Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-06-14
DnmOcrh tic Discomfort

II there IS anywhere iii all this COUn-
try place large enough to be visible
TO the naked eye where the democratic
party is in the actual enjoyment of
the peaceablc fruits OF victory it's
location is indetCrminatc.
At the south the dSsa tisfaction is
largely due to the extreme gold views
and policy of the administration, with
the consequent development of the
pOpulist movement. There is not a
nook or corner OF Dixie where the
party i'll power is serene The poll
ticians are disturbed by the apprehen-
sion of defeat. The old political rings
find themselves menaced by disaster
But it is not simply question of fl
nancial policy. Apart from all that is
the jealousy between the office holding
ariStocracy and the common people.
The old regime is in danger. A mild
form of RObespierreism is abroad in
the south getting little stronger
every day, and OminOuSly threa tening
to revolutiOniZc the politics of those
states, not in the sense of making
them republican but in the sense of
making the plebcian element ride in
the saddle hitherto filled by the patri-
elan element. The farmer is coming to
his own, and the planter is being
turned down and out.
Perhaps no one in Grover Cleye-
lands place could stay the progress of
this disQuieting yet quiet revolution,
but surely the president has done moth
ing to hold his party at the south to-
gether and inspire loyalty to its ira
ditions Had his motive been to
strengthen the populists and develop
their latent possibilities he could not
have done his work more effectually.
No one will accuse him, however, Of
any such intention. His sympathies
are all with the Bourbon element. The
more the common people assert them
selves the closer will be his utilization
with the decaying aristocracy.
But it is at the north that the demo
cratic disaffectiOn is most obvious.
Here there is absolute freedom, and
no Scare-crow of negro rule is set up
to enforce harmony. Not day passes
that fresh evidence is not furnished
by current news that the democratic
party is mainly occupied with the do
ings of its own discordant elements.
1t resembles in it's activity hive Of
bees busy in getting rid of the drOnes.
One need not go to the republican
press for evidence. The democratic
newspapers fairly TEEN with proofs
in point. They cannot find words
strong enough to express their hatred
of Senator Hill. He is being jabbed
with the pen of democracy as if he
had turned traitor to the party which
elected him, and all because he is try
ing to save his party from the sui
cidal folly of the Wilson bill. Nobody
can fail to sec that the passage of
that bill in any of the forms it has
thus far taken would be death of the
party yet the friend who would stay
suicides hand is abused as if he were
himself plotting assassination.
This is only one of many evidences
and results of the utter demoraliza
ton of the democratic party. The sim
pie fact is that it is staggering under
a load too heavy to be borne, yet toe
tightly strapped on to be laid aside
The victim Of responsibility unbeara
Bile may console itself. however, witt
the reflection that at the very frs
opportunity the people will unite those
straps and take off that burden.