There was no partisan sja'cch expected
from Mr. Carlisle, nor fiom Mr. McKinley,
and we think these gentlemen would need
no promptings to indicate to them the pro
prieties of the occasion, but each stands to
day before the nation as the foremost expo
nent of tiie two sides of an industrial ques-
I tion. the proper understanding of m Inch is
i of vital impeltance to fifty millions of
| American people.
, Hu' doctrine was formerly taught, that
the people could not intelligently discrimi
| nate on nice questions of public policy, or
j be intrusted with the exercise of individual
j judgment a want of faith in the people
I which justifies in monarchial despotisms
tlie censorship of the press and tlie repres
sion of freedom of speech.
I But tlie American re] üblic was founded
upon the id* a that the people are capabltPvf
I intelligent judgment, and we see no reason,
from tlie history * f tlie past hundred years.
* .lo dvult the capacity of the people, or tlie
wisdom of the confidence placed in them by
Mr. Jefferson and the fathers of democracy.
To say that our people, having ears to
hear, should not hear, lest hearing they be
lieve, is to admit the truth of the adversa
ries’ position, the weakness of your own, or
to cast a slur upon the intelligence of our
people.
