New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-07
NIL COLLINS.
nation.

Mr. Collins made at ct. Louis what may DC
termed comprehensive speech on Democracy.
He began with Jeffersonian principles and
ended with President Cleveland's practice, and
sought to establish continuity of action and
policy in the history of the party. If he was
not wholly successful in his demonstration it
was not through any fault OF his fervid Irish
eloquence, but because the facts Of American
political history were unusually stubborn.
Jefierson's principles were far in advance OF
the practice of the party, even in his own day,
and after the lapse of eighty years free trade
and The whiskey alliance are the common bonds
connecting the Democracy Of to-day with the
Democracy Of that time. Gallatin, who was
Jefferson's most powerful supporter, was the
pioneer free-trade statesman in America, and
he was also the advocate and ally OF the
whskey rebels in Western Pennsylvania He
represented the practical politics of his day,
while JefTerson's principles were chiefly OF
theoretical interest-recreations of the library.
Free trade and the saloon alliance are the
dominant ideas in Democratic politics to-day.
The original Jeffersonian principles are in
state of innocuous desuetude.
The chairman of the Democratic Convention
must have been unusually dull, for a quick
witted Irishman. when he read the sixteen
articles CT Jeferson's political faith. He APP
parently meant to eulOgize his party; in reality
he arraigned it. Equal and exact Justice to
all men " was Jefferson's opening sentence.
From its organization to the close of the Civil
War the Democratic party was the defender
of slavery. Never during all that period had
it believed in "equal and exact Justice to all
n cto for hat l.;
to-day any more than it represents those other
Jeffersonian principles, ga jealous care of the
right of election by the people, and " absolute
acquiescence in the decisions Of the majority"
It's ascendancy in the Nation depends upon the
supremacy of the White League in the Solid
South, and that supremacy is based upon mon
strous injustice to the black race upon political
brigandage and systematic reversal of the right
Of election by the people and in many Southern
States upon absolute acquiescence in the
usurpations Of the minority. When Jefferson
defined 1.-THE vital principle of republics from
which is no appeal but to force,n he could not
have anticipated the day when his words would
be quoted in the hearing of party which has
perSstently appealed to force and fraud in
order TO rob both maiorities and minorities of
their political rights and to violate every prin-
cipe of national equity and common Justice.
Equally unfortunate was the recitation Of
other Jelfersonian principles. "The honest
payment Of our debts and the preservation of
our public faith" had an ironical sound when
addressed TO representatives of party which
had obstinately favored fiat currency and op-
posed specie resumption, and which by abolish
ing the surplus aims to prevent the cancellation
Of outstanding issues Of bonds maturing in a
few years and thus to interrupt the Nations
magnificent achievements in dcbt-paying.
" Encouragement of agriculture and of COM
merce" must have seemed grim pleasantly to
the leaders of party which demands free wool
and menaces agricultural classes with ruin. and
which has strenuously resisted legislation for
restoring the commercial marine and even
paying American steamship lines their honest
dues. "Entanging alliances with noner was
ali equally significant reminder of The Dem
ocratic Administrations abandonment of the
Yankee fishermen, its humiliating surrender
to Great Britain in the Fisheries Treaty. and
its unpatriotic compacts with Canadian rail-
road monopolies. Never was a convention