Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1884 — The Democratic Party Has Principles. [ARTICLE]

The Democratic Party Has Principles.

The II m. Charles 11. Rohvp. in the Plymouth Democrat, x oriates the Chicago Times, as follows:: The Chicago Times makes the Louisville Couri* r- Journal say that the Democratic party has no principles left except its advocacy of a tariff for revenue only, ~nd opposition to protective tariff Many labored editorials have appeared iu the Times to show that the Democratic party his no prim inDs at all; and that what Vlmt party advocates aud favors at nnv lime Is either fallacy, or if sought n. he put in praotlce, would be destructive of the public good. The Times is no exception to the rule that all great intellects have some weak places. . Al'hough some articles on its editorial pages are the equal—and sometimes superior—to those appearing injany other journal, on questons of public policy, it frequently gets on the level of cranks in writing about the Democratic party-

It i as been the fact always, that honest mep blunder when they are compelled to treat with knaves on an equal footing The Democratic party is. no exception, while bmefc compelled to meet the Republican party. All of ks blunders nave been caused, by the hopes : .and confiding men who have been in the position of managers—led astray by plausible time- servers. ! No one will claim but what the i Democratic p .rty has members, both among the leaders end ihe common people; who are knaves: who will do unworthy things to advance their own interests; will use their position in the paryt.and the party itsolf, for personal ends. So have all parties. But the majority of the Democratic

leaders and voters are honest and seek in good faith to carry out the public will. No one will claim but that there is too much of the “spoils” idea in all parties: but there is a sincere desire and effort on the part of a majority of the uemoe atie suppor* tsrs—both voters and officials—to work reform in the administration of public affairs. It is simple nonsense to talk about five millions* of voters, including every grade of in tellect, education and social aod official position, having no principles, when acting together in relation to government. Tbe first fundamental principle of the Democratic party is, that the na tlonal organizatio for government is bH«?ed on a union of States; and each State is a separate, representa® tive repu ;lic, with power to manage i*s own political affairs in its own way and the national republic shall protect it in its rights as such local republic—it being limited only by the powers it has released to 'he national government; and that those powers are specified in the national charter, called the Constitution That Conotitutlon was made by these States, each State speaking for it« self; and ratified by them as States, each separately, and far itself; and all the people in these States agreed to it as the people, as well as Stat- s; and It was so understand and acted on; aud it took the name of the United States. The States are the creatoi, not the creature. There was a design in tuts', and that was, first, to prevent the centralization of power in the national rgamzation and the destruction of the separate and independent g#vornment of the States; (that is independent of each other in their local affairs); and second, the mutual preservation and protection of the national organization for international purposes, and the Sta’es for local purposes.

It follows that the second fundamental principle o f the party is, n strict construction of the national constitution; and holding that the national organization shall axercise the powers delegated and no others; and if it wants more powers, it aust get them from the States If the people have given them to the States in their State Constitutions, and if not it must—through the States—go to the people for thea. The party is •prosed to lnplied powers, except such as are necessary to errry iflto force the delegated powers. The Times belds that the nttlenal organlzasioa may exercise any and all powers unless it is expressly prohibited in the constitution; and that the States are mere political agencies under the national organization—provinces—and have na rights except suoh as the national *rganlzatienjmsy consent to the exercise of. In ether words, it is like a merchant who retains agents in differeat localities to sell his wares; ®and they are agents to carry on his business and can do what he permits He can Jo as he pleases, being limited only by such terms as he ha. agreed to With them; that he will allow so much commission, or charge so much profit on shipments—or any other thing he h>is agreed may limit his right* as to ibem. Of course, there is no union of States, in such a view. The Times puts forth lengthy reasons and incidents to prove its position; but they are fallacies. The legal tender decision. it holds, is a ruling of the Supreme Court establishing the fact that the general government may exercise all powers not prohibked, in stead of only such as are delegated. Herr; it gets cranky. The practice of buying and selling on credit is for convenience. Without lhe aid of law and courts, the creditor must truss wholly to the honor of his debtor. The Stste--local or n-tioßrtl— may provide for compelling th\ debtor to pay, nr not, ••it. its pleasure. So with enforcingall contracts. The government can provide what shall result from nons

performance. It mav lend little or much aid; and in such manner as it chobses Haying provided Yvhat shall be a contract—it cannot, make a law impairing the obligatians of that contract. Money is a thing of growth, and used by common consent. The government may regulate it* use. It may declare what shall compensate a person in fulfillment of a contract —what snail be legal tender of a per formance—just as it may gire right or action on a note, or for assault, or refuse it. And that is what the conit says In relation to legal tender aotes. The national government under its power to coin money, and regulate the value of foreign coins; to provide for the national defence; to provide courts and regulate th proceedings, and other provisions, may provide

for issue of government notes, and dec'are them a legal tender for debt or damages, as it may provide a writ and declare what shall bo good aer vice, and limit ihe damages or the interest on money, Tho'Times loses its head when it writes as it has done on this subjeet. The legal tender, may not e mo ey, in a rue sense but Congressman make it available to extinguishVredit. as it may refuse a right of action. Another principle is equal taxation and’opnosition to all class legislation, Another is citizen ownership and the n itional flog shall make a free ship in American waters. Another is, non interference in State matters by the nation-l government; and non-interference by oae department of government with the prerogatives of any otherjdepartment. Want of space prevents enumeration of others now. But the journal, that declares thaeja revenue tariff is the onfy princple ieft in the Democratic party, jis, so far away from facts that it is unworthy of credence. Whatever may be its |blunders. or the mismanagement of some of its

prominent men, it is altogether too large an organization to be spoken of flippantly, and as of ne consequence. Until some party arises that has principles properly adapted to a unioa of Republican States—and there is none now except the Democratic party—rhe Democratic party will exist and the voters will try to its principles enforced iu gov eminent.