Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-04-12
THE DEMOCRACY.

luC
Frederick, Martinsburg and other
places in Maryland and West Virginia
to demand the speedy passage OF the
tariff bill are good omens of the sue
cess and permanence of the Demo
cratic party. And they show bright
ly against the background of a pros
pect which, as every candid man must
admit, is otherwise gloomy.
Much as we may deplore it, we cam
not deny that in the past few years
the Democratic party has seemed un-
able to retain, for any considerable
period, the confidence of the people
and this in spite of its numbers and
efficient organization, in spite of its
glorious past and brilliant promises OF
a future in which its sole object shall
be to insure the prosperity of the
whole people, as distinguished from
the surfeiting of few special interests
in the industrial world The reason
is not far to seek, and we take It to
be, in substance, as follows
When the party is in opposition
and there is to be battle at the polls
it declares plainly and with emphasis
its allegiance to great and indisputable
principles which underie the welfare
of the whole nation, and upon which
alone that welfare depends. In sup
port of these principles its highest
leaders and its humblest followers
have again and again united to dc
battle to the death; and again and
again have they triumphed by thell
strenuous efforts, inspired by devotion
supported by enthusiasm. But when
the victory is won, all seems changed
We shall not now seek the cause Of
the phenomenon; but there is no de-
nying that, after the battle, the people
have seen the fulfllment of the pledges
on the strength of which it was won
thwarted by unworthy and self-assum-
ing leaders. These men are the rep
resentatives of "rings" organized fol
the purpose of reaping the rewards
made possible by the corrupt system
of government in our great cities; OF
"bosses" whose sole object is to further
their private interest or political am
bition, and whose sole power rests
upon their control of state and munlcl,
pal patronage. These are the men
who sought to substitute a make-shltt
compromise for the repeal Of the Sher'
man law, which threatened to wreck
our national credit; these are the
men who are now seeking to emascu,
late the Wilson bill and to dishonol
the sacred pledge, SO often made, to re-
form the "robber tariff; ;" and these are
the men who-if let alone-will undo
the great work of the people IN the
fall of 1892, and ultimately wreck
the Democratic party.
When to the destruction Of genera
confidence in the party which results
from the Vaccinations of such men
we add the disafection within the
party itself which is necessarily caused
by unwise appointments to office and
the retention Of Republican ofticehold'
ers, the situation of the Democrats
appears deplorable indeed.
But the remedy for all this is surely
coming. The result of many recent
elections-especially that Of 1892
proves that when the great body o.
Democracy is moved to action, it com
pels confidence in the party, and VIC
tory inevitably follows. What more
is needed is that this same great body
should imperatively demand that then
pledges shall be fulfilled and that full
advantage shall be taken of the great
opportunities for which they have
fought not for the benefit of a few
self-constituted leaders, but for that o.
the whole party and the whole nation.
The meetings we have mentioned
show that Democrats have recognized
this need and are going to supply it.
Let the same action be taken through,
out the land, and Democracy will be-
come the recognized synonym for pa
triotism, power and permsnence,
Row's This
We offer One Hundred Dollars Re.
ward for any cHse of Catarrh that