Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-05-22

tation and legislation with re-
spect to commercial and corpor-
ate aft airs generally.
They justly complain in their
preambles of the unfortunate
business situation, but they
attribute the conditions to u
large extent to agitations rather
than to the real cause which
the Republican party has been
chiefest in creating-vis: I'M
wholesome, uneconomic, un-
scientific special legislation.
While sympathizing fully with
the purpose of those who ardent
ly seek a return of prosperity
this Magazine protests against
the sinister argument of these
resolutions.
The people have been presist-
emily taught that the Republi-
can party is the" advance agent
of prosperity" that it could by
the mere fact of being and keep
ing in power open the mills, if
not the minis, and that in its
train or wake is all that is good
to have. But the people have
seen bank failures of appalling
magnitude and commercial de-
preston with endless ramifica-
tions of disaster attend the
closing months and the passing
of one Republican administra-
ton and they behold another
Republican administration ap-
parently powerless to cope with
the commercial havoc that has
been wrought.
The remedy for all this GER
tainly cannot be found in a
cessation of agitation. Neither
can it be found in old time
patch work, privilege legisla-
ton. Business Will revive in
time no matter what Congress
or Legislatures may do but if
the same old methods of legisla-
ton obtain the same depres-
sions and disorders must recur
with more alarming frequency.
This certainly is the lesson of
experience and forms the indict.
ment of intelligence against
Republican buncombe.
Coincident with the resolu-
tons alluded to, all over the
United States there appears a
movement designed to resist
the increase of resentment and
back of this movement appear
the very forces which have de-
manded and which have profit
ed by favoritism in legislation
and which now insist that all
agitations about the evils their
methods have wrought shall
cease.
Various kinds of special legis-
lation for favored industries
are enacted, until monopolies
are created and fostered, in
dividual business enterprise is
menaced, both the producer and
the consumer are victimized
and then-lo, no one must dis
cuss or legislate remedy.
When a patient is in such
serious straits that even a con-
sultation of doctors is deemed
dangerous, what must be said
of his previous treatment or
future prospect? When the
economic situation of the coun-
try is so complicated and dis
ordered that even a considera-
ton of the ailment and its
remedy by the chosen represen-
tatives of the people is deplor-
ed. what must be said of the
agencies, individuals and party
policies which, with full swing
in government, have achieved
such an end?
If the masses of the people,
the great body of producers and
consumers, that vast army of
industrious and enterprising
business men who seek nothing
of the government save equality
of privilege and opportunity,
including Legitimate competi-
ton, would grasp the funda-
mental economic principal and
then demand its application,
that every time a special privi-
lege is granted by the govern
ment the individual is the loser
in economic liberty and posi-
bly, there would be an end to
this jugglery with Congress
and courts to sustain and justi-
fly these pernicious policies and
govern ment outrages.
But what is the practical
thing to be done: 1t was a
favorite remark of Jefferson
tha+ that Government ic host