St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-20
OVER I'm THE FIFTH.

The Democratic congressional con.
veniion of the Fifth district builded
wiser and better than they knew, we
suspect, when they selected Oliver L.
Erickson as their candidate for con-
gress. We suspect further, that this
selection was due more to an impression
among the conservatives of the party
that there was but slim chance of sue
cess this year. and that the uneasy, ir-
ritating, progressive element OF the
party, which is continually prodding the
slower element on to newer and higher
ground Of policy. trying to force the
party policies mp in line with its prin-
ciples. might safely have their innings.
Suspicion turns to certainty when we
forecast the result of their action and
see the disappointment that awaits the
expectations of the tortoiSes.
Mr.. Erickson is good type of that
large and growing portion of the Demo-
cratic party who are Democrats by con-
version; young men who have gIown up
in the Republican party, accepting its
doctrines without thought or inspection
or study, partisans by heredity or en-
vironment, but who have been forced
to examine closely the reasons for their
political faith, and have found the
groundwork fallaeieus and beceme'co con-
vlnced that Democratic principles are
the only sure foundations on which to
build the superstructure of individual
liberty i'll republic. Measured by the
standard which. in matters of federal
taxation, juStlties tax Oh imports for
revenue purposes Mr. Erickson is not a
Democrat, but measured by that princi-
pie which gives to every worker the
right of entire freedom of exchange of
his products and insists that there is no
freedom where the citiZan cannot buy
and sell where he will as his most
precious right-a principle instinct with
true Democracy-then he is Democrat
of the straightest sect.
We predict that Mr.. Fletcher will hare
to bring to his aid in this campaign all
the resources or his fnesse and his
treasury. He will find that he whom
the Tribune grudgingly comedies is
quite bright young man" will lead
him merry chase for the polls. 1t Is
not so much in the probability of a
Populist Endorsement that his strength
will lie as in his ideas, his courage of
convictions, and his ability in defending
them. He accepts the nomination with
the declaration that 1T political death
comes to him it will find him ''with his
free-trade boots on" and he proposes to
show Mr.. Fletcher chow men fight who
have never slept under the roof of
monopoly"
But back of him is bright, enthusi-
astic, huStling lot of young fellows.
sharing his views, democrats clear to
the core-not because their fathers were
Democrats, but because they thoroughly
believe Democratic principles are right
who will inaugurate and carry out
such campaign as Uncle Loren never
dreamed of in all his philosophy of
political maneuvering. We expect to
see these bright young fellows conduct
cart-tail campaign, mounting each his
wagon when evening lets labor free
from toll, and. taking to the streets,
stop at the corners to proclaim to the
multitude the doctrines and the policies
OF the newer, fresher, cleaner, more adj
vanced and hence truer Democracy.
There will be no brass bands or process.
sions with lying banners and transpar-
ell cleS, but everywhere earnest, honest,
sincere advocacy of the cause which their
candidate represents. And we EXPECT
to see MIR. Fletcher meditating during
the leisure of his retirement on how
uncertain "sure things" are in politics.