St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-28
WHY / AM A DEMOCRAT.
GEN. Mt6Tiy 7. M'MAH0K ANSWERS
THE QUESTION EXYAUS TiYELY.
.Ir Is THE PEOPLES PARTY

Its Record in Times of Peace and
War-Adherence to. the Cardi-
nal Principles Of Free Govern
ment-Khe Pernicious Protect
i've Policy Of the Republicans
Democracy Sound Silver.
Gen. Martin T. Mcmahon contributes
the following cogent reasons for his
faith in the Democratic party and Demo
cratic principles 10 the November mum
Der of Donahue's Magazine, the leading
Catholic periodical in the United States.
1t we'll well bear perusal by every
American citizen:
Why am d Democrat, you ask? Be-
cause L believe the Democracy is the
party of the people.
1T is the party of the equal many.
instead of the favored few. The roun-
dalion principle of this republic is trust
and confidence, deep aud sincere, in tbs
people. This is Democracy.
When we started out to do business on
our own account, our work of making a
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 presented themselves.
and the doubt was greatly intensified
by the coincidence of the French revo-
luton OF 1892. The terrorS of that event.
the ferncity with which the outraged
masses destroyed classes there, made
leaders III America fear for moment as
TO the stability of our own institutions.
There was no need for fear, however.
America had none of the conditions
which gave birth to the atrocities in
France. We started out, as it were,
with a clear sheet. We had no cent
urieS behind us with their wrongs 10
right; with their revengeS to satisfy.
But this difference between the situa-
ton of the two republics at that time
was not clearly seen by all. Adams and
Hamilton. yes. even Washington, were
affected by this doubt of the people. 1t
was thought we needed something else
beside our own patriotism, our own
brains and c0ncSiences, 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 Dem
ocratlc party. was regarded at that time.
Yet he held SteadfaSt to his trust in the
people, and to his belief i'll the national
life and future, according to the spirit
of the constitution. For tins belief JEFF =
fersOn and his followers were vilified by
their opponents. They were branded as
the enemies of society, the possible
destroyers of the newborn nation, Yet,
all good Democrats revere their names
now, and no patriot questions their wis
dom. SO was the Democratic party
bnrn-to oppose the doubters of the pao-
pie organized in the FederalIst party.
In our own times, the legitimate heir of
the old Federaiists is the Republican
party, which for the reasons L have
stated, is, l 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
always to give a fair study to the past,
and L have referred to early history
only to make clear my answer to the
question. My first vote was cast in
1861 for James q. Berret for mayor of
Washington. ID. G.
My first presidential vote was cast for
George B. Mcclellan. l would have
voted for Douglas, but l was not old
enough. The year 1861 was a crucial
year in the history of our country and
ltsparties. The Democratic party had
always been, as l have said, the party
trusting the people; the conservative
party; the party that believed in con-
stitutional methods. They were the
conservative party in the beginning, as
against the ultra-cOnServative Federaist
party, and in 1861 they were still the
conservative as against the ultra-radical
party. the AboIitionists.
WHO SAVED THE COUNTRY?
. Ever since the war the Republican
party has been loudly claiming that it,
and it alone, saved tile country. | have
no desire to diminish the credit due to
that party, but remember that at the
outset. in the Republican, as we'll as in
the Democratic ranks, the sole purpose
OF the war was the preservation of the
Union, without reference to the effect
upon slavery.
or the men who died 70 save this
Union, L believe the majority were
Democrats. In saying this L mean no
reflection whatever OH the Republican
party. The simple fact is that more of
the fighting men of the nation were to
be found in the Democratic ranks.
No party saved this Union. All par
ties contributed their best blood, and
would again, to preserve our unity and
Independence. The young men of today
scarcely know the depth of the misrep-
resentation involved i'll the claims of
the Republican leaders to the monopoly
of patriotism and the glory of our war
time. Fer my part, L would be
ashamed to believe Tor one instant
that our nation was saved by one
alone of its great political parties,
and would be more ashamed OF the
party VINO made the claim, as the Re-
publican party has done for the last
twenty-five years. Ask any one of them
for proof of the claim and he will give
you few names of men, who. living in
the North and being Democrats, were
disloval, ana he will also claim that a
majority of the people of the Southern
states, prior to the war, were Democrats.
Neither of these facts proves anything
at all. Why from the great Democratic
city of New York, as from the other
great cenieIS of Democratic people,
whole regiments were sent out, in
which there was not man who ever
voted the Republican ticket either be-
fore or during or after the war. SO
you can imagine how annoying it Is for
Democratic soldiers to have had to
listen Ter twenty five years to the
incessant prattle of how the G. o. Z.
saved the union. An honest Judge
of the Republican claims will say
that the raiSOn d'etre OF the Republican
party passed away with slavery. 1t
had no possible reason for existence
alter the war: but then came the era of
SpOilS, the era of reconstruction and of
gigantic speculation. The Republican
party was able to hold itself together by
the glamour of its assumed patriotism.
by Its misrepresentation or its opponents,
and by means of the great and con-
stantiy Increasing patronage of the gov
eminent they were enabled to control.
Then the natural result OF the condition
OF a party having no reason for further
existence was reached. They searched
out reasons for existence. True to their
nature and history, they became the
party of protection, the party of class,
tine party, of the manufacturer, the party
of the protected, and the protected
party.