The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-19
THE DExooRATIC PARrr.
A Suggestion ~ TO How Its Position Can oe
strengthened.
20 wud some power the gifiie gre Us
To see ourselves as lthers see, us;
Ii wud frae mony blunder free us

advice upon il than the actual players. With
ont however. in any way seeking to arrogatC
% myself any such competency in the prem
ises vet as an outsider, but most friendly
one | venture to offer some remarks upon
tina subject which indicate in the caption.
have been ever since | settled IN this coun-
trv. now some years ago, an interested spec
tator in the contests between the two great
nolitical parties for supremacy.
That have been and am no more than a
snectator arises from the fact that | am an
Fnglishnan, who for nearly O quarter of q
century before coming here took an active
n.rt in organization and support of the Con-
servative party In the old country. and 70
whom. therefore, the principles OF either OF
the great parties here appear much TOO radi-
cal in their tendency TO enlist an active sup
mort This fact. however does not blind le
IN the conviction that the Democratic party
is the one which more nearly approaches IN
tia principles TO those Of the Conservative
uarty in the old country" and which. there
fore. | believe TO be the one best calculated
t. advance the truest interests Of the nation.
Al the present tIme this great party seems 10
be very much in the position which the old
Tory party occupied in England after the great
overthrow it sustained in its defeat on the
question Of protection. when its then leader.
Sir Robert Peel. accepted the principles II
free trade and lent the weight of his name
and power to tho enactment Of the first Of
that series OF measures which have tended so
enormously TO increase the trade aud wealth
OF England. The result of this action
was 10 disntegrate the Tory party and
TO practically render II impossible for 10
70 obtain power and the responsibility OF
government. The Liberal party went into
Office with O strong majority and practically
continued TO retain Office tor more than
twenty years. and 1 believe would have still
continued TO DO 80 had not that great states
man. Lord Beaconsfed then Mr.. DisraelD.
accepted the position, and with II the duty
and responsibility OF leading and educating
the Tory party into the support of modern
conservative opinions aud systems OF
government This he did by appeal
INC 10 and securing gradually the
support OF that great mass OF people { mass
existing ia every country which las not love
for constant change and which does no seek
to destroy ancient institutions because they
may he anachronisms aud not harmonic
closely with some modern theoretical ideas of
what such institutions should be. but Is con-
tent T. accept these institutions subject only
10 such reform as may be necessary 10 mt
them better to discharge the duties they were
originally created B. fulfil.
The result of this policy completely justified
its adoption. Mr.. Disraeli succeeded in build
ing up the Conservative party and in attach
ing TO it very large proportion. not only of
the country people. but also Of the vigorous
and progressive people OF the busy manufac-
turing centres IF the country who saw in such
q policy the best hope tor steady. permanent
increase IN the development OF the great man
ufacturing resources of the nation. which of
course meant the prosperity, not only
OF that section, but OF all sections
of the country. As an illustration
OF this the great manufacturing county
of Lancashire which had taken the
lead in the initiation OF the movement which
broke up the old Tory party. became so
strongly Conservative as to return nearly tho
whole of its representatives as members of
that party. 1t was said at the time of the
initiation of the free trade movement that
what Lancashire said to-day England would
say tomorrow. ana SO il proved; but
this saying was equally true and appli-
cable when Lancashire forsook it's liberal
and radical views and adopted the
modern conservative policy of Mr.. DIS
rael. The result of this great change
was to bring the Conservative party into
power in 1874. which II exercised until 1850,
when it was succeeded by the Liberal party
for five years and then again succeeded IN
taking over the government of the country.
y hich il has practically exercised up 20 this
date.
The secret Of It's success has been reliance
that a party 10 DO powerful must base its
claims not upon its determination merely to
stand upon old principles and theories OF gov
eminent, but upon determination to support
and MAINTAIN those old principles as neces-
sarily. and no moro than necessarily, modi-
fed 70 meet the changes incident 70 the steady
advance Of the great conservative mass
OF tho people, that mass which. whilst it loves
10 hallow the memories and support the doc
trines of the great leaders OF the past, yet
demands that these doctrines shall DO 50
modified as they believe those great leaders
Of the past would themselves have moci-
fed them in order TO meet the changing
OF the present day. Now II
seems 20 me- as an outsider. that the Demo-
cratic party OF to-day is precisely IN the posi-
ton OF tho old Tory party of England forty
FIVE years ago. And especially does this
seem 20 be the case ia the Southern States.
tits simply their relying upon the memories or
It's great leaders in the past 10 wip for itself
power and influence in the future. Such
reliance failed TO support the Tory party IN
the hour of trial IN England. and 1 much
fear that il is going 10 do the same here ia
the coming contest, and especially so IN the
face OF that movement throughout the
Southern States Of the farmers aud labOrers,
the force OF which ! am afraid IL somewhat
in the North. Not that 1
desire 70 eXaggerate It's strength. Tor De-
IleVe II the Democratic party thkeS thht
course which is analogous 70 the one
taken by the Tory party IN England at IKE
crisis in its history. that this movement VIII AZ
once collapse. There IS here as there was IN
England a mass of people numerically great
who prefer steady conservative progress ana
honest government 10 radical and spOiis-seek-
ing partisanry. and Il has developed us
strength as in England IN the most enhght-
eued, progressive and wealthy manufacturing
states ia the Union, the New England States,
especially Massachusetts,.
ct, then the old Democratic party in the
South ioin hands heartily with this new pro-
gressiye Democracy OF the North and frame
programme. as did the modern Conservative
marty in England. which. whilst IN no way
sacrificing the great leading principles OF the
marty shall yet 30 modify and enlarge them
as 10 bring within them those great principles
NJ modern progress. tarin reform and
honest government. and | believe the re-
sult will be as il was in England, such
a rallying Of the great mass Of conservative
people Of the whole country. both North aud
south. as shall Tor years % come give 10 the
new Democratic party lease OF power SUI
ficiently strongly supported 10 enable 1t To
Diye effect 70 the principles have mentioned,
and thereby efIectually 20 break down the
tendency to disintegration OF the Democratic
marty now lurking in the so-called Third
party movement In this l may be mistaken,
bur this is as ii appears 10 an outsider who
had experience ia q similar crisis IN the his
tory OF our Old party ia the odd country"
j. /. JACKSON.
University Students for Cleveland.