The Robesonian., 1908-08-06
LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, tt
BRYAN AND DEMOCRACY

That the People Cannot Gov
ern Themselves Represented
by Mr.. Taft; That They Can
Represented by Mr. Bryan
Two Old Theories of Govern
ment Contrasted.
To the Editor of The Robesonian.
In the formative period of our
government there were two theo-
ries advanced, and each one was
urged by its friends as the
foundation for the American
government. One was that
there should be a strong central
government with sufficient pow
er to obliterate State lines and
suppress local self-government
when those in authority should
deem it necessary to enlarge the
central power. The advocatesof
this theory believed that the
people could not govern them
selves and should therefore be
held in check by a force su-
perior to them. The other the
ory was that as Americans had
proven themselves capable OF
self-government, the people
should be 4he chief source of
power, and no authority should
be exercised by the general gov.
ernment not expressly delegated
to it by the States.
Alexander Hamilton became
the leader of the former, anc
Thomas jefferson of the latter.
The constitution is a COM
promise of these two ideas. The
people are allowed to vote fol
Congressman, but are not per
mitted to vote, directly, for theil
Senators or President.
Hamilton's followers have
been known as "Federalists"
National Republicans" and
since 1856, by the distinctly
name Republicans"
Jefferson's disciples were a
first called Republicans" i
some sections, in others Den
ocrats. Since President Jack
sons time they have been calle
Democrats.
The Republicans have alway
] striven to reach their ideal i
government by charging tn
powers of the constitution b
inference and Interpretation.
q In proof Of this, study the az
Z ministrations of Presidents Jn'
Adams, Lincoln and Roosevelt
During the slavery agitation {
1888, one of the most promine1
d Republican leaders declared tt
constitution to be "a covenal
u with death and an agreemel
" with hell." D."
, The Democrats have alway
stood by and defended the COZ
stitution as the law of the lam
President Jackson declared, Il
legitimateaut.lority is abundant
I. sufficient for the purposes Fl
, which it was created, and i
powers being expressly enume
ated, there can be no justificatiC
for claiming anything beyo1
them" This from Preside,
= Jefferson: "Some think that m;
- cannot be trusted with the go
ernment of himself. Can h
then be trusted with the go
NJ ernment, of others? or have v
an angels in the form of Kings,
of govern him? Let history answ
u this question"
Rome was one of the me
noted Of ancient Republics, b
refused the peoples over who
OH she extended her sway t
en- privilege of local self-govel
IRE ment, and as a consequence h
en- great central government,
en- longer able to resist the despt
on that such system breeds, f
N ally fell beneath the weight
Empire"
The two theries of governme
\ are hoary with age. That It
~ people cannot govern the
selves" is before us in the p
son of Mr.. Taft; that they CO
is represented by Mr.. Bry;
: The Republican party has Civ
- US the horrors of a civil W;
4 the inequalities of a "robl
u TARIFF and the hardships of
panic.
The Democratic party ado
to the original limits of
United States about two-thi
of her preseut territory, pass
the first pension law for
, benefit of soldiers, enacted
Is first tariff law for revenue o
y and proclaims Equal and ex
justice to all men," Bryan ;
= Democracy-the worlds /
hope.
H. L. EDENs
Pembroke, N. c., Aug.
1908.