Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-10-09

before you as the nominee Of the
Democratic party for the Governor
ship of Tennessee, nominated by a
popular vote in a primary election.
Having been twice honored by our
people with this great trust, / am no
stranger to you, and you know wheth-
er or not I will make a faithful and
efficient Chief Executive. You know
whether | am progressive and con-
structive or reactionary and inef-
ficient.
Ours is a Government under writ
ten constitutions-State and Federal
which limit and define the powers
Of Government, and thereby set
bounds to Governmental authority so
there shall be no unnecessary en-
croachments upon mans natural
rights. It was hoped by this means
free Governments could be made per-
petual and be kept from drifting into
despotism, as all the free Common
wealths of ancient times did.
Ours has been, and will continue to
be, a Government by parties. Wash
ington's first was about the only nom
partisan administration of this coun-
try. Being a Government through
parties, the Importance of the govern
ing party is second only to the inn
portance of the Government itself.
Considered in this light, how vastly
important are our party relations, how
vital that the party with which we act
shall have correct principles! One
says, Il will act with the enemy only
this election" Alas! you may so en-
throne him that you cannot dislodge
him when you wish.
FOUGHT For FREEDOM.
My countrymen, our fathers fought
for your freedom and mine. They es-
tablished government designed to
give Equal rights to all, special priv
ileges to none.' 1t has been appropri-
ately designated as a Government of
the people, by the people and for the
people" To maintain this Govern
ment in its purity, to perpetuate and
so conduct it that while we govern
man we still leave him free, is the
great task that has been left to us.
In my opinion the best agency for do
ing this yet tried is the Democratic
party. 1t has worked assiduously and
periodically to this end in the past
and will in the future. 1t has sur
vived defeat and calamity time and
again, and is more virile to-day than
it has ever been in its history. But
great and grand as is the Democratic
party, noble as has been its history
and patriotic its purposes, we have
division in its ranks in Tennessee.
But at last our people have agreed
to bury differences and unite forces
for great victory. Omitted we stand
divided we fall" is Kentucky's motto
and should be our party motto for
ever. The Bible tells us that "housC
divided against itself cannot stand.
WOeful experience has confirmed this
and we should never again allow oul
house divided. If I can prove to vol
that the divisions and defeats of thu
Democratic party have uniformly re
suited in disaster to the people I hav,
a right to ask you, in the name of oul
country, to join in reunion of tn,
Democratic party. If I cannot prov,
this, / will not ask you to join it
Strangely enough, almost every tim
these divisions in the Democratic part,
have come on some temporary ques
ton that was no test of political faith
In 1880 Democracy split on the Stat
debt. A man could take either sid
of this and be a Democrat, a Re
publican or a monarchist. Our di
vision lost the State to Democracy
Hawkins was elected, but his election
did nothing to settle the debt or i'm
prove conditions. We had, at last, t
regain power, take the reins of gov
eminent and settle the debt probler
ourselves. We should take warnin
by this experience.
In 1896 our party divided agar
this time on the silver question. W
quarreled about whether we shout
use gold or silver for currency, whe
most of us had neither. Defeat an
disaster resulted again. We lost tn
Presidency, Congress, Ambassador
ships-everything. Fourteen year
rolled by before we regained an
branch of the Government; and W
are only to-day beginning to RECAP
ture the Presidency. They have bee
fourteen years of prodigality and mil
rule, of high tariff exactions and trul
building. Democrats, rememberin
these things, should stand together
we ' INT victory or good governmer