St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-25
WHENCE IT'S yIrALITYq

IL spite of the proofs furnished by
hundred years of history: in spite OF
repeated disappointment of expecta-
tons which seemed to have sound
basis. Republicans who believe that the
permanence Of our institutions depends
on the continuance in control of their
party look with satisfaction on the
differing views taken by Democrats of
the most pressing public questions, and
see in it portent Of the approaching
dissolution of that party. They declare
that it is splitting in fragments; that it
Is breaking down with its own weight
ON its first trial ID thirty years; that it
is committing suicide.
For the most part a fervent wish is
father to these thoughts, and for the
rest they rest in an inability to under
stand the vital principle which finds its
imperfect but best expression in the
Democratic party. Surely it should
suggest to any one that there must be
something more virile than the distribu-
button of offices or the carrying out of
mere policies that has given a life to
the Democratic party nearly coincident
with that of the republic; which has
enabled it to survive crushing defeats,
and which has saved it from itself when
it has gone wrong on some great ques-
ton. The Federal party went into a
factiouS and distrusted minority after
twelve years of control; the Wings dis
appeared utterly after two experiments
with national administration: but tue
Democratic party has lived to see them
and number of ephemeral parties rise
and pass into oblivion.
There must have been some vital
principle which appealed TO sense of
right in the minds of the people that
has enabled the Democratic party to
survive the obloquy it justly incurred
during the war, when its devotion TO
the rights of the states betrayed it into
supporting the extension of slavery into
the territories, and from that to declar-
ing the war for the preservation of the
Union a failure. No other party could
have done that and lived; no severer
test of the vitality of the basic principle
of party could have been app led.
And now, when the party has been
| again restored to power, and when it is
| charged with responsibility for the con-
| duct of national affairs, when it must
not only meet questions of policy, but
| must advance them and defend them,
| and when Democrats are differing so
| among themselves. it is we'll to inquire
| whence comes this wonderful vitality of
the party; for 1t is only by finding the
| source and conforming conduct and
| measures TO it that we can hope for or
ask continuance of the control given
US last November.
1t is said that it is ''the party of the
| people," but that is term of descrip-
ton. not of definition. Even the So
cialistic PopulistS make the same claim
with vehemence, and the mildly social.
istic Republicans make similar asser-
ton with profound solemnity and-we
doubt not-sincerity. Back of the term
lies the question: Why are you the
party of the people?" The Republican
and Populist and Socialist reply, Be
cause we propose to use the aggregated
power of the community to promote the
welfare and good of all the people. The
Democrat says, We are the party of the
people because we are the party of the
individual. We believe that each human
being is entitled to the largest possible
measure of liberty which is consistent
with the enjoyment of the same meas
ure by all others; we believe that gov.
ernments are instituted among mer
merely TO secure this; that strong mer
make strong nations, and that men are
made strong by being given freedom OF
action with its sequence of responsible,
ity. Self-reliance is taught by beine
left to depend on ones self; not by being
helped at every emergency. Govern
ment is not a parent to foster, shelter
aid. protect; 1t is only policeman tx
prevent encroachments on the rights o.
one person by another. When men are
taught to look to the government in
stead of to themselves, dependence
takes the place of Independence. weak
ness of self-reliant strength, and the
nation inevitably decays.
1t is this that is the center of life II
our party. 1t is this that preserved it
it is the recognition of this Fundamental
difference between the parties by the
people which has restored our party tc
power, and it Is the jealous inslstence
on this at every point that will insure
our continued control. When we cease
to guide our policies by it we may be
sure that the day of our deposition IL
at hand.
81 am DO longer a Republican; 1 am
| Democrat" said gentleman whose