The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-06-21
Why the Nation ForRets?

Republics are ungratcful, said the phi
osopher; hut why not? Nations have
Short memories. Of this fact We arc to
have proof this year; indeed the very
existence OF the Dem ocrntic party, with its
practices and theorit 8. is proof. Twenty.
dcbaslng and dangerous thing it was to
have great political party controlled Ivy
patronage. The Democratic party could
never have been dragged to ruin ny Mr..
Buchanan. but for the enormous
power OF patronage over party action.
Yet the same party goes back to the same
debasing methods and the same perilous
thraldom as soon as it RECEIVERS power. 1t
has no memory of its own disgra ceful OK
pericnce. and the snecrs OF enemies of Re
form, with the cowardly iaithcssness OF
its profcssed champions, have practically
destroyed 1t. BY what miracle comes it
to pass that a great party forsets so,soon
its sufferinCs and its shame? The answer
is simple. Three-fourths OF it's voters were
not born, or were boys, when the Dem.
ocratic party was dragged dow to dis
grace by Mr.. Buchanan's patronage.
The republicans have to face the same
difficulties! Every passing day takes from
their ranks some OF the veterans who
learned what dem ocratic government was
by practical experience before the war.
The boys cannot quite believe that the
consequences would be serious. TimorOus
old age cxasgeratcs, they fancy. and the
mighty nation in it's grand maturity, is
now able. they hope, to face the foreign
competition which may once have bra we'd
destructive to it's industries. The books
and the theorists tell us that free trade is
best, and at all events it would do no harm
to have it a little freer, and so many Il young
Republican half doubts whether it would
seriously disturb industries if the Demo.
Gratis SHOULD have their own way. For
nearly four years past the country has
had Democratic President, and there
are millions who forget that Republican
laws have kept the tiger chained.
The need OF public education is not real
fail to remember that nations and parties
forget. because experience dies with
each generation. The population OF
the United States is now about
63, 900. 900. II the proportion Of voters
to population is what it was in 1880,
about 100000 votes will DO cast this
year. But not one.eight of the entire
population, hardly one.quarter OF the
voting population. was OF age when the
civil war began. There will be 3.GoO.o 600
votes cast by men who never voted for
President before, and about 800. 600
moro by men who were not OF age when
Abraham Lincoln was inausurated, and
only 100000 by men who were then OF
age. The young men who cast their first ote
for President will largely outnumbsr those
who can remember what Buchanans Ad-
ministration was. Is it strange that ed.
ucation is needed? 1t is strange that the
veterans who know what expcriorc ca
taught them before the war, and to whom
Democratic vote seems a crimo against
the Republic. feel that the Nation dishon.
ors itself in goiog back to the practices
and theories OF Mr.. Buchanan's Democ.
racy? Yet. il they fail to make their
experience a light to tho path OF young
voters, the Nation may have to learn tho
old lcason Over again in years Of disaster
aud sufferipg.--N. Y. Tribune.