The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-04-16

i form of our principles, and to force
once more to the front the man whom
our Democratic mass delightcth to
honor.
"The Democratic party in its his
tory and in its traditions is a party
Of the people. 1t was set for the wei
fare and the safety of the plain peo-
pie of America. It was established
for the abolition Of privilege, the de-
thronement of aristocracy, the re-
buke Of corruption, the destruction
of concentrated power. 1t was form
ed for the enthronement Of liberty
and the economic and personal pros
perity Of the people. The Democratic
party is not held now and never must
be held for the exploitation Of indi-
vidual ambitions and for the capture
Of offices 70 be distributed among its
! followers at the polls.
"Men who believe in certain prin-
ciplcs and in certain theories Of gov
crnmcnt. band themselves together in
an organized movement to secure the
triumph Of these theories at the bal
lot box and their administration Of
the government. When parties either
/ forget their principles or project the
ambitions Of their leaders CT the sci
fish aspirations Of their oi1ice-hold-
rrS to the subordnation Of the great
principles which drew them togeth-
CT. then parties have prostitutcd their
! faith. failed in their mission and for
feitcd the obligation to individual
loyalty among their followers. When
ever Democracy reaches the time
when it is not willing to sacrifice
men, however dear and honorcd, or
power. however great and desirable.
in order to accomplish those great and
splendid ends for which the faith
ers consccrated it, then Democracy
is no longer party Of the people,
but has become conspiracy Of spoils-
men. or a mob Of selfish grafters in
the republics life.
Forty Years Fighting.
"Mr. Chairman, we have fought
for 90 years for that triumph at the
polls which would give our theories
! their due course to be glorificd in the
administration Of the government. We
have failed for DO years, with one cx-
ccption. We found once a strong man
from New York who was willing to
90 down with the principle Of tariff
reform in the full brave faith Of its
ultimate triumph. The absence Of a
legislative majority to reinforce exc
cutive patriotism tied the hands of
our only Democratic president and
crippled his grand capacity for the
vindication Of Democratic ideals. But
we have left us the record Of a great
uamc and an honest administration
under Grover Cleveland Of New York.
"Wr are fr"ntcd now with condi-
ii"nS in this republic which few men
J could have forcscrn and which no
man ten years AGO would have the
trmrrity to predict. Ont Of the camps
Of tnc enemy. ont Of The seats Of The
I Scorntul. ult Of the l'rrtnriam Guard
ur privilege and monopoly, there has
com" an urrNprrtcd and potential
convert lu the rrrrdS and theories Of
! Democracy. And whether we find
the school master who taught him in
the eloquent and irresistible cvanyels
of Bryan. in the thunder which has
doomed pcrsistcntly from the eight
great guns of the indOmitable Hearst
or whether that Providence which
shapes the destinics Of nations and
of men has dropped The scales from
his partizan eyes, the fact remains
that Theodore Roosevelt has learned
his Democratic lesson we'll. We may
rs we'll acknowledge fairly what his
tory will fcarlessly affirm, that he
has become the forcmsot and most cf-
tcclivc executor Of Democratic poll
ri"S and the most practical champion
Of popular rights which these TIVE
generations OF the republic have pro-
ducrA.
"Thr things for which we have
fought for 40 years he mas beer put
tin" into fearless and effective cxrcu-
'i"m. Since William H. Hearst flung
at his feet the challenge to reform in
that inc"rnparahlc array Of statistics
which proved IN" existence and the
miuuity Of The trusts, the strenuous
president or the United States has not
failed or faltcrcd in his discreet and