The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-01-09
l. j. REEVES CANDIDATE FOR UNITED STATES SENATE ISSUES
ADDRESS AND PRESENTS PLATFORM TO DEMOCRATS OF FLORIDA
To the White Democratic Voters of the
State of Florida:

To the White Democratic Voters of the
State of Florida:
I realize that in an era of greed and
commercialism, when the government
is looked to more for special benefits
than for the preservation and enforce
ment of fixed rights, the public has
neither the time nor the patience for
long disquisitions upon the theory of
government.
| am aware also that such an era in
vites the time-server adroity to shape
his policies so as to stimulate the APP
petite of the avaricious, and thereby
engage to his own advantage the ag-
gressive, commercial spirit of the lead
ing business interests of the state, but
being candidate for so distinguished
q position as United States senator
and believing, as do, that the highest
concern of free people should be the
preservation of their freedom, l feel
impelled to direct attention to a dan
ger which threatens the welfare of the
American people rather than to appeal
to selfish interests by holding out
promises of special privileges.
At the conclusion, shall state some
Of the principles upon which | expect
TO stand as candidate for United
States Senator In the approaching pri-
mary.
Federal Absorption of State Rights.
The danger to- which I refer is the
continuous and stealthy encroachment
upon the rights of the states, and in
this way upon the liberties of the peo-
pie by the national government in its
steady march towards Capitalization,
paternalism, imperialism and militar-
Ism.
State Rights Necessary to Liberty.
The states cannot be deprived of the
rights reserved to them without serious
infringement upon the liberties of the
people. This was the opinion of the
trainers and early expounders of the
federal constitution, including Alexan-
der Hamilton, the most pronounced ad.
vocate of centralized government.
Many other more modern statesmen
and jurists have given expression to
the same i6ea, including such men as
Chief Justice Marshall, Mr.. Justice
Miller, Mr., Justice Harlan and others.
On the 9th of March, 1890, Senator
Edmonds, speaking in the United
States senate, said:
Il believe the safety of the republic
as nation, one people, one hope, one
destiny depends more largely upon the
preservation of what are called the
rights of the state than upon any one
thing"
State Government and National Gov
eminent contrasted.
The Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution of the United
States breathe antagonistic doctrines
The former held out the idea of a
most liberal democracy, the latter es-
tablished national government close
> ly resembling an aristocracy.
George Mason, in giving his reason
for not signing the Constitution of the
United States, said:
This government will commence In
a modern aristocracy. 1t is at pres
ent impossible to say whether it will
In Its operation, produce a monarchy
or corrupt, oppressive aristocracy.
1t will probably vibrate for some years
between the two and then terminate
in the one or the other"
The national government is a
bureaucratic government administered
through heads of departments appoint
ed by the president and clothed with
large discretionary powers.
Federal officials from secretary OF
state down to the most petty office are
appointed by the president. Holding
their positions by appointments
these officials are not impressed with
any sense Of direct responsibility to the
people whose affairs they administer
Local self-government, whether state
or municipal, Is carried on through
representatives and officers chosen by.
and fresh from among, the people.
The acts and conduct of these Off
Gals are under the immediate eye OF
the people. For this reason, local self
government Is always more respon-
sive to the public will than is a nation
al government such as ours, with all
OF its complex machinery so remote
and obscure from the scrutiny of the
general public.
This becomes more apparent when
the easy, frequent and ready change of
state statutes and constitutions to
meet public demands is contrasted
with the difficulty of bringing about
similar changes in the statutes and
constitution of the United States.
National Government the Instrument
OF Syndicted Wealth.
The success or failure of national
political parties depends very largely
upon the corruption funds furnished
by great enterprises whose extensive
business connections have many ram
lfcations. The party in power having
succeeded by these methods necessar-
lly becomes the tool of these interests.
The national government is entirely
controlled by the party in power and
In this way becomes the mere plastic
instrument of syndicated wealth.
Thinkers and writer's have so regard
ed the national government for many
years, and it seems to be growing
more and more so as We approach the
maelstrom of our maddening CONNER
cialism.
The march OF modern events has
fully verified Mr.. Mason's view. 1t
is true that no open and violent as