The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-20
Democracy the Safety Of the People.

The George party, which met seri-
ous defeat under the name of the
"United Labor party, is casting about
for another name. But the name 1t
had was as delusive a one as possible,
and, If that party goes father in search
Of names, it will probably fare worse.
II may not be absolutely true that
''there's nothing in name, but what
ever magic auy name may possess,
sensible people will always look under.
meath to see what it really covers.
II was not the name UNITED Labor
that brought misfortune to the ticket
with that name stamped upon it, but
the vague and impracticable theories
put forth by those who led in its sup
port. "The abolition of poverty" is an
absurdity. But much can be done,
nevertheless, to remove restrictive legis.
lation passed in the interest of favored
classes. The Democratic party is free
enough and strong enough TO meet every
want of the people that can be law
fully met, aud if i. is slow at times in
working out needed reforms, it is only
because those who believe and wish
for these reforms do not make their
power felt IN its councils. Whenever
the Democratic party falls short of do
ing its duty fully aud promptly, none
are SO much to blame as those who do
not insist that the party shall do its
duty instead of suffering their needs to
be unheard and leaving their party t.
drift under the leadership of time serv-
ers who are always ready to make the
most humiliating compromises TO attain
their ends, and who for the sake of
temporary success are Indifferent to
any disasters, however great. that may
result afterwards from their short.sight-
ed policies.
Those who would abolish discrim,-
mating laws and who would adopt such
measures as, though they may rot pro-
vide, will open the wav to prosperity
for the greatest possible number OF the
people, should cast their lot with that
party which has been the historic party
of the people. The Democracy has
ever demanded the greatest possible
freedom of speech and action in so far
as that freedom did not threaten or
attack the rights of the person or OF
property. Its opponent, under first
one name AID then another, has always
been the advocate of restrictions that
have been bne6ciaI to a few, whilst
they have been offensive and oppress-
i've to many. Freedom in speech, suf-
frage, trade. religion, has been the
great guiding principle of Democracy.
The restriction of all these rights has
been the cha acteristio policy of its
opponent. Men who would develop
the individual and save him from being
metalized into mere machine, who
would rescne the people from the SER
vile task of rearing any favored class
and being made to pay tribute to it,
who would welcome to the co-opera-
tion of free citizenship in this land of
liberty men of every civilized national
ity, and every religious creed, will ulti-
mately find the fulfillment of their
hopes, the reward of their labors, in the
Democratic party. Those who would
make some new and uncertain theory
the excuse for trying to entice away
its members are only trying to weaken
its force and at the same time to
strengthen the power of its adversary.
Such names as "Anti- Poverty"
"United Labor and "R-form" are mere
catch words, whose only service is in
sidiously to betray members of the
Democratic household into forsaking
the party of their love and into lendin"
unconscious aid TO the arrogant pro-
moters of concentration of wealth and
of centralisation of governmental pow
or.
Democratic principles are historic
They can be seen and known by al
who earnestly wish to s.e and know
them. They may be obscured for q
time by juggelry Of political tricksters.
but they slime out in time as brilliant.
ly as ever. Democratic principles and
the men that devoutly believe In them
and earnestly proclaim hem, sometimes
find their most dangerous enemies in
men who, awkwardly wearing the name
of Democrat, never had 3 Democratic
thought or Democratic feeling, and
whose peculiar appetites relish nothing
so much as those insipid words, "svail
ability" and "expediency." But thos'
who see these evils can best meet the
foes of Democracy, 10 and out of the
party, by a determined effort t., assert
and maintain at all times the historic
principles of Democracy-principles
that have stood the severest tests and
have grown stronger in resistance
Not by abandoning Democracy, but
by nourishing and Strengthening il,
can men, animated by Democratic
sentiments. serve the people best.
Richmond { Va } State.
Tho Reading Strika