Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-29
PARISH SOUNDS
WARNING NOTE
REPEATS CAUTION STATED BY
LINCOLN
ENVIRONMENT OF CAPITAL is
DANGEROUS, He DECLARES
Flags oIigarchy Of Wealth In Address
to Democratic League and
Blames Republicans
for Conditions


for Conditions
Thomas e. Parish asked the Demo-
cratic league of Los Angeles yesterday
at its weekly MONDAY meeting at the
Westminster hotel to think of the COM
mon people, the national ark of safety
in times of peace.
In a lengthy address, listened to at
tentively, the thoughtful speaker traced
the origin of the principles of the Dem
ocratic party, and sounded a warning
to the moneyed interests which persist
in trampling on the rights of the peo-
pie.
The leaguers, after hearing the ad-
dress, formally asked Mr.. Parish to
deliver q series of lectures on the
growth and development of the South
ern Pacific Railroad company as a po-
litical machine, the motion being made
by Robert Loucks, and 1t was carried,
Mr.. Parish consenting to do so in the
next few weeks.
In his address yesterday Mr.. Parish
said, after a historical preface concern
ing conditions which led to the Civil
War:
Freedom shrieked when Lincoln fell.
washington, Jefferson, Jackson and
Lincoln are the immortals of America,
whose undying fame will increase in
luster with every succeeding age.
Urges Young Men
II urge you all, young men especial
ly, to drink deep from springs of patri-
otic endeavor they have bequeathed us,
and from their teachings draw the in
spiration to courageously battle in war
or peace, even as they fought to pre-
serve untarnished the glorious heritage
of American freedom-a government of
equal rights and equal privileges. Hew
to line and let the chips fall where
they mayl
II have not voted for six years. When
Ryan and Belmont dictated the Demo-
cratic nomination In 1904 for president
I felt that the home in which had
quietly rested had been siezed by unin-
vited guests, and 1t was better that
came In the open, the dawn of better
day.
"'Horatio Seymour, the great leader
Of Democracy forty years ago, declared
that the people would rule in this coun-
try, If not by ballots, then by bayo-
nets. / believe he spoke truly; and TO
you, nv friends, 1 say there is danger
in present conditions.
Americans will never consent to be
Industrial slaves. An internecine war
more terrible in its effects than the
war between the states Is imminent,
and I appeal to you to avert the danger
while 1t is yet possible.
Not Party Fealty
1.-The question of preserving to the
people a representative government is
not a question Of party fealty, but OF
conscience and patriotism, which can
only succeed by a union Of all good cit
izens.
II would gladly give UP my life to-
morrow If by that sacrifice could as
sure the safety of the republic.
'In the present awakening of the
people 1 read the signs of better days.
Days when through the silent ballot of
freemen the people will be enthroned.
I'm his second inaugural address, de-
livered March 4, 1865, Lincoln fore
shadowed the conditions that now i'm
peril the nation, when he declared in
effect that the great danger, more dan
gerous than armed rebellion, would re-
suit from the enthronement of capital,
and he warned his countrymen
against 1t.
Wealth Dictates Laws
mo unprejudiced mind calmly con-
sidering present conditions but is con-
WINGED that an oligarchy Of wealth die
tates the legislation Of most of our
states, the legislation in congress, and
to a very great extent the decisions of
our courts. In municipal, state and
national legislation your servants, men
CAAOSSn W ISRlCoVlAl JOus III cliliAOol CN-
cry department of government, work
in the interest Of some railroad, trust
or public service corp ration.
"Since the Civil War the tendency of
legislation, with few exceptions, when
ever and wherever controlled and di-
rected by the Republican party, has
been to the concentration of wealth in
the hands Of a few, instead of it's dis
tribution among the masses who Gre
ate 1t; until now you have this condi-
ton in free America: One per cent of
ou- population owns one-half of our
wealth, 49 per cent owning the other
half, and so per cent propertyless, de-
daily bread: the natural result Of mall
administration and mal-legislation,
partnership of government and plu-
tocracy.
"Uncle Sam espoused the Republl-
can party, a virgin pure and chaste, Of
stern morality and high ideals.
Uncle Sam Seeks Divorce
"1-77y he seeks q divorce and he Pc
titions our highest tribunal, the people
of America representing the sovereign
ty of the nation, for absolute divorce,
because in later years he finds his
house neglected and his domestic hap
harlotry Of his spouse, who has allowed
herself to be debauched and degraded
at the riotous banquets of predatory
wealth.
"He pledges you, sovereigns Of Amer
ica, that If you grant his petition he
will remand to deserved oblivion such
statesmen as Aldrich, Cannon, Perkins
and Joe Bailey, and elevate men to po-
sitions of honor and trust in city, coun-
ty, state and nation who will respect
your wishes and guard your interests,
never crooking the pregnant hinges of
the knee that thrift may follow fawn-
ing
"This is the issue of the greatest mo-
ment in the present campaign.
Voters Taking Notice
For twelve years reform Democrats
have been protesting against the ex-
isting order of things, declaring that
the people were ignored in legislation;
and it is only now the mass of voters
have been compelled to stand up and
take notice.
when in 1896 the Democracy adopt
ed a radical platform, and placed a
radical Democrat on 1t, whose name
was Bryan, our opponents held up their
hands in holy horror and filled the land
with the inane cry of anarchy and So
clalism.
Now with the same leader and a
platform equally radical upon all pres
ent issues, no one cries anarchy, for
Republicans have grown, If not in vir-
tue, then In wisdom, for they have
adopted many of the planks Democrats
have fought for, for 10! these many
years.
- woI. 4