The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-29
Why the Nation Forgets?

Republics are unsratrfu, said the phi
osophcr; hut why not Nations have
shor: memories. OF this inct We are ,n
have proof this year; indeed the very
existence of the Democratic purity, with l,s
practices and theuri =, is proof. rwrnt>
eight years ago good citizens knew what a
dcbasins and dangerous thing il was I"
have Il great political party cuntru!!c! hr
patronage. The Democratic party ouud
never have been dragged t" ruin n% Mn
Buchanan, but for the enormous
power OF patronage over party action.
Yet the same party goes back tn the shu,a
dehasng methods and the same Imriiolis
thral,lom as soon as il RECEIVERS power. Il
has no memory Of it's own di-.,accinI eA-
pericncc. and the snccrA of enemies of f".
fortn, with the cUwar,liy faith!rsSness of
lis profcsscd champions htyc practically
destroyed il. BY what miracl. comes it
to pass that II great purity iorscts soon
its sulfrrinrs and IFS shame Tie answer
is simple. Thrccfourths Of lis voters were
not born. or were boys, when the Dem,
ocratic party was dragged dow II to dis
grace by Mr.. buchanan n patronasr.
The republicans have to hh,cc the s;t1s.
difficulties. Every passing day takes from
their ranks some Of the veterans who
learned what democratic government was
by practical experience before the war.
The boys cannot quite believe hat the
old mgn cXaascratcs they fancy, nn! the
mighty nation III its grand maturity. is
now able they hope. I" face the foreign
competition which may one. have hr;,rGL
destructive to it's industries. The hrohs
aud the theorists tell lis that ir.u trade is
best. and at all events il would 'l" II" harm
I" lavcit n Tie frccr. and 81 nunya v"iin.
Republican half doubts whether il woul,i
seriously disturb Industries if The Demo
a III h.Iv
nnarly four years plat the country has
had II Democratic President, and there
arc Millions who forget that Epcuhican
laws have kept the tiger rhnin.i.
The ncc,l "f public edu,atun is not real.
iz,.i by many men in actual life. They
fail to remember that nation, aud parties
forget. because experience die, with
each generation. The ,.upula,iou u
thu United States is now ahon,
63,""o. 600 II the rr"por'iom OF voters
tn iupulntiom is what il mns in isNn
about .iuu.uuu votes viii be east ;b,s
year. But not un.ceht ui the entire
pu,'ii!a,inm. hardly un",'i'Iar;cr of thc
v"'lu. population. wa, .i age mhru thc
,i,ii war hcaau. There will hn .;.G"o."ou
Votes cast by men who never vote. lot
l'rt>i.lrut ic'urr and about -. lnu,"rp
iuuic 'N men vito w.tr not OF age when
Abraham Lincoln MAS innu.,Iratrd, an!
unly =. $40, GOO 10y men mitn we're hen al
IKE. ihcvu',m. uru " l,ra-t their ;irsi vote
f"r l'rr>rrn' viii largely ulI'uuin,vr those
WHO can rrnlrat L, What iiwchauaA = Ad.
m,ui-'rati,,u MAS !, ii strarsr 'hAt m!.
ur.,:ium Is nrcdud IL is strange that thr
Nctc;an. VIII" know what rApc,iu,cc
taulh' them before the war. and l. whom
"A Democratic vote seems II cri,ur against
tie Republic. lee! iha, the Nation di,hun
ors itself i'll .no.: back Ia the practices
and theories a.. MIR kachanan> lbrmoc
rucy' Yet. if they iail to make their
experience hight to the path oi youu.
voters. thu Nation may have To learn thc
old lesson over again in years Of disaster
and suffering. n. Y. Tribune.