The Springfield herald., 1908-08-14

tlOn OF SendtOIS. inc Hh'"''Ni
unable to secure this reform; the Repuo-
lican party. under its present leadership
Is resolutely opposed TO 1t; the Democrat-
ic party stands for 1t and has boldly de-
manded II. II I am elected to the presi-
dency those who are elected upon the
ticket with me will be. like myself.
pledged to this reform. and l shall con-
vene congress in extraordinary session
Immediately after Inauguration ana ASK.
among other things. for the fulhllment
OF this platform pledge.
House Rules Despotle.
The third instrumentallty employed to
defeat the will OF the people is found In
the rules of the house of representatives,.
Our platform points out that the house
OF representatives was designed by the
fathers of the constitution. to be the pop
ular branch of our government. respon-
sive to the public will" and adds:
THE house of representatives. as con-
trolled In recent years by the Republican
party. has ceased to be deliberative
and legislative body. responsive to the
will of a majority of the members. but
has come under the absolute domination
of the speaker. who has entire control OF
its deliberations, and powers of leg1s-
lation.
1--WE hive observed with amazement
the, popular branch of our federal gov
ernment helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment of measures
desired by a majority of Its members"
This arraignment is fully justified.
Other Issues Will Be Discussed Later.
"shall the people rule?" / repent, is de-
clared by our platform to be the over
shadowing question, and as the campaign
progresses. ! shall take occasion to dis
cuss this question as 1t manifests itself
in other Issues: for whether We consider
the tariff question. the trust question, the
railroad question, the banking question.
the labor question, the question of I'M
perialism. the development OF our water
ways or any other OF the numerous prob
lens which press for solution. We shall
find that the real question involved In
each is. whether the government shall
remain n mere business asset or faVor
seeking corporations be an instru-
ment in the hands of the people for the
advancement of the common veal.
Democrats Have Earned Confidence.
II the voters are satisfied with the
record of the Republican party and with
Its management of public affairs we can
not reasonably ask for a change In ad-
minstration: If. however, the voters feel
that the people, as n whole. have too lit
tie influence in shaping the policies OF
the government; II they feel that great
combinations of capital have encroached
upon the rights of the masses. and en-
ployed the instrumentalities of govern
ment to secure an unfair share OF the to-
tai wealth produced. then we have
right to expect verdict against the Re-
publican party and In favor OF the Demo-
cratic party; for our party has risked de-
feat-aye, suffered defcat-in Its effort to
arouse the conscience OF the public and
to bring about that very awakening to
which Mr.. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy to be intrusted
with leadership in great cause who are
willing to die for it. and the Democratic
rtv itH worthIDeSS Dy It's
refusal to purchase victory by delivering
the people into the hands of those who
have despoiled them. In this contest be-
tween Democracy on the one side and
plutocracy on the other, the Democratic
party has taken Its position on the side
OF equal rights, and invites the opposi-
tlon of those who use politics to secure
special privileges and governmental Ia
vortism. GauHing the progress of the
nation, not by the happiness or wealth
or refinement of few. but by the pros
perity and advancement OF the average
man." the Democratic party charges the
Republican party with being the promo
ter of present abuses, the opponent or
necessary remedies and the only bulwark
of private monopoly. The Democratic
party affirms that in this campaign 1t
is the only party, having n prospect of
success. which stands for Justice In gov
ernment and for equity in the division
of the fruits Of industry.
Democratic Party Defends Honest
Wealth.
We may expect those who have COM
mitted larceny by law and purchased i'm
munity with their political Influence. to
attempt to raise false issues, and to en-
plov the livery of heaven" to conceal
their evil purposes. but they can no long
deceive. The Democratic party is not
the enemy OF any legitimate industry or
of honest accumulations. 1t is, on the
contrary, n friend Of industry and the
steadfast protector of that wealth which
represents service to society. The
Democratic party does not seek to an
rihilate all corporations: 1t simply asserts
that as the government creates corpora
tions. 1t must retain the power TO regu-
late and to control them. and that it
should not permit any corporation to
convert itself into a monopoly. Surely
should have the cooperation of all
legitimate corporations in our effort to
protect business and industry from the
odum which lawless combinations of
capital will. II unchecked, cast upon
them. only by the separation OF the good
from the bad can the good be made Sc
cure.
Not Revolution But Reformation.
The Democratic party seeks not revolu-
tion but reformation, and need hardly
remind the student OF history that cures
are mildest when applied at once: that
remedies increase IN severity as tnelr
application is postponed. Blood poison
ing NAV be stopped by the loss of a fin
ger to-day: ii may cost an arm to-mor-
row or = life the next day. So poison in
the body polite can not be removed too
soon. for the evils produced by ii increase
with the lapse of time. That there are
abuses which need to be remedied, even
the Republican candidate admits: that
his party is unable to remedy them, has
been fully demonstrated during the last
ten years. ] have such confidence In the
intelligence well as the patriotism of
the people. that can not doubt their
readiness to accept the reasonable re-
forms which our party proposes. rather
than permit the continued growth of cx-
listing abuses to hurry the country on to
remedies more radical and more drastic.
The Divine Law of Rewards.
There is a Divine law of rewards. When
fruitful soil. the sunshine with its
ture. he proclaimed. as clearly as If his
voice had Numbered from the clouds: GO
work. and according to your industry
and your Intelligence. so shall be your
reward" Only where might has over
thrown, cunning undermined govern
meut suspended this law. has different
law prevailed. To conform the govern
ment to this law ought to be the ambi
tion of the statesman: and no party can
have a higher mission than to make 1t
reality wherever governments can lesiti-
mately operate.