Evening journal., 1890-05-24

HARMONY IS NOT A CALAMITY.
There Is q curious misconception
abroad concerning shs meaning of the
word harmony as applied to politics -
Some men, wnder the mistaken notion
that harmony Is some indefinite and por-
tentious omen of personal calamity, are
ready TO fly into frenzy Of hysteric
apprehension whenever harmony is men
toned, They stand aghast with bulging
eyes, Ike a man whe has seen q
ghost; they seem to undergo the tor
ture OF man who las eaten
freely of sauer kraut and awaksns
at midnight to defend himself from the
ksen-edgsd butcher knife Of blesdyTurk !;
they become snragsd as II a gross per-
soaal injury we're threatened against
their estates, their persons or their hopes
Of salvation, when anybody whispers
'sharmony. These manifestations re-
suit frem causes as various as they are
erroneous They de not result from calm
reason, correct information, sweet
amiAbility, or true courage. They are
political hysteria. the nightmare Of an
inexperienced and timtd statesman
There is nothing drssaful about politi-
cal harmony. 1t does not mean that
man must abandon his views on all sub
sots and turn his back on friends and
fortune. 30 utter wall of despair as If
hops had taken wings to leave the world
to darkness and to him.
Political harmony means that men
shall unite in a mutually agreeabla man
aer 10 enforce certain great principles
for the welfare Of the commonwealth.
At present, the Democratic party is en-
gagged in advocating principles Of econ
omy In local and national government,
reform in the system Of tax
alton, and equal justice and
impsrtiality to all sections, all stAtes,
all classes, all msR. No Democrat will
acknowledge that he is not in harmony
with those principles; no Democrat
would bassly charge that his friend,
neighbor and fellow Democrat is now or
will prove to be hereafter traitor to
those principles.
The principles Of the party are eternal
because founded on justice and truth.
Ths means to put them into effsst, only,
can change.
1t Is right, proper and necessary that
men shsuld differ in regard to these
means. That does not destroy, or even
disturb. harmonious endorsement of
the principles involved. 1t only shows
preference for one or the other candi-
date to serve, as the instrument for the
attainment Of a glorious end.
Every man knows that this must be
settled by the wishes Of the majority.
The candidates ars all Democrats, aud
they, vita the party, are anxious to work
for the same principles. 1t would be pre-
posterous to attempt to create perfect
agreement in regard to the caudi-
dates by any other means than
convention or a primary which
would tsst and dstermine the will of the
greatest number. Before that shall have
been done, men may have as many
choices and favorites as there are candi-
dates. After that man is Democrat,
struggling for the success Of the grand
principles Of a glorious party, to be at
tanned by the election of officers chosen
by majority of their fellow Deme.
Gratis.
A man who is not in harmony then Is
not Democrat. He is not governed BY
the principles of Democracy. He is
something less or something more than
Democrat.
he is too great to be led and not great
enough to be leader.