The Irish standard., 1893-11-04
.HEISA DEMOCRAT
Gen. Martin T. M'Mahon Gives
Cogent Reasons in Donahoes'
Magazine Why He is One.
THE PARTY OF THE PEOPLE

/ III l. / fA1NA VI IA LII ~
The Majority of The Men Who
Fought and Died to Save The
Union Were Democrats.
Gen. Martin T. Mcmahon contributes
the following interesting article to the
November number of Donakoe's Maga-
zine, giving reasons why he is Demo-
crat:
Why am I a Democrat? you ask. Be-
cause / believe the Democracy is the
party of the people.
It is the party of the equal many,
instead of the favored few. The fonnda-
tion principle of this republic is trust
and confidence, deep AID sincere, in the
people. This is Democracy.
When we started out to do business
on our own account, our work OF making
q nation without titles and without class
distinctions was regarded as an expert,
ment. Even among our own leaders,
there was some little doubt as to the
wisdom of entire dependence upon the
whole people. This feeling of doubt
gained strength as the difficulties of our
national life in the formative period pre-
sented themselves, and the doubt was
greatly intensified by the coincident OF
the French revolution of 1922. The ter
ror of thar event, the feroclty with which
the outraged masses destroyed classes
there, made leaders in America fear for a
moment as TO the stability of our own
institutions. America had none of the
conditions which gave birth TO the afro
cities in France. We started ut, as it
we're, with clear sheet. We had no
centuries behind US with their wrongs to
right; with their revenges to satisfy.
But this difference between the situa-
tion of the two republics st that time
was not clearly seen by all. Adams and
Hamilton, yes, even Washington, were
affected by this doubt of the people. II
was thought We needed something else
besides our own patriotism, our own
brains and consciences, to promote the
national growth and safety. In this
feeling was the Federalist party born.
Let any one read the letters of John
Adams, and he will understand how
Jefferson, the great founder of the
Democratic party, was regarded at that
time. Yet he held steadfast to his trust
in the people, and to his belief in the
national Ii and future, according to the
spirit of the constitution. For this be-
lief Jefferson and his followers were viii
fed by their opponents. They were
branded as the enemies of society, the
possible destroyers of the born
nation. Yet, all good Democrats revere
their names now, and no patriot ques-
toned their wisdom. So was the Demo-
cratic party born-to oppose the doubters
of the people organized in the Federalist
party. In our own times, the legitimate
heir of the old Federalists is the Republi-
can party, which for reasons ! have
stated, is, say, by nature, by instinct,
and by inheritance the party of the few
and the favored.
All this may be called ancient history
now by people who consider only the
present issues, but it is necessary for an
adequate understanding of the present,
always to give fair study to the past,
and have referred to early history only
to make clear my answer to the question.
My first vote was cast in. 1861 for James
G. Berret for mayor of Washington, D. g.
My first presidential vote was cast for
George B. cClellHn. I would have voted
for Douglas, but I vas not old enough.
The year 1861 was crucial year in the
history of our country and its parties.
The Democratic party had always been,
as have said, the party trusting the
people, the conservative party; the
party that believed in constitutional
methods. They were the conservative
party in the beginning, as against the
ultra conservative Federalist party, and
in 1861 they were still the conservative
as against the ultra-conservative party,
the Abol tionists.
Ever since the war the Republican
party has been loudly claiming that it.
and it alone, saved the country. have
no desire to diminish the credit due to