The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-08

l And so we behold a SubVerSion Of our l free institution, a government voluntari- 1 1y subordinating itself to selfish, pri- vate ends, special privilege resorting to cunning, bribery and intimidation to main tain its unholy power while the masses timidly hope that when avarice has at last reached the point of satiety 1t will then benevolently permit the people to resume their rightful share in the gov ernment of themselves. Whenever the mutterings of the people become too threatening the cry of confiscation goes up and appeals are frantcally made to the sacred rights of party. This is in- tended to alright the ears of honest men in the enjoyment of the fruits of their industry and thrift and thus by playing upon their prejudices and fears to deter them from casting their influence on the side of wholesome reforms. The cry of confiscation is the historic defense of usurpation. Let the people take warning Whenever the wrongs of today become the vested rights of tomorrow the na- ton is in deadly peril.
 Not an Enemy.
 "The democratic party is not the ene- my of property; but to the contrary, it has always stood and will continue to stand firmly against every species of ag- gression that would destroy or weaken the right of any man to enjoy the re- wards to which his patience, his skill, his industry and his economic entitle him. Our party approves that feeling of pride which always accompanies the possession of property and it comments an individual ownership in the soil that will bring to the homes of America more of the convenience, comforts and lux uries of life. Against the evils of special privilege we urge the benefits of equal opportunity in order that there may be more land owners, more homes, and more happiness among the masses. "The democratic party is not an enemy of all corporations. It recognizes their great value in the industrial world Through the agency of incorporation scattered wealth is brought together and : given a driving force that 1t would not otherwise possess. Great enterprises are thereby undertaken and the undeveloped resources of the country added to the wealth of the world
 Our party is rot opposed to production on large scale, but il is unalterably op- posed to morop@ly .h production. It is 1 easier to prevent monopoly than 1t Is to l control 1t after est5 blished. An ounce of prevention IS worth pound of cure, and | the withd .awol of special privileges will 1 take away the meats on which the trusts 1 are fed. If this be followed by a crim inal prosecution and an imprisonment Of | corporations. monopoly will be shorn of many of it's teirors
 Republicans Indicted. l Some one suggested that this conven- ! tion should publish an indictment against l the republican party. We can probably expedite the proceedings by entering the plea of guilty that is contained in the Chicago platform, simply changing the words We will'' to the words We did ! not" to conform to the admitted facts. We then have the following republican 1 confession of guilt:
 "We did not revise the tariff.' ] "We did not amend the antitrust laws 1 to secure greater effectiveness in the ] prosecution of criminal monopolies."
 "We did not add a single line to the interstate commerce law, giving the fed eral government supervision over the is- 1 sues of stocks and bonds by interstate 1 carriers"
 ''We did ont enact a currency measure that would mitigate the evils of finan- cial panic such as has recently prostrat- ed the country under republican admin 1 istration."
 'We did not limit the opportunities for | abusing the writ of injunction"
 "We did not establish postal savings 1 banks"
 we did not establish a burean of l mines and mining"
 We did not admit into the union the territories of New Mexico and Arizona as separate states"
 Financial Crisis. "The last Congress was in session dur-l | ing a financial crisis when innumerable banking institutions, prefering a holiday l to funeral, closed their doors and filled | the minds of the millions of depositors TI,1 in 1 favor of postal savings banks which had been steadily growing in this country be-
 came almost universal during the recent | panic So insistent became the voice of | the people that the President sent
 special message to Congress urging the
 establishment of postal savings banks l where the earnings of our people might be safely deposited under the direct con-
 trol and responsibility of the federal gov | ernment, and where peculating bank
 cashier or any member of the board of | directors could eat up the savings of | years.
 Anti-Injunction.
 "The most palpable instance of the insincerity of the Chicago platform Is found in its declaration respecting the issuance of injunctions. It would have
 been entitled to more respect if 1t had
 omitted all mention of it. At session l after session or congress, laDOr HdS
 pleaded for relief from the abuses of injunctions, but it's appeals have fallen on deaf ears and there has been no
 indication that remedial legislation of
 any character would be enacted. The oligarchy in the House and Senate has
 decided that nothing shall be done to
 weaken any advantage that corpora
 tions have gained In labor disputes.
 "The fact is that all our citizens, l without respect to station or occupa-
 ton in life have a genuine respect for | the courts and desire to maintain their | integrity.
 "The charge that the courts are be-
 ing assailed is simply made for the l purpose of diverting attention from the | real issue. Heretofore it has not been | considered treason or an unwarranta-
 ble attack upon the honor of the courts
 to define their Jurisdiction. prescribe
 their proceedings, restrict their pro
 cesses and generally to fix the bounds within which judicial functions shall be exercised.
 Tt makes no difference whether the ! | courts are acting in excess of their , Jurisdiction or strictly within their , delegated powers. In either case the people have a right to throw addition lal safeguards around human liberty. | There can be no reflection upon the honesty of the courts in the passage of a measure that will confine the . equity powers of the federal judiciary : | within such bounds as the people of the | United States, through the legislative branches of their government may de- f termine. This democratic convention