The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-24

III, IUE ETEdIFST TgNFFUE has ever been enacted in this country, and which brought on what has justly been called the golden era, giving peace and prosperity 10 all the people. It was strictly for revenue only.
 Never Lost Self Discipline
 "Under Jefferson the democratic party was led by a body of thinkers; under Jackson not only was there body of thinkers but of men. also, who strove through victory to enforce their policies From Jackson's days until now the dem ocratic party has never lost the morale of organization, nor at the supreme mo- ment the power of self discipline. It has survived defeats which would have de- stroyed any other organization known in the history of the United States.
 Strictly complying with the policy of non-interference with the affairs of other countries, it was the declaration of democratic President, ever since known as the Monroe Doctrine. which gave mo- tee to all the world, that there would be no acquisition by European countries of any territory on the American conti- nent. All these were questions the dis eussion of which attracted the earnest thought and patriotic endeavor of the press of this country.
 ''The war between the states, which followed the elevation of the republican party to the control of the government in 1861, destroyed the one great cause of strife between the sections and over turned the governments of Il states. Some here present can recall the horrors of reconstruction, the work of the re- publican party. In some respects the years of that carnival of crime were worse than four years of the war. There was not citizen of the southern states who passed through those dark and dreary days of reconstruction who does not remember how the people here intui- lively turned to the democratic party of the northern states for it's assistance in the efforts our people were making to rid their prostrate states from the robbery and tyranny of the hungry hordes of ir- responsible invaders and ignorant negroes that had taken possession of them through the power of the bayonet. Not withstanding the conditions for success were most unfavorable, the national dem- ocratic party did not abate on jot of it's earnestness and zeal in advocacy of it's well defined and well known prin- ciples of constitutional government
 COntended for Rehabilitation
 "The democratic party declared In its first platform after the war that the reconstruction laws were unconstitutional, null and void. From 1S65 to 1876 the dem- ocIdtlC party NlSOlOuSiS anu SSoScASooAy contended for the rehabilitation of the Il southern states; for the removal of the army from those states; for the restora- tion of every citizen to equal rights; for the cessation of military government; for the payment of the public debt and fer the return of the former peaceful modes of government. During these years the ueston of taxation and currency were not so much in the public mind as he, hppanSp the questions at issue involved the very na- ture of our institutions and the existence Of state government.
 'In 1876 the party reaffirmed it's decla- rations of '6S and '72, and in addition de- manded that custom house taxation should be imposed for revenue only. In 1880 in it's platform the democratic party took position upon the economic ques tions with greater hope of union, and expressed it by declaring for home rule, honest money, consisting of gold and silver and paper convertible into coin on demand the strict maintenance of the public faith, state and national; a tariff for revenue only; the subordina- tion of the military to civil power. In 1881 and 'SS there was practical reaffirma- tion. In 1892 the democratic party with Mir. Cleveland as the candidate, appealed to the country upon the issues made par amount and pressing in its platform. A revenue tariff, no force bills, sound currency and parliamentary liberty. Upon hese issues they won by a large ma Jority.
 During MT. Cleveland's administration all laws permitting federal interference at elections in southern states were repealed and the right to control elections returned to the people residents in the states. The battle for the equality and autonomy of the states was won and the long contest for equal rights and privileges of citi zens, for the preservation of the power of local authorities and the security of home were for the time at least decided according to the contentious of the demo- cratic party
 Wandering in Wilderness