The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-01
DEMOCRAT WHO WILL NOT FUSE.

To THE EDITOR: I see that the leaders
of the Washington Democracy are engaged
in arranging q fusion of the Democratic
and Populist parties at the coming cleo
ton, and the question naturally suggests
itself to me: viii the two elements fuse
1t would seem to be matter of course that
any communication on this subject should
be addressed TO the Democratic paper of
this city, but IL happens that the proprie-
tor of that paper is himself party to this
fusion scheme, so that one must perforce
seek discussion of the matter in the paper
which advocates the principles of the OPP
posite party.
am one of those who hold to the old
fashioned but perhaps Anticipated idea
that political parties are organized TO put
in practice certain principles, aud that
when they cease 10 advocate those prin-
ciples they fall to pieces for lack of any
cohesive power. / am Democrat because
believe in Democratic principles. not be-
cause favor the appointment to Office of
any particular set Of men. believe that
the greatest degree of local self-govern-
ment consistent with national unity
affords the best security to the country;
that the government should interfere as
little as possible with the concerns of the
individual citizens: in fact, that govern
ment Is a necessary evil. Holding this
| belief, ! favor as near an approach TO free
| trade as the revenue needs of the nation
warrant. and there / find the point at
issue with the Republican party.
But the Democratic party, which pro-
| fesses TO advocate these principles, now
proposes. through It's leaders in this state.
| to fuse with the Populist party, which adj
| yoeates quite another set of principles;
that is. il proposes TO support for Office
| certain candidates of the Populist party
on condition that the Populist party sup
ports certain Democratic candidates
| Now what is this Populist party, whose
! candidates Democrats are 10 be asked TO
support Ii is composed of the disap-
| pointed, sorehead office seekers of both
/ The old parties, the advocates of every
| crank theory known to students of poll
/ tics, of socialists who believe in govern
/ ment ownership of railroads, telegraphs,
| telephones. gas and electric light plants
/ and street railways, and of men who think
| the government by Its fat can make SO
| cents worth q dollar. and that money can
be manufactured by paper mill, regard
| less of the well-estahlished principle
/ that all values arise from LABOR. But
/ they do not stop here. While in their
/ platform they advocate socialism, in prac-
| tiee they are anarchists. the opposite pole
! of political belief This has been exem-
1 plided by Cows. Pennoyer, Waite. Lew
/ cling. Altgeld, Tillman and by the fury
/ with which the use Of the military force TO
suppress Misunderstanding Coxeyites and riot
/ Gus Debsltes hiss been denounced by the
/ Populisis, while the courts have not been
/ spared because they dared enforce the law
! against the lawless. In short, the Popu-
| lists have preached socialism and practlced
/ nnarchism whenever the exertion of the
| forces OF government ran counter to their
wishes. What has the Democracy in CON-
/ mon with such pArtyi
| My conception of the difference between
/ the Republican and Democratic parties is
/ that, while they agree on the fundamental
/ principles Of popular government, thew
| disagree on the working out Of those
| principles. They both consider the popu.
/ lar verdict given in an election to be anal.
1 the defeated party always cheerfullv sub
| mits to the authority of those whom the
victorious party puts in Office and trusts
/ 10 reason TO reverse this verdict at the
! next opportunity. But the Populists are
/ not willing 10 accept any such decision.
! II the umpire decides against them, they
mob the umpire. They will only accent
I the decision OF the ballot 50 long as il goe.
/ their way. They cali themselves the peo-
/ pies party. bat they refuse 10 obey the
/ offcsrs TIE people have chosen, they dis
/ regard the Laws made by the psople's
I chosen lawmakers. they condemn the use
+ Of The force the people have created 10 en-
/ force those lass, and they call corrupt the
/ courts created by the peoples Lawmakers.
/ which punish them for their lawlessaess.
/ In order that two elements may fuse
+ they must have something IN common.
Z What have tie Democratic and Popalist
+ parties n eommon' True. they both
support tariff reform, or free trade. il you
I prefer thai nsme, cut I take IL that the
Z question Of free trade or protection only
4 relates to the saperstructura Of ihe nuila-
ing ~hl.h Is called government, while the
s reservation Of the foundation is TAR more
L important. IN fact. IS vital. On thss point
+ of preserving the foundation. the Demo
Z cratic and Republican parties are as one.
waals the Democratic and PopuIist parties
are directly al issus. When any posus on
f whleA Democrats and Republicans are
/ sgreea = attacked they should Unite for
/ es.SEss AID leave sAs!r diEsseaes. 10 10