The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-10-31

r our years ago there were Two
parties in the field whose programme
was conceived under the influence of
these great forces of progress and ad-
justment, the Democratic party and
the Progressive party. This year
there is but one, the Democratic party.
In the presidential election of four
years ago some fifteen million votes
were cast. OF these, nearly ten and
half millions were cast for the can
| didates Of the two progressive parties,
| only three and a half millions for the
candidates Of the Republican party, the
| party which fingered in the old ways
and felt none of the new impulse of
new day. More than two-thirds Of
the voters of the United States
favored then, and favor now, a pro-
gramme whose object is to serve the
changing needs Of humanity and
7. progress.
"The Democratic party was entrust-
ed with the task. These powerful
forces of the new age were put under
it's direction. And under that direc
ton what have they accomplished?
'They have put both the business
and the life of the country upon a
new footing.
Financial Credit Released.
'"They have released the financial
credit, upon which commerce and pro-
duction alike depend, from the con-
troll of small groups of fnanciers and
bankers at the speculative centers.
''They have released the commerce
and industry Of the country from the
domination of those who were build
ing up their power by selfish and
unfair methods of competition.
"They have supplied those who
wished to conduct their business in
conformity with the spirit Of the laws
with friendly guidance and delivered
them from a nervous fear of the
courts.
"They have released our foreign
trade from the shackleS Of a tariff
contrived in the interest of special
groups of favored producers, and have
created a Tariff Commission intend
: ed to substitute public for private
influences, facts for theories and
S pretensions, in all future legisla
| llOA WAlA ACSdAO " NNCASS e@AN . "
!, strictions on imports.
s "They have made provision for the
e immediate and systematic develop
q ment Of our carrying trade on thu
: seas.
"They have at last supplied tn
) means by which the nation may b.
l. bound together, materially and spirit
y ually, by network Of good road
y upon which both commodities AM
l. sympathies may move freely from
$. community to community.
y "They have put the farmer upon
u footing of perfect equality with buS1
% ness men and men of all other cal
ings in respect of his access to CON
E mercial credit; have placed grea
III bureau of the Government at hi
S service in seeking and finding hi
D. best markets; have protected him b
It the establishment of definite Stant
!; ards in the sale of his products, an
n have put the scientific knowledge {
o1 the world at his disposal by practic;
er demonstration at the expense Of th
~ Government upon the farms then
te selves.
u Have Emaneipated Labor.
'They have emancipated the Il
= borers of the country from the unju
lS titled restraints which the courts ha
put upon them by mistaken applic
y tions of old law to new circumstance
% and conditions.
" ."They have released the childre
III of the country in large part from hur
III full labor; have sought to safegua1
: ~ the lives and the health of our
ne borers in dangerous occupations; al
~ have put agencies of the Governme
itself at the service of those wi
seek employment. And most of the
ds things have been done within tt
no brief limits of a single administratto
"And still the great work is n
finished. 1t can never be rounded {