Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-06-14
Independence, Not Democracy.

Independence, Not Democracy.
In his speech in the house last Mon
day Congressman Rayner, of Maryland
expressed views which are utterly ir
reconcilable with the time-hOnored
Democratic ideas of party organization
discipline and fealty. The Associated
Press report says:
In conclusion, Mr.. Rayner. referred
to the plank in the Democratic plat
form pledging the repeal of the taz
upon state bank circulation. Its ex
plicit character Mr.. Rayner admitted
how it got there he did not know. But
as far as he was concerned, the plat
form might as we'll have pledged a re-
peal of the ten commandments. 81 dc
not know how it may be with others,
but with me the time is not yet arrived
| when Ihave surrendered my conscience
and my conviction to the keeping of q
political convention. l utterly deny
that it lies within the province or the
jurisdiction of a convention to trammel
me in the discharge of my duties by
any such declaration as this. This bill
to repeal the tax upon state bank Cir
culation tailed to pass at the last con-
gress in Democratic house and now
am told that because some one slipped
these words into the platform it was to
be maEacled like slave and robbed OF
the greatest boon that a free man in
these halls can claim, and that is the
right to vote upon questions OF public
policy in accordance with the dictates
of duty, that it lies not within the pow
er of any man or set of men to shackle
or trample upon. Diverging views of
members of the Democratic party upon
financial Matters" said Mr.. Rayner,
(which l hope soon to see taken out of
politics. will necessitate the inquiry
when man declares himself to be a
Democrat. What kind of a Democrat
are yOu?'"
We shall not ask Mr.. Rayner his own
question. Mr.. Rayuer does not talk
like Democrat. 1t is difficult to see
how a man who prates so glibly about
his conscience and his convictions can
be willing to take part in Democratic
conventions and caucuses when he
boldly announces his determination not
to be bound by their action. He ad-
mits that the state bank plank is an
explicit pledge, but declines to be
bound by it because he is opposed to
it and does not know how it got into
the platform What sort of Democracy
is this?
Between the Democrats in the senate
who oppose the income tax because it
is not in the platform, and the Demo-
Gratis in the house who decline to be
bound by an explicit pledge in the plat
form, the party is in bad way. Such
a situation is nothing short of political
so far as the Democratic party
is concerned.
1t is a waste of time and labor to Or
ganize party, hold conventions, and
agree upon principles and a policy
solemnly declared in a platform. if
each member of the party is to have
the right to repudiate any portion of
the platform that does not suit him.
There can be no efficient organization
when the members are permitted to
defy the will of the majority. If Mr..
ideas of loyalty and discipline
rrovoi1o1 in tho ho nonn.
Gratis would never have been able to
oust the Republicans and gain control
of every branch of the government.
There can be no harmony, united eff
fort and successful work on the part of
an organization without concerted
plan of action and perfect discipline. |
If the colonels. captains and privates |
of an army reserved the right to dis
obey the orders of their commanding
general and strike out independently |
for themselves the army would go to
pieces. II the employees of a railroad |
lisregarded OF their pleasure the rules
Of the road the result would come in
The shape of disastrous collisions.
If discipline and unity are essential
% the success of political party it
follows that the party must obey its su.
oreme law-its platform. Party
pledges must be carried out in good
aith, or the party will be discredited.
The will of the majority, as express
ID in the platform. must prevail or the
md will be confusion and failure. If
are allowed to repudiate
me pledge, others will repudiate other
pledges, and in short time the party
si1l be held together by no common
,ond, and will be simply crowd of
lisorderly and irresponsible individ-
lals.
It may be an old-fashioned idea to