The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-14

vision of the rules as will bring the
popular branch of the federal gov
ernment into harmony with the ideas
! of those who framed our constltu-
ton and founded our government.
C.hs1. Issues viii BE Discusscu later
4 Shall the people rule?" l re-
peat, is declared by our platform to
be the overshadowing question, and
as the campaign progresses, I shall
itake occasion to discuss this ques-
tion as it manifests itself in other
tissues; for whether we consider the
tariff question, the trust question,
the railroad question, the labor
question, the question of imperial
ism, the development of our water
ways, or any other of the numerous
problems which press for solution,
Iweshall find that the real question
Involved in each is, whether the
government shall remain a mere
business asset of favor seeking cor
porations or be an instrument in the
hands of the people for the advance
ment of the common veal.
Democratic Party Earned Confidence.
If the voters are satisfied with
the record OF the Republican party
and with it's management of public
Laffairs we cannot ask for a change
in administration; if, however, the
voters feel that the people,\ as a
whole. have too little influence In
shaping the policies Of the govern
ment; if they feel that great COM
binations of capital have encroach-
ed upon the rights of the masses
and employed the instrumentaIltles
Of government to secure an unfair
share of the total wealth produced,
then we have right to expect Ver-
dict against the Republican party anG
in favor of the Democratic party;
for our party has rished defeat
ave, suffered defeat-in its effort TO
arouse the conscience Of Ele public
and to bring about that very awaken
ing to which Mr.. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy to be en-
trusted with leadership IN great
cause who are willing to die for It,
and the Democratic party has proven
its .worthiness by its refusal to pur-
chase victory by delivering the peo-
nile 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
other, the Democratic party has TAX
en- its position on the side of equal
=, rights, and invites the opposition OF
those who use politics to secure
special privileges and governmental
favoritism. Gauging the progress
of the nation, not by the happiness
or wealth or refinement of a few,
but by the prosperity and advance
ment of the average man, the Demo
cratic party charges the Republican
party with being the promoter of
present abuses, the opponent of ne
cessary remedies and the only bull
walk of private monopoly The De-
|mocratic party affirms that in this
campaign it is the only party, hav-
ing a prospect of success, which
stands for justice in government
and for equity in the division of the
fruits of industry.
Democratic Party Defender of Honest
Wealth.
We may expect those who have
committed larceny by law and pur-
chased immunity with their politi-
cal influence, to attempt to raise
false issues, and to employ "the
livery of Heaven to conceal their
evil purposes, but they can no longer
deceive. The Democratic party is
not the enemy Of any legitimate in
dustry or of honest accumulationS.
1t is, on the contrary, a friend of
industry and the Steadfast protector
of that wealth which represents u
service to society The Democratic
party does not seek to annihilate all
corporations; it simply asserts that
as the government creates corpora
tions. it must retain the power to
regulate and to control them, and
that it should not permit any cor
poration to convert itself into a mo-
nopoly. Surely we should have the
cooperation of all legitimate cor
porations in our effort to protect
business and industry from the odium
which lawleSS combinations Of capi-
tai will, if unchecked, cast upon
them. Only by the separation of
the good from the bad can the good
he made secure.
Not revolution, but Reformation.
The Democratic party seeks not
revolution, but reformation, and
need hardly remind the student of
history that cures are mildeSt when
applied at once; that remedies in
crease in severity as their application
is postponed. Blood poisoning may
be stopped by the loss of a finger
today; it may cost an arm tomorrow
or life the next day So poso.
in the body polite can nor be re-
moved TOO soon. for the evils prc-
duced by it increase with the lapse
of time That there are abuses
which ned to be remedied, even the
Republican candidate admits; that
his party is unable to remedy them,
hoe boan fully dnmOnStratpd durin o