The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-22
A Question for New voters.

Any young man, before he enroll him
self under the Democratic banner, should
consider seriously this question; If /
join the Democratic party, how long can
stay with it?" We viii assume that,
like many young men fresh from their
studies, he is inclined to free trade ideas.
We viii suppose that be votes the Dem
oeratic ticket in November, and considers
himself member of that party. A few
weeks later the Legislature Of his State
for this may be true in any State-meets,
and High License bill or some other
strict temperance measure is introduced
He sees his new found party rally solidly
to oppose it under the tlictatiotr1 Of the
liquor dealers He is vexed and asham-
ed. He is intelligent, well educated and
sincere. His conscience compels him to
oppose the party he has just joined, and
to denounce its action
Later on, bill for the publication and
better protection of the ballot is intro
duced. Here again he sees his party
solidly eontending against measure
which probably every conscientious voter
in both parties wants to see passed.
Again he is vexed and ashamed. 1t seems
to him that the party leaders are actuat-
ed by the lowest motives, pander to the
worst classes of society, and are besides
blind to the signs of the times Again
he opposes the party in which he has
enlisted
Now, does man show good common
sense when he joins party which he ex-
poets to spend most of bis time opposing?
On most of the great question of the day
-temperance being one Of the chief of
them the Democratic party is as hope
lessly wrong a. it was on the slavery
question, and il can no more change its
position than it could with regard to
slavery. Even many who 90 not agree
with Republicans in believing that the
free-trade tendency of the party is its
most dangerous characteristic are compell-
ed to admit that upon moral issues it is
utterly wrong headed. Then why have
to DO with it? To jump on a
train for the sake of jumping off again is
a very slow way of reaching ones desti
nation.
Many persons Of this class seem to
think that some mysterious virtue resides
in Mr.. Cleveland, which secures the
country against the perils Of complete
Democratic ascendancy. The record of
his Administration shows that this con-
fidence is one of those delusions which
are not uncommon in politics Many
voters who supported him four years
ago have found it out. But in any event
the new voter should remember that the
power behind the President is that of
the Democratic party with its old charae-
ter still unchanged. Mr., Cleveland can
not possibly remain in power more than
four years longer; and when he is gone,
the party must fall back again upon the
old set of leaders whom the American
people distrust. Hi't
The notion that this hoary headed Old
SHINE T, the Democratic party, has at last
been converted, and will now do works
fit for repentance, isno new thing. When
the Democrats of the South agreed to
support Mr.. Greeley, on platform of
amnesty and reconciliation, many
Of US were glad to believe them sincere,
and joyfully hailed the dawn Of better
day. Yet the shocking atrocities by
which the negro vote in the South has
been suppressed were committed many
years afterward, while the most shame
less frauds known in the history of re-
publican institutions continue TO this day
and are relied upon to re-elect Mr.. Cleve-
land. When Mr. Tilden was nominated
there was class, especially among the
young voters, who believed that the Dem
oeratic party was about to become great
instrument Of administrative reform. 1t
was only few months before they were
with confusion and shame
by the disclosure of the cipher dispatches
the vilest POLITICAL conspiracy in our his
tory. Those,who indulge in similar dreams
about the Democratic party Of to-day
have like rude awakening before them.
1t draws to itself by natural attraction,
the worst elements, and can no more
change its character than the leopard can
change its spots.-N y. Tribune.
By its mild. soothing ard healing