The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-19

Iofeign phrases IN discussions in
tended for the ediiication OF readers
who in the min are familiar
only with ihe English Ian
guage. Bat sometimes IT is not
easily avoidabie. Sometimes the oc-
casion is exactly iittei by foreign
phrase for which there is no exact or
expressive equivalent in English. OF
this class is the French phrase, lie
raison d'etre," in the present emsr-
gency.
Literally translated it signifies 'the
reason Of to be-" which Is meaning
less. More broadly, i. means, why
thus is so,'' or, the reason why that
is which is" neither of which can be
regarded as very expressive, and GER
tainly neither is elegant.
Hence the resort to the French
phrase, which exactly fits the occa-
sion and in the native tongue is both
expressive and elegant.
1t would puzzle an assemblage COM
prising the entire body of French,
German and English savants, the
whole membership of the Philadel-
phia bar, and all the learned pundits
of Hindu occult philosophy to reach
even a glimmering consciousness of
any conceivable raison d'etre for the
Democratic party in the United States.
In the presence OF such al inquiry
this grand congress OF scientific. legal
and theosophie luminaries would
stand dumb and confounded.
OF any ten Democrats, met in sue
cession and questioned as 10 the rea-
son of his being Democrat, the
chances are ten to one that no two OF
them, without previous conference
and agreement, would give the same
definition of Democracy or the same
reason for being Democrat
One is Democrat because his faith
er was before him. Another is Dem
ocrat because he is "a Southsrner, sir.
Southerner born and bred" An
other is "a free-trader; free-trader
out and out, and don't care who
knows it," Another "don't want any
free-trade in his" And 30 it goes.
For every ten Democrats there will be
ten or more distinct and different rea-
sons. or lacks Of reason, for being a
Democrat.
The party is a wishy- wasny. opin-
ionless, purpo> eless conglomerate. IL
has, as AZ present organized. neither
traditions. principles or aspirations 10
justify its spasmoGic attempts TO
maintain an existence. In the dread
hour when every patriotic impulse
demanded fraternal unity among ali
good cit zens in defense Of the nations
life, the Democratic masses either
took up arms for its destruction, or
scowled and carped. and drew nice
distinctions between national tweedle
dun and federal tweedle-dee.
And ever since tba; dire conflict
which previous Democratic Gomi-
nance had alone made possible, and
which nothing 50 much a. the con-
timed existence of the Democratic
party prolonged, its csreer has been
but n continuous series of fights
against every ameiiorating, or broadly
beneficial, o. boldly progressive pol
icy. With unvary:ng stabbornness
It's creed and its practice have been
"you shan't and ! won't"
Patriotic Americans might difge.
and di 'ide in respect to live issues OF
real mpof,amce. bu: for The common
dread among all true patriots that
such differences and divisions might
inure to the be3eii. vi this ,.;scTeslitsd
party. Its main function is 10 stand
/ ia The way of legitimate divisions be-
cause OF hone5t differences listwoen
sincere patriots.
/ Let The iesraei saysEt., lie Phila
delphis lawyers and sie Hindu run
/ dts be discharged.
There i no reisais aTetcc TO- the Dem
ocratic party.