The Washington herald., 1909-05-22

Outlining the principles OF the Demo-
cratic party relative 20 the tariff Ques-
ton. and taking the Republican party
20 task for its high protection system.
Senator Culberson. OF Texas. yesterday
addressed the Senate for more than an
hour
Nr. CulbersOn declared individual Dem
ocrats might favor free trade or protec-
ton for certain articles. but that the
party stood for tariff for revenue only.
He engaged IN several heated eolloquies
with Senator .Aldrich, chairman Of the
Finance Committee, and other Republican
leaders. and answered many questions
hurled at him from different parts OF the
chamber.
The Democratic party arose, in some
measure. from the character Of the Con
stitution u the United States and the
relation OF the several States to the
Union which that instrument establish
sd" said Senator Culberson- But IL q
better and larger sense. perhaps, Il
right and public authority.
since the adoption CT the Federal Cor
stttution the founder, in his lifetime, and
the loyal adherents Of the Democratic
party in each generation. as opposed
70 the FederaIist. the Whig. and the Re-
publican parties. have eontended for the
proper limitation and restriction OF al
public authority, for the separation and
Independence OF the three great divisions
OF the government, and for such con-
struction Of that Constitution as would
maintain unimpaIred tho Just and consti-
tutionsI distribution OF State and Federal
powers.
What Party Demands.
while the Democratic party stands
more resoIutely than any other party for
the rights OF the States. and is their
foremost and historic champion, Il is not
the State rights party alone; and while
i contends for all the constitutional pow
ers Of the general government It is not
the Federal party. II is rather the party
Of the Constitution
Jefferson rightly declared that the es-
seutIal principles OF our government
which affect this subject. consist in the
support CT the State governments IN al
their rights as the most competent ad-
rninistrations for OUT domestic concerns
and the surest bulwarks against anti
Republican tendencies and the preser-
vation Of the general movement in lis
whole constitutional vigor as the shee'
anchor Of our peace az home and SafetI
abroad
Besides the natural ana inherent OBJ
lection TO q strong government, with IL
tendency to encroach upon private right
and 70 vex. hsrass. and oppress the citi
zen, the Democratic party conceives tha
especially in a great country Ike III
United States, with a vast population
spread over a far extended contInenta
territory, the people Immediately affecte'
and concerned can best regulate thet
own local and domestic effairs. and tha
q consolidated. central government VII
ln time become extravsgant, corrupt, znC
oppressive.
WouId DecentraIfze Government.
Instead Of consolidating. It would
therefore, decentralize the gcvernmen
within its fair constitutional limits. a
was the aspiration Of its founders 10
only because that Is the constitutions
mandate, but also because within tha
principle rests the public welfare, for ii
nearer the seat Of power is placed to tn
people the more responsive it viii be Z
their VIII. and the farther II is mOve
frsnI them the more il viii be disregard
ed
IT has insisted Ast the governmen
Of the United StateS IS one OF limited an
enumerated powers, and that as declare
IN the tenth amendment. such power
as were not delegated to It by the Con
stitution nor prohibited by Il to the stats
were reserved 70 the States respectivei
or 70 the people.
"As e necessary consequence. the Demo
cratic party has combated for more tia
g century the great mass OF implie
powers IN the Federal government cor
tended for by Alexander Hamilton an
the several political parties which hav
succeeded 10 his views. Not content wit
the progress OF the ancient doctrine c
implied powers, the imperious and bass
less dogma OF constructive constitutions
amendment has recently been boldly prc
claimed and the Democratic party shoul
resist II as Il would an army with bar
ners
Organic Principles Strong
But, Mr.. President as have alread
suggested, the organic principles Of tn
party are stronger even than constitU
tional law The political philosophy {
the party finds deeper root than in tn
Interpretation Of the limitations an
safeguards Of a written constitution
precious though they be.
While believing In such a constitution
and while part Of its mission is 70 Pr
serve the one under which We live as n
best hope OF mankind yet devised. n
great aim Of the party IS to achieve an
Perpetuete personal and political and II
Egious freedom
AEtaEOnizes Principles.
The Republican party. Ike the Fec
e-alist and the Wing parties, Of which
s. tie successor, antagonizes these prime
FleS. both those Of a constitutional ar
6, e CT a more general character. Du
and since the civil war, and part