The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12

Especial From STAFF Correspondent
ROANOKE. VA. June ll.-Speaker
Byrd, as temporary chairman made a
brief but very strong speech. He said:
The Democracy of this state has as
sembled TO send its message and its
representatives TO the Democracy of
the nation. Virginia has always spoken
with authority and has always been
heard with respect.
According to custom. I will endeavor
to suggest to the consideration % this
assemblage declaration of those prin-
ciples which | conceive 10 be funda-
mental.
Public opinion is supposed in the
long run To control the government of
all democracics. but public opinion is
not self-executing. This government
are the instruments used by public
opinion to carry out Its will.
OF those issues which may conceiv-
ably be presented in n national plat
form. it Is important not only to select
a righteous one, but one which pub
lie opinion regards as paramount.
In national matters public opinion
is the expression of the average
opinion. ana the average purpose of
the nation. Out of the fact that pub
lie opinion Is tho opinion OF the aver
age man grows the fact that public
opinion does not deal theoretically
with more than one great issue in a
single campaign.
Not Multiply Issue.
/ think, therefore. 1t would be I'M
fortunate for the Democratic platform
thus be distracted from matters of
greater Importance. TO matters of less
Importance. the proper subordination
of issues would be confused and the
party would lose the strength which
comes of concentrated purpose and q
clear comprehension of that purpose.
II It is proper to select some prn-
cipIe about which public opinion has
rrVSt a1liyp1--an Issue which all
Democrats can agree, and to which
| many Republicans will inevitably be
atNacted--I should say that the re-
form of the tariff is such an issue.
There is nothing the thoughtful Re-
publican fears so much as this issue.
| They fear it so much that at Chicago
they will again promise tariff revision.
The Republican party has never re-
| yised the tariff except to revise it up
wards, and itnever will reform the tariff,
because 1t would have first to reform
| itself. and a genuine reformation Of
the Republican party would mean It's
| permanent disintegration.
Cervantes says that every man Is
| the son of his own works. and this is
also true of political parties.
For forty years the Republican party
! has deliberately bid for the support
Of those who wish to reap where they
| have not sowed. TO get what they have
! they have organized into .malefcent
| activity. Tho relation of this party to
| the multitudinous forms Of eXaction
| which its policy has created is as close
1 as the tie which bound one Siamese
| twin to his brother; the cutting of the
/, bond would mean the destruction OF
both.
ers, like Speaker Cannon, regard the
! Dingley bill as sacred 1t is to them
/ the ark of the covenant, the covenant
| which binds to the Republican party
i5innumerable influences of the special
! and protected interests, and they know
that the Republican who lays his hand
| upon this ark. save in reverence, shall
| surely die the political death.
The greatest OF all these concessions
| to predatory wealth. by which the Re
publican party has cemented Its power
minated in the Dingley bill. under
| whose eXaction the nation now SUI
4 feps and from which I conceive it Is
to be the duty of the Democratic party
Ito give relief.
HIS Taught the People. 4
! These inordinate tariffs have taught
/ the people this llnwholesome lesson
that the law itself may be so manIipu-
selves essentially illegal and Immoral
! that the most sacred function OF
soveregnty,, the power Of taYation
may be utilized to- divert public TIL
1t is this unrighteous concession tc
i the cupidity OF men,. and. this inten-
tional prostitution Of public law to
private gain which has done more. thar
i anything else to undermine the mora
/ stamina of this nation, and to lower
the standard .aby which conduct and
4 opinion are appraised.
The Roman aristocrats carved great
! fortunes out OF the plumber of con
4 quered and misgoverned proYinces;sthe
greater fortunes by tribute eXacteG
4 from their ntryfllen. h
| These tariffs have not only been tht
ilmother Of monster combinations Whtcl
i hold the nation in commercial subjec-
4 ton, hut they have brought ia bout al
,Iunholy struggle between industralisn
Il and Democracy.s{ fsg III }S by lsg 5 s VI
R,ne fa efH P Paom th1
y siXteenth h century. to i his year Of on.