Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-12
DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITY

49,
of triumph stretch the years of TOLL and it is to these
that the party must now look with thoughtful pur
pose. nation that has given much in confidence
will expect much in performance. Never before have
the American people spoken unniedly as they ulo
in last weeks election. Political landmarks persisted
the old boundaries of North and South of East and
West were swept away and the common country
Joined in committing its interests to Democratic
President a Democratic House and Democratic
Senate Surely power so complete as this should be
faithfully and wisely used; and it must be, II the
party is to hold the trust it has won.
Either timidity or rashness on the part of the adj
ministraton take charge of the government
next March would prove fatal to this hope. Democ-
racy is pledged to certain practical reforms notably
to tariff revision and to puttingdown of those vast
and illegal alliances monopolies as they are COM
monty called that destroy the natural rights OF trade
These promises must be squarely kept, but it is
equally important that they be carried out in delb
crate and workmanly fashion, not after the manner
of pellmeH revolutionists.
The Republican system of protective tariff is a
product of long years of privilege and greed 1t has
nurtured if indeed it has not created the tyrannous
trusts has closed and cnched the bargain between
corrupt business and corrupt politics 1t has arti-
fcially raised the cost of living that now burdens
almost every household in the land. How clearly the
people realize these evils is shown by the fact that
they repudiated both Taft and Roosevelt largely be-
cause neither of them their respective parties
offered any hope for tariff reform.
The Democrats therefore, can have no hesitancy
as to the principle which they are to act but at
the same time, it behooves them to approach their
task with prudence and Governor Wilson has said,
"by such avenues. by such stages and at such pace
as will be consistent with the safety and the sta
bilty of the country's business.
Nvbi has
decades and which is interviewer with industrial
life could not be torn recklessly asunder without
grave injury to honest business Violent i'll con-
sidered steps would serve only to defeat the true
ends of tariff reform and to destroy the nations trust
in Democratic ability Those schedules that are pal
paby unjust that raise the cost of clothing and food
and crush wholesome competition should be dealt
with first; and thus, with foresight and caution,
every schedule that fosters monopoly be re-
vsed until finally there will be favoritism to any
group of special interests but simply broad rule of
Justice and of equal opportunity for all interests
Likewise in dealing with the trust evil, the Demo
cratic program should be soberly constructive. A
spirit of vindctiveness policy of headlong assault
will avail nothing The problem is of readjust-
ment, the task is to set commerce free and to re-
store economic rights in order that human rights
may be untrammelled The great mission and the
great opportunity of the Democratic party is to
by clearing the way for individual initiative and
enterprise. Hence the party's purpose should be
attuned to Governor Wilson's statement issued i'm
mediately after the election:
mo man tOhose business is conducted NTH =
out UioIGting the rights of free competition and 49,
tvithout private understandings and secret al
Rances against the principle of lao and the
policy of all wholesome commerce need fear
either interference or embarrassment from the
Administration. Our hope and purpose
to BRING all the forces Of the country into GctiUe
and intelligent cooperation 1hd to giUe to our
prosperity freshness and confidence such as
it has not had in time"
In the recent campaign the people of the United
States chose with deliberateness among three
different policies of government They rejected the
one extreme of Standpat Republicanism and the
other extreme of Rooseveltism. They chose Democ
racy because they believed that under its leaders and
Its principles the nation would be freed from old
tyrannies and at the same time spared from new
perils.
They were desperately tired of the alliance be-
tween the Government and Special interests But they
we're nonetheless apprehensve of and move
ment that threatened to destroy their free insttu
tions. They wished a change, a thoroughgoing
change but they also wished it to be accomplished
through orderly and constitutional They
were unwilling to entrust their affairs to party
that stood for stagnation and equally unwilling TO
hand over their interests to political adventures
who were seeking new and violent means to perform
old and simple duties.
Democracy was victorious and overwhelmingly
so, because it beaconed a way of escape from both
these dangers; because it stood for freedom and
security for, progress and construction. We may
not only hope, may confidently believe that the
party will prove worthy of its trust and will go
forward without rashness fear; that it will keep
its faith with the people by adhering stanchly to its
purpose and that it will its great gift of power
regardful as Woodrow Wilson has said, "of every
interest, the little well the big because con
nected with every interest by sympathy and compre
hension, soberly determined to obey the voice of
thoughtful everywhere by carefully consid
cred course of moderate, yet courageous reform
LIFE IS GROWING LONGER.