St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-15
DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION.

The Democratic conference at the
Merchants hotel Oh Friday night was
very important gathering. ItiS quite I'M
precedented in the history of Minnesota
politics that the Democracy nearly two
years in advance of an election should
assemble for the discussion ofquestions
of organization. There were repre-
sentatiyes present at this meeting from
every quarter of the state, and spirit
of general hopefulness prevailed that
with earnest work during the next two
years our electoral vote could be
counted on for the Democratic column.
The GLOBE thoroughly believes that
such a result is among the possibilities,
and that the circulation of educational
material through the state under the
direction of a central committee. with
local branches. will help very much
towards its attainment. In the present
contest the utmost freedom of discus
sion will help the cause of the Democ-
racy. In state matters our party stands
for the intelligent regulation Of public
corporations by law and the prohibition
of class legislation. In national affairs
it stands for the reduction of the tariff
and economy and simplicity in admins
tration. In all these matters it has the
right on its side, and, in as far as the
important truths bearing Oh them can
De impressed on the voters minds, the
Democracy will profit by it.
The Democratic leaders, however,
want to remember that abstract pOliti-
cal reasoning is not the most effective
agency for conversion. Mr.. BRICE'S
theory of an educational campaign is
good as far as it goes. But, to make
sure of the abiding support of the
masses, it is necessary to touch their
feelings. This is no reflection on their
intelligence. There are very few of us
who have any confidence in the correct
ness Of our conclusions when we have
nothing but the rules of logic to guide
us. Statistics, it is notorious, will prove
anything. And tits SO easy to demolish
the most carefully constructed syllogism
by living example to the contrary,
that the best of us are distrustful of the
validity of our intellectual convictions.
But with our feelings it is different
We cannot tell clearly why we believe
there is God. But we know that there
is one. We cannot entirely account for
the directions in which our affections
run, but we are satisfied with the wis
dom of their trend. The great political
movements of modern history have
been achieved in the same way. 1t was
not the accuracy of CoBDEN's reason
ing which repealed the corn laws in
England, but the tears of starving chill
dren and their fathers broken hearts.
1t was not the constitutional arguments
of WILLIAM ii. SEWARD which burned
into mems minds the curse of slavery,
but the crazy escapade of poor old fool
named JOHN BROWN. His fanatlcal
body hanging Oh common gibbet was
the sight which marshaled together the
hosts of freedom.
Since the war the Democracy has Sc
cured several notable victories, but two
of them are especially suggestive. The
recent tidal wave was the answer of an
aroused people whose feelings had been
touched by the crime of protectionism.
The logic of GROVER CLEVELAND two
years before was unanSwerable, but he
was defeated. The argument for tariff
reform was no better last fall, but it
came in the shape of paIpable load to
every hearthlire, and every citizen felt
its burden. The result in this case was
different. The other great triumph was
the election of Mr.. TILDEN. Here a
strong personality inspired popular en-
thusiasm, because his career was an en-
bodiment of his watehword-ref
The cry of 'TILDEN and Reform
echoed through the East from state to
state, and nothing could stand before it.
The lesson of these things is here. It
is very important that a foundation of
education should be laid among the
people. But for the Democracy to fight
with its strongest weapons, it has to go
into the next battle with record of
effort and achievement in the direction