The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-03-24
PERILs OF DEMOCRACY.
Dangers that Threaten the Great Par
ty of the People,

A recent writer, of force, wisdom
and precision, gifted with a keen
insight into the conditions of Amer
ican politics and devoted to the
best interests of the Democratic
party, thus points out the dangers
which now menace the present and
future destiny of this great party
of the people:
The senatorial sugar scandal is
one of the inevitable consequences
of mixing private business with pol
itics, 1t is lesson in the art of
government which the people of this
country would do well to heed.
As soon as it is given out that the
government is prepared to aid pri-
vate enterprises with its money or
its taxing power struggle begins
among those expecting or desiring
favors for the control of legislation
Every conceivable kind of pressure
is brought to bear to influence gov
ernmental policy and political par
ties in the interest of this or that
industry or business. The object of
government which, in this country
at least, is to serve all the people
without discrimination and to guard
the liberty and property of every
individual, is lost sight of entirely
or metioned only to ridicule it as a
barren ideality unworthy the con-
sideration of sound, sensible men.
In its practical workings the Amer
lean government, especially for the
past thirty years has been used to
further special interests and pro-
cure valuable monopoly privileges
for few which are so many abridge-
ments of the rights of the many.
1t is not possible to employ public
agencies for such purposes without
corrupting and finally destroying
Democratic institutions. The mo-
nopolies, privileges or special advan-
tages granted at the inception of
such policy may be as they were
in this country, in the pursuance of
an honest belief that they will help
the general development and indi-
rectly contribute to the welfare of
all, But in craeer of immortality
the first step is the fatal one, The
favored individual tasting once of
unearned advantages is never salts
fed short of guaranteed privileges,
vested rights as they are called.
And to procure these he is forced
by stress of the unholy competition |
to employ any means, fair or foul,
according to the extent to which |
his cupidity has been cultivated,
Persuasion, soon found inadequate,
gives way to bribery, which in turn
yields to the surer and more respec-
table method of placing represen-
tatives of privileged interests on
the floor of Legislative assemblies.
A government controlled by such |
influences cannot be called Demo
cratic. 1t is an oligarchy of wealth,
plutocracy, an organization de-
signed for the plunder of the people,
impoverishing the many, and
the enriching of the few. In its
real character such a government
differs not at all from the monarch
les and aristocracies of the Old
World. They support Kings Dukes
and Earls. We support corporation
"magnates, railway "kings," pro-
tected "Barons" and millionares
drawing incomes from all sorts of |
unearned and undeserved advanta-
ges. SO far as the victims are con-
cerned, it matters not what rob !
Der is called. He gets his booty, |
whatever his designation may be.
In this country the people are
confronted with such a condition.
But we still have the forms Of Dem
ocracy. If we use them with hon
esty and intelligence we may recov-
er the substance.