St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-04
OUR PARTY WEAKNESS.

Il 4
The fact that among the Democrats
of the state there is so widespread
feeling that the Populist candidate for
governor should be indorsed; the fact
that this has found expression in some
of the county conventions convened to
select delegates 10 the convention
tomorrow; the fact that even here i'll the
cities. where Populism has made no
head, as well as i'll the cOun.
ties where it has been strong
est. Democrats declare their IN
tention to vote for the Populist any
way, and local candidates are coquet-
ting with the Populists for nominations
or support-all these facts indicate
weakness which must have some deep
seated cause. An inquiry into the
probabls causes is not untimely OH the
eve uf the state convention, which will
not only name a candidate but provide
the committee which for the ensuing
two years will have charge of the ad
ministration of the party.
Ask the men who declare their pun
pose to vote for MIR. Owen any way. why.
and you will get several diverse rea-
sons. One will tell you that the Demo-
Gratis stand no chance Of electing their
candidates: that the chief end is to
drive the Republicans out: that this
can only be done bv voting for the Pop
ulists, because they are not ripe enough
yet to come to US. Another one
will tell you that he is tired
of voting in the air, and he
intends this time to put his vote
where it will count to whip the Repub-
licans if it will not aid the Democrats.
Another one says that the Populists are
only Democrats in chrysalis. and if we
help them break their shells they will
come out full-hedged Democrats. An
other will admit that he believes that
the Populists are going to win; that it is
in the air. and he wants for OEce in his
life to be on the winning side.
But there is larger class than all
these who say that we have no real
Democracy. Congress compromises
principles as if it were a mere matter of
detailsof the application of established
principles. We elected congress and
president to wipe out protection, and
they began and ended with compro-
mise with protection. Then in
state matters what kind of DEM
ocracy have we? II postmaster
is to be appointed at some coun-
try cross roads, is the choice Of that
officer left unquestloningly to the DEM
ocrats whom ne must serve? Are we
as body ever consulted? Are we any
thing but voting cattle, driven wherever
few men wish? What are we but the
trading stock of men who make politics
their profession or business, and ap-
point our postmasters and select our
other officers for US without ever as
much as saying "By your leave?"
Whom do our conventions represent,
these men ask. How are they made
up? Who run" the primaries? What
show has Democrat in them, with
their slated delegates made up by
coterie of interested seekers for place?
What thing is this they call an organiza-
ton. in which the primal principle of
Democracy, the right of each man to be
heard and consulted. is ignored and de.
rided as "poppycock?" We are tired of be-
ing bossed. and the only way we can
see to make our opinions felt is to ''bust
the machine" 60 out OH the streets,
go out into the villages. 10 among the
farmers. and this Is the kind OF talk you
will hear. There is no use In blinking
unwelcome facts. The true way is to
face them, admit them and find the
remedy. Christian science, which
Inv FOL !, \
the disease that sickens him, will not
work in politics.
To the man only DESTROYS of "ciean-
ing out" the Republicans one can only
say that, while that is most desirable,
there are some things worse than their
continued coutrOl, and that Is abjura.
ton of our principles. Nations have
experimental with alliances to .clean
out' an enemy and been swal-
lowed up by their allies. There
is but one way for minority
party to become the majority, and that
is by being true to its principles when
it has the opportunity to apply them;
and, before that, in working to convince
those who differ with US that those
principles are right and sound. A vic
tory won in any other way is a defeat.
To the man who advances the chrysalis
theory one can say that political deyel-
opment is as natural growth as Is that
of the grub into the butterfly; that
the Republican who ultimately becomes
Democrat in ninety-nine cases out of
a hundred reaches his end by a round.
| about route. and that il we are to be the
benefciaries of this certain ultimate
development of the Popullst we must
have Democratic party for him to
come to. 10 the discouraged man.
whose hopes of reform have been but
partly satisfied by congress-, nothing
more should be needed to reinvig-
crate him than the attitude of
our president and of the leaders, and
the spirit shown in all the assemblages
of Democrats that are meeting all over
the land now in conventions and at
| public meetings. Because treachery
has robbed us of the greater fruits OF
our victory Is only reason tn pun.
ish the traitors where we can aud
| struggle harder, assured that lever the
truth comes uppermost. and ever is
justice DONE"
! With the Democrat who wants to