Lower coast gazette., 1913-11-29
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1913.
Democracy in Danger

GREAT tickets in the field, the democratic parry
having divided in convention and one bfancn
having nominated John c.. Breckenridge ana
another Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency
and the old Wing party split into W parts, one
mart nominating Abraham Lincoln and the other
John Bell. of Tennessee, as we all know, the
result of this quadrangular contest was me
election Of Abraham Lincoln and the gradual
secession from the federal union OF practically
al, tho states south of Mason and DlXon>s line.
This revolt Of course precipitated the civil war
and James Buchanan, the Est OF the democfauc
presidents of the old regime and a strlct con-
str1ctionjst of the constitution, as was mcss
nroner in 4 democrat Of the old school found no
way in his judgment by means Oh Whlcn ne
could enforce the maintenance or the ledeiai
union. Andrew Jackson some thirty years pe-
fore stood ready to enforce the maintenance OF
the union notwithstanding the notification DOC
trines Of John C. Calhoun and Thomas Jefferson
with the war Of 1872 with England impending,
made the famous Louisiana purchase WITHOUT
any constitutional permission, but also without
any constitutional inhibition.
We advert to these somewhat contradictory
views of some Of our democratic presidents 60
show that James Buchanan was perhaps the
weakest president that me country has ever had
and that Grover Cleveland, coming into power
as he did in 1884, defeated in 1858 and IN power
again in 1892 acquired the confidence IN hlflselI
that made him decidedly aggressive and that It
was he who first p~racticed the aggresslons
against the constitution which have now really
endangered our democratic form OF government.
President Cleveland under the wording OF the
constitution was directed to. give his opinions
and views of serious subjects from time to Tune
to congress. Inshis opinion the Sherman silver
purchase bill was doing serious harm to the IL
snances Of the country and he called congress
together to consider that matter, but did ! IN
such a way as to give evidences OF his determ-
nation to push his views through II ne should
find himself able to succeed. In other words,
instead Of being an executor OF the laws OF the
country he became a director Or dictator IN da-
gree debating the policy of the country. The
election Of Mckinley in 1896 and his ASSASSINATION
made Mr.. Roosevelt president CT the United
States and under him there began a series OF
actions entirely at variance with law and IN tact
not founded upon any law or upon any sugges-
ton made BY congress and yet matters that re-
ouired the expenditure of large sums OF money,
he doubtless believing that his course OF acton
was for the common good. Mr.. Roosevelt did
more harm to the American form OF democratic
government than any other president that pre-
ceded him, unless we might name James Bucn-
anan. His presidency wound Up with the panic
of 1907, the ill effects Of which are felt almost
everywhere in the county even at this date, SIX
years later.
The administration of Mr., Taft is generally
admitted to have been good, but without any
particular or notable features, the country SUI
fering considerably during Mr.. Taft's admins
tration, but largely as the result of the govern
mental abuses ~practiced by President Roosevelt
We come now more particularly to the pres
ent situation. President Wilson coming int
power in 1913, with a democratic congress be
hind him and he and his congress in full contrt
of the government for the first time since tn
presidency Of James Buchanan, it would be pre-
sumed that with his democratic culture he Woul
be a strict constructionist OF the ccnstltutlo
and a teacher of pure democracy and the sui
mission 10 the Will Ol Tic people. ~ 10 x III
owing to the division in the republican part
that led to the formation of the progressive pa
ty, President Wilson was actually elected by
minority Of the people Of the United States an
therefore is not truly a representative pres
dent in the broad democratic sense. HoWeve
he was honestly elected. No one challenge
that fact and his presidential rule has been q
cepted as a matter of course. Once installed
his great office, President Wilson began to d
velop extreme views and views that SCENE
somewhat revolutionary, even among his II
mediate friends. It was fair to expect that
would use all his great power to crush the gre
monopolies that had grown up under the pr
vious administrations, such as the Standard {
Co., the Tobacco Trust, the Sugar" Trust, t
Steel Trust and so on, but that he would have
reasonable degree Of consideration for the gre
general interests that had been built up IN
United States during this half a century tn
his party had been out of power and would r
at anv one fell stroke endeavor to effect legis