come before the people
 He looks at questions from the stand point of the whol epeople and not from the standpoint of a few. His .eohcep- ton of society is that 1t is built from the bottom. not from the top. While the aristocrat pictures prosperity AS dripping down to the masses from the inc a prosperity that does not begin with the producers of wealth.
 The 1s06 Desertions.
 There are those who are constantly are those who are Democratic in spots; there are those who apply Democratic principles to all questions, and there are those who apply Democratic pri- cirles to some questions. It ought to be the purpose of those who engage in educational work to enlarge the mum 
 principles are applied. It is hardly worth while to waste time upon one who is really aristocratic in sentiment It is impossible, to D. make ak cbnS bemoeraf af heart, but 1t is possible to show real Democrat. that he has failed to apply Democratic. principles to a particular question. In 1896 a number of persons left our party who called themselves Democrats Some of them were aris- tocratic In sentiment, and their de- ,-t, Vaf tte.V have not come back, and they will not come back so long as the Democratic party Is Democratic, but far greater number of those who left us in 1896 left from misunderstanding. Most of these have come back and the rest will come back. A majority of the Republfcans mental ideas. and to these we can ap- peal if the Democratic party convince them that it can be trusted to carry out Democratic principles.
 The Brond Platform.
 To recapitulate, Democrat, accord ing to party definition. is a man who connects himself with the Democratic party and acts politically with those who bear the same party name. Tn broader sense, he is a Democrat who believes in the rule of the people and who desires to make the Government the instrument in the hands of the people to carry out their will. Sucn man trusts the people and favors such reforms as will give to the people an increasing power. And a real Demo- crat will not only favor Democratic methods in government and insist upon the right of the majority to rule but will favor the administration of the Government in the interest of the whole people according to the Jeffer- sOnian maxim. Equal rights to all and special privileges to none.
 If attempted to apply these de1ni tions to particular questions, I would enter the field of controversy, but do not understand that there is or can be any controversy over the doctrine that one is Democratic when he trusts the people and undemocratic when he 1is- trusts them. Very truly yours.
 W. J. Bryan