Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-07

A pARrr,s eIoRloUs HIsroRY.

A PARTY's GLORIOUS HISTORY.
Governor RusseIl's brilliant Address
Record and Achievements of the DEM
ocratic Party.
Boston Globe.
One of the most able and eloquent
speeches at the banquet of the Young
Mems Democratic Club in this city was
that of Gov. Russell. II rapidly
sketched both the party's past and the
party's present. AT the recent Republic
can Club demonstration, and later in
the chief Republican papers of this city,
tho sneer has been made that the Demo-
cratic party talks only of the present
and the future, and fears to dwell upon
its past. Gov. Russell splendidly re-
PEELED this last insinuation.
1t is true that the Democracy has its
face turned to the morning; that 1t works
in the present and plans for the future,
refusing to dwell in the past or rest its
claims upon. its glorious achievements.
In this il differs from the Republican
party. AT the recent Republican demon
stratlon here, the chairman rested his
entire plea upon the achievements of
his party in matters that are now dead
and gone. He had nothing to say for
the present Republican administration
nothing for the Billion Dollar Congress,
nothing for the Mckinley bill or the
Force bill, the two distinguishing
measures of his party as at present con-
stituted. If Mr. Wolcott truly repre-.
sents his party, it is fair to infer that his
party is ashamed of its present; and
even if il We're true that the Democratic
party is ashamed of its past, the balance
would still be in favor of the Democracy.
For II is better TO have shameful past
than shameful present.
But it is not true that the Democratic
party is ashamed of its past. That is
the reverse of the truth. The achieve
ments of the Democratic party are the
most glorious achievements of American
history. 10 the Democratic party of the
past belongs the credit for al those great
fundamental laws of personal liberty
and state autonomy that make this
country the freest and best country on
earth.
The Monroe doctrine, which protects
his hemisphere against European inter
terence--thatwas a Democratic measure.
Democratic administrations have CON
Quoted two great foreign wars to Il sue
cesstIll issue II Was under Democratic
rule that Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and
the greater part Of the vast region west
of the Mississippi, were acquired by
purchase or by conquest and annexed
to the Union. II was under Democratic
rule that herepublic was extended from
ocean to ocean. II was under Democratic
rule that this country amazed the world
with its growth Of populations; burst
upon the worlds astpnished vision as
the second great maritime power of the
globe, and was rapidly becoming the
llrst when the party retired from
power Under Democratic rule the
American flag iloated on every sea, and
TO be an American citizen was passport
enough to command respectful treat
ment in any civilized country on earth.
Under Democratic rule there was no 1
Force bills, no tariff steals in the
interest Of favored monopolists, no
great army Of the unemployed and no
millilnaircs. And, still later, il was a
Democratic administration that i'm
moasurabiy raised tat tone of political !
discussion and the public service and |
fcarIessly challenged tile powfully in
trencHel tariff robbery that was thought |
to be inyinciA
II Is true that there is one episode in
the party history to which every gen
nine Democrat looks back with pro-
found regret; that Is, the false position |
in which the party was once placed by |
t,s leaders regarding the question of |
slavery. That, however, was not an out |
growth of Democratic principles, but a
consequence of the temporary reversal |
and betrayal of Democratic principles.
i was, indeai, those broad Dem
ocrGiic ideai If Il nan equality which |
rson laid down In the Declaration |
81 Independence, and which have |
always been the Democratic teachinE, |
that ineyi'a5i. grew into the public de-
mand Tor the extinction of slavery; and |
the founder Of The party, Jefferson, had
many years before introduced INTO the |
Virginia assembly bill ubnlishing |
slavery in that state. Because the Demo-
cratic leaders betrayed their party and
their principles by suffering the party
tl be placed in the attitude Of apology |
ing Tor slavery, the true Democrats of
that day became, on that one issue, Re-
pnblicans, simply because on that one
issue the new party was more Demo-
cratic than the old.
But when the clash of arms came,
Democrats responded to the call as
eagerly as the members of the new
party, and fully half the soldiers Of the
north We're lnen who had always been |
Democrats. As Governor Russell saws. |
'llancock and Mcclellan stood shoulder
to shoulder with Grant and Sherman"
we may add that even Grant was a
Democrat till the Republican party |
nominated him for the presidency.
The Democratic party has ANYTHING
but shame for its glorious past But il |
prefers to let the past take care of itself,
aud bend all its energies towards i'm.
proving the present and the future.
That is the only purpose for which a
political party has any right to live.
prpnchers Rirbtco,,a yy,,.t