The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-11-18
A BATTLE LOST IA WAR BUT
BEGUN,

.
To the Readers of the Commoner;
The election Of 1908 is over and
the returns Disclose signal VIC
for our opponents, but the princi.
pies for which our party stands,
the policies for which our party
contends these are not dead. A
good proposition is not made bad
by rejection at the polls; a needed
reform lie not made unnecessary
by en- adverse vote. The legisla-
ton asked for by the democratic
| party in its last national platform
was not of a temporary character
lit was legislation which will be
of permanent advantage when 1t lie
secured.
Does anyone. believe that the
American people will permanently
permit seoresy as to campaign DON.
tributions9 Docs anyone believe
/
that the American people will per
manently permit the will of the
voters to be thwarted, as it is now,
by the election of senators through
legislatures2 Does anyone believe
that the trnsts will be permitted
to permanently exploit the massesp
Does anyone believe that the oon'
sumer will permanently permit the
tariff to be written by the benefi-
oiaries of that TARIFF Does any.
one believe that the public will
permanently tolerate enlargement
between labor and oapitalP Doet
anyone believe that the fifteen
millions of depositors will foreye,
permit their savings to be leopard
ICED as at PRESENT. Does anyone
believe that the extravaganza OF
the government will go on forever
unoheokedP Does anyone believe
that our republic will permanently
oonsent to a colonial policy With
lite humiliations and financial burd,
ens2 There must be a party rep
resenting the peoples protest
against wrong in high places,
against corruption in politics and
against the oppression of the strug
Cling masses; and the democratic
party must continue it's fight OF
dissolve. II could not exist as Il
plutooratio party.
During the past twelve years the
democratic party has accomplished
more out of power than the repub
lican party has accomplished in
office, and this lie sufficient re
ward for those who fight for 3
righteous cause. 1t would have
been pleasant to have been able te
reward worthy democrats with off
DIAL positions, but the most worthy
of the democrats are not looking
for official positions, they are look
ing for good government, and they
labor unselfishly for the promo
ton of good government. They
will neither be discouraged nor
dismayed by defeat They oan
not cease to be interested in the
government, for indifference would
only invite worse abuses than those
from wbioh We now suffer The
fight must be continued becau6e f
good government is the richest
Legacy that a parent can leave to
child,
As for me, let no one worry abou'
my future. The holding of Office
is a mere incident in the life Of
these who are devoted to reforms.
The reform is the essential thing,
LIE one can advance reforms by hold
ing office, then the holding of
office is justifiable; if one can best
advance reforms as private oiti.
zen, then the holding of Office is
undesirable. The world owes me
nothing; 1 have been sbundsntly
compensated for what I have been
able to do. Lily life will not be
long enough to repay the people
Cor their support, and for the con-
tidenoe which they have expressed
My gratitude to those with. whom
l have labored surpaBses language
and the days of the future will BIT
devoted to work in the interest Of
the people as 1 understand that
interest, and in behalf of those re.
forms which seem to me to be the
best. l invite the cooperation; Of
those who approve, and l shall not
be deferred by the oritioism Of
those who disapprove. With an
abiding faith in the triumph OF
the truth and an unfaltering con