Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-03-15
PUT DEMOCRATS ON GUARD.

PUT DEMOCRATS ON GUARD.
Under our modern systems of gov
eminent, political party is an organ
ization of voters, based upon certain
principles which they seek to carry into
effect as party policies, who, with rec
ognized leaders, advise and direct
them and as their representatives
carry out their behests. The success
of party depends upon its union and
voting strength, upon the soundness Of
principles for which it stands and upon
the wisdom, courage and devotion of
its leaders.
The air of late has been full Of
doubts and prophecies of the failure
of the Democratic party as govern
ing agency; and of rumors of indiffer-
ence and disaffection among its rank
and file. We believe that both proph-
ecies and rumors are unwarranted;
bnt what can have given rise to them,
baseless as they are?
The principles of the party have
been tried and seasoned by time, but
the flight of years has developed no
sign of decay or weakness. The mod
ern spirit of progress hts modified
them in accordance with changed con-
ditions of our national life, but the
rage for innovation has not marred
them by the adoption of crude or eX-
travagant theories for making the
world over They are both time-hon-
ored and timely.
The leaders of the party are-mor-
tai men. They have the infrmities Of
human nature; and the course of
many of them has met, and perhaps de-
served, adverse criticism and censure.
But this criticism should be welcomed
as a sign of healthy interest in pub
lie affairs. And the course of our
leaders has been, in the main, wise,
honest and conservative so far as party
principle is concerned,
What then of the rank and file and
the relations of their leaders to them
as members Of the same body? Here
comes the rub. Active devotion to an
abstract principle is hard thing to
maintain in the average mortal. The
wisest policy is slow to produce results,
however benefcent they may be when
they do come. These fruits Of the
victory, though the worthiest, are the
slowest to be realized and if the men
who bear the dust and smoke and
heat of the battle are to be kept in
good courage for new contests, the
other acknowledgements be wisely
distributed among them.
Let the leaders see that the men
who have given their time and their
active and practical efforts for the
success of the party meet with de-
served reward remembering that not
only those who hold Office themselves
but their friends and supporters will
thus be brought to feel that they have
a personal stake in the government,
a direct personal interest in having
Democratic doctrines carried out for
the good of the whole nation. Let
them give the party practical assur-
ance that its policies are to be carried
ont by their friends, and that their
administration is no longer to be ham
pered and prevented by being left in
the hands of enemies. Let these
things be done wisely, honestly and
with goodwill, and the prophets Of
indifference and disafection and party
disaster will have for their only an
swer Democratic majorities that will
silence them forever.
1t is not enough to have captured
the citadel by a brilliant assault; 1t
is still necessary to find quarters for
the troops who are to remain within
to repair the breaches and defend 1t
against the certain onslaughts Of
the enemy.