The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-11-26
What is Democracy?

at some length to the question, Wh
are you a Democratic Summing u
he said, Whatever assails the right
of State, under the Constitution, Q
any rights guaranteed to or reserved t
the people is opposed to Democracy
Selfish interests and political ambition
to usurp power are unceasing hostilit.
to true Democracy, and call for tina
eternal vigilance which is the 'pric
of liberty. :"
There are none who will deny tina
Senator Morgan was Democratic au
thority. There are few who will as
sumo that he was not one of the bes
Democrats in the South or in any Other
country. Everybody knows that he
was a true exponent of the Jeffersonian
ideas.
Then if these are the elements OF
faith in the Democratic creed, why is
it hard to find declaration of prin-
ciples upon which the party can unite.
If the Capitalization of government is
antagonistic to Democratic principles,
if Capitalization is an usurpation of in
dividual liberty, how can the centrali-
zation of business in the organization
of great corporations controlling wealth
be in unison with Democracy. Central
ization of government is the antithesis
Of Democracy-of a government of the
people, for the people and by the peo-
pie. Then the control of commerce by
a limited number to the exclusion of
competition must also be undemocratic,
and how is it that Democrats who pro-
fess to be true to their principles can
temporize with these great corporations.
The corporations are now advocating
the repeal of the Sherman antitrust
law The Republicans are with them
and, no, doubt, numbers of Democrats,
but the question is how do they recon-
Gle either Bepublicanism or Democracy
with the corporation policies Is it not
l departure from everything Republi-
IAN or Democratic. Is there anything
n the wealth controlling influence akin
o the original conception of democracy.
Will oil and water mix?
The heads of great corporations in
list that these organizations are bene-
icial in the cheapening of production
md the cost to the consumer. Does
hat alter the principle? Are we to
gree to the principle that the Govern
nent should transfer its power and au-
hority to the heads of great money
Producing corporations, and that they
hOuld be entrusted with the welfare of
he people instead of the Government
r the representatives of the people at
ne head of the Government. Suppose
ley should be worthy of the trust for
time, does that insure that the con
amer will always be protected. The
me that tries men is in the crucible
adversely. If they are honest not
ntil then can their honesty be reason
bly, trusted. How would it be with the
eef trust, the bread trust, or any other
'ust which seeks to control production
nd prices. VIII they always endeavor
} protect the interests of the consumer. :
Such a conclusion is not in harmony
18th the history Of government and
atoms Confer little power and the
ndency always is to take more, and
hen these powers have been granted
definitely trusts will become autocrat- =
and exacting. The tendency will be
the establishment of an o
'istocracy and ultimately monarchy.
That is what we see at the end of .
detected trust system. =
This is one paper which holds to the .
ernal principles of Democracy as
feguard to the rights of the people. :
As far as we understand the question
ere is no Socialism in our ideas of y
'od government. We do not believe
common ownership regulated by "i
e Government, neither do wo believe -
yielding any principle to the central u
ltion plan. There is a middle ground VI
d that ground is Democracy, which "
tends equal rights to all and special
lvlleges to none. Without competi. 81
N there is no emulation and without ~
lulatlon there is no effort at perfec- y
m. vi
Let the principles of Democracy live
d God save the Republic of the United u
ties.
= pl
Moved fo TJnion nitu