The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-09

agitation and disturbance Of our
peace. Here again the sense Of uni
versaI partnership must come into
play II we are to act like statesmen,
ss those who serve not n class, but a
nation.
The working people Of AmerIca-if
they must he distinguished from the
minority that constitutes the rest Of
it--are. Of course, the backbone OF the
nation. No law that safeguards their
| lie, that Improves the physical and
moral conditions under which they
live. that makes their hours Of labor
rational and tolerable, that gives
them freedom to act in their own in
terest aud that protects them where
they cannot protect themselves can
properly be regarded as class leglsla-
tion or as anything but as a measure
taken in the interest Of the whole
people. whose partnership In right ac-
ton we are trying to establish and
make real and practical. II is in this
spirit that we shall act II we are genu-
inc spokesmen OF the whole country.
Currency Laws.
AS our program Is disclosed-for no
man can forecast II ready made and
before counsel is taken OF every one
concerned--this must be its measure
and standard, the interest OF all con-
cerned. For example, in dealing with
the complicated and difficult question
Of the reform of our banking and cur
rency laws 1t is plain that we ought
to consult very many persons besides
the bankers, not because we dlstrust
the bankers, but because they do not
necessarily comprehend the business
of the country, Notwithstanding thev
are indispensable servants Of 1t and
may do vast deal to make II hard or
easy. No mere bankers plan will
meet the requirements, no matter how
honestly conceived. 1t should be
merchants and farmers plan as WELL
elastic In the hands Of those who use
It rs an indispensable part Of their
daily business.
In dealing with the Philippines we
should not allow ourselves to stand
upon any mere point Of pride as II. In
order to keep our countenance in the
families Of nations, II were necessary
for us to make the, same blunders Of
selfishness that other nations have
made. We are not the owners Of the
Philippine Islands. We hold them in
, trust for the people who live In them.
They are theirs for the uses OF their
life. We are not even their partners.
1t Is our duty as trustees to make
whatever arrangement Of government
will be most serviceable to their free.
dom and development. Here again We
are to set up the rule Of justice and Of
right.
Presidential Primaries.
| The rule of the people Is no idle
A., phrase. Those who believe in it-as
/, who does not that has caught the real
spirit Of America ?-believe that there
can be no rule Of right without it;
, that right In politics Is made up Of
the interests Of everybody, and every
body should take part in the action
, that Is to determine II. We have been
. keen for presidential primaries and
. the direct election Of United States
, senators because we wanted the &C.
| ton Of the government to be determin.
/ ed by persons whom the people had
{ actually designated as men whom they
were ready to trust and follow. We
, have been anxious that all campaign
contributions and expenditures should
, be disclosed to the public In fullest
| detail because we regarded the influ'
ences which govern campaigns to be
{ as much a part Of the peoples bust
ness as anything else connected with
, their government. We are working
> toward very definite object, the uni
versal partnership In public affairs
, upon which the purity of politics and
| Its aim and spirit depend.
do not know any greater question
> than that OF conservation. We have
, been a spendthrift nation and must
| now husband what we have left. We
: must do more than that. We must de.
velop as well as preserve our water
| powers and must add great waterways
I to the transportation facilities Of the
nation to supplement the railways
, within our borders as well as upon the
isthmus. We must revive our mer'
I chant marine, too, and ill the seas
I again with our own fleets. We must
add to our present pOstofiice service o
!. parcels post as complete as that Of any
, other nation. We must look to the
health Of our people upon every hand
as we'll as hearten them with justice
and opportunity. This Is the cOnstruc-
: tive work Of government. This is the
policy that has vision and hope and
that looks to serve mankind.
/, There are many sides to these great
matters. Conservation Is easy to gen.
eralize about, but hard to particularize
about wisely. Reservation Is not the
whole of conservation. The develop.
ment of great states must not be stay
ed indefinitely to await policy BY
|. which our forests and water powers
: can prudently be made use Of. Use
and development must 60 hand In
hand. The policy we adopt must be
| DrOgressiye--nOt negative merely, as II