Evening journal., 1913-04-17
THE JEFFERSONIAN DECLARL
TION OF HON. VIM. X. HEARST.


From the Washington Post.
The open letter Of Hon. William r
Hearst, which was published yester.
day morning, is deserving Of the
greatest consideration by his fellow
Democrats, as we'll as by his fellow
citizens of other political parties.
Since his advent to public life Mr.,
Hearst has been emphatically a lead
er Of men, as we'll as a molder OF
national sentiment
AS the publisher of the New York
American and the other great jour
nails which he issues, It is correct TO
say that his views reach into more
American homes and are read by
more American citizens than those OF
any other man in our country.
In his recent letter, in order that
the people may be better informed
as to the practical workings OF the
proposed tariff bill, he, in a most open
and frank manner reveals to them
his business affairs and states clearly
how he would be benefited personally
by the passage of the measure.
A supremely selfish man would
have kept silent and reaped the ad-
yantages that would have come to
him personally. even If secured by in.
jury to his country's interest or loss
es to his friends and fellow citizens
through that same legislation.
MIR. Hearst, however, subordinates
these personal advantages, and calls
upon Congress to protect the interests
of the agriculturists, the cattle rails
ers, and the workingmen from for
eign competition without adequats
compensation to our own producers,
our own artisans, our own Industrial
interests.
He promptly places personal and
party interests below those OF the
people Of the United States, and takes
his stand for the prosperity OF Amer
lea and Americans against all com
ers.
He would have his party justify its
right to govern by its advocacy and
support of policies that will advance
the interests of the great majority OF
the people, free them from danger
Of business depression. and place
them in the very front of the nations
Of the earth in the prosperity Of the
people.
He would not seek in the press Of
Britain, France or Germany, our
commercial rivals. basic principles
upon which to found policies to pro
mote our competition with them in
foreign markets, nor would he adopt
the labor schedules of their agricul-
tural districts or of their manufactur-
ing establishments as the standard
for the laborers and workers Of our
own land.
Mr.. Hearst in two sentences tells
his own story and the story of mil
lions Of other Democrats:
7 am loath to criticise the pol
icy Of the Democratic party, or OF
any man whom 7 labored to elect,
but ] am an American citizen
first and a Democrat afterward,
and ] cannot consider the inter-
ests of my party above the in
terests Of my country.
I shall hope to see the Demo-
cratic party fulfill its duty and
rise to its opportunity.
No charge of desiring to protect
trusts or one of favoritism as TO mo-
nopolies will line against Mr. Hearst.
He speaks for none Of these, but
he does speak for the legitimate bus
/ mess men of the country.
He hopes the Democratic party
will revise the tariff upon lines that
will command the support Of the
electors OF the United States, not
upon the ill-advised and destructive
lines that are now indicated in the
measure proposed. as the passage OF
such a bill will only bring disaster to
the country and defeat the party.