Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-05
WILSON'S MATERIAL MEASURES AND BRYAN's UPLIFT.

WILSON'S MATERIAL MEASURES AND BRYAN'S UPLIFT
One year ago yesterday Woodrow Wilson inaugur-
ated the 18th chief magistrate of the United States
He the second democrat to become the official occupant
of the White House since James Buchanan made for
Abraham Lincoln March 1861 to see his party riven
by the great civil strife which to redeem democracy
from the stain and the of human slavery of its
cardinal principles and overshadowing issues.
Not until 1884 that redemption of great political
party fully complete and in that Grover Cleveland for
the first time in quarter of century gained representation
for the Democratic party the executive department of the
nation with subsequent reversal of popular favor in 1888
and further call to service in 1892
1t follows that for period of ftythree years the Demo-
cratic party has had it's official leaders in the national
capital only two men, Cleveland and Wilson, while it's actual
national leadership other periods has been enjoyed by such
men Samuel j. Tden and William Jennings Bryan.
However much we may differ in partisan loyalty to
political organization all intelligent minds recognize the
benefits accruing to people from the adoption of high
standards by party which has the effect to force
rival parties to put themselves still higher level thus
promoting cleaner politics and better government.
1t is far from the slave democracy of James K
Polk and the disoa democracy of James Buchanan to the
ve Independent democracy of Grover Cleveland and the
progressive democracy of Wilson Bryan To the
lasting credit of William Jennings Bryan should be added
that the influence of the present administration being made
to count strongly in favor of temperance and international
thus placing the democratic administration Of to-day
in the national capital the right side of two great moral
principles.
Whether the Republican party, conceived in spirit of
rival become the champion of freedom for white and
black alike in the face of still broader and menacng
peril is of the political problems which the future alone
determine. When considers the number of South
States swept by prohibition under democratic leadership
and the Western democracy led by Bryan must be
fessed that the Democratic party has secured marked lead
the Republican party in the different States regards
the championship of the great principle of temperance
So far national legislation has served to indicate and
far national platforms and declarations of principles
to be accepted proof the two leading political parties
of to-day have been concerned during these latter
chiefly with material issues.
The Wilson administration outside of the influence of
Bryan exercised through the State department. has been
concerning itself during his first year of its existence largely
with involving the nations physical being Con-
fessedy the Wilson democracy whole has given little at
tention to great moral principle dealing almost exclu
sey with intended to lower the cost of living to
cheaper money and to increase competition Its work dur
ing this first may be practically summed in the tar
i act the currency and banking law and the framing
of antitrust pending in Congress.
The tariff law manfesty is not accomplishing what
promised for it, namely reduction in the high cost of v
ing and the weakening of the trusts while wokmen by hun
dreds of thousands thrown out of employment by the
opening of our markets to foreign products
The currency and banking law is apparently having
promising effect than its predecessor but it is yet too
early just what will be the permanent influence of that
measure.
Present indications that the Wilson administration
will be still less fortunate in connection with its antitrust
than with its tariff policy, Starting out with
platform pledge enforce the Sherman antitrust law and
punish trust officials the Wilson administration has struck
hands with the trust magnates, and while insisting that the
Sherman law must not be molested is Turing the ongsuf
fering public of with the promise of five little
brothers, bills that will put the trusts out of Big Business
Mr. Bryan has promoted broad policy of international
peace having negotiated gratifying number of arbitration
treaties with leading nations but far the crucial test is
concerned the Wilson foreign policy has been
ignomnous failure. President Wilson has violated the
long established international law of non-inerventon
CARDS the internal government of another sovereign
try, while taking position to secondary revolution
which has made it utterly impossible for to
protect the lives and property of American citizens for
egn subjects committed to protection under the Mon
Doctrine.
We in with other newspaper photographers have
had qups at the expense Of Secretary Bryan After all
is said and DONE however history will undoubtedly conclude
that small part of the permanent good Of the Wilson adj
mnistation found wrapped in the arbitration treaties
for the promotion of international peace and concord and
amty and in the eXempfcaton of the great principle of
temperance for nation while the material for