The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-03-30
Future Of the Democracy.


The Address issued by the exeou-
tive Committee of the Democratic So.
ciety OF Pennsylvania is timely and
sober document which deserves the
earnest consideration of all who have
an interest in the success OF the party.
AS the Democratic Society is a volun-
tary organization within the party, ac-
knowledgiug no boss, working no ma.
chine, making no nominations for of.
fee and seeking no spoilS its counsels
at least have the merit of entire disin.
terestedness, In referring to the alb
stention OF large masses of Democratic
voters nom the polls in the recent
elections the address asks if there was
any just or reasonable cause for this
display of indifference which has given
so much encouragement TO grasping
trusts and monopolies under the pro.
lection of the Republican party. A
partial answer to the question follows
IN the appeal for the creation of "a
fresh and harmonious Democratic or.
ganization, not in aid Of any man or
faction, but in loyal subordination to
constituted Democratic authority. in
defense of Democratic principles AMI
IN support OF Democratic candidates"
The acknowledged want of such an
organization seems TO explain in no
small degree the extreme apathy of
the Democratic masses of Pennsylva.
mia at the February election.
There are, however some other DO
tential causes of the reaction against
She Democratic party at which it were
fd'c to blink. The industrial depres
sion resulting from a vicious financial
policy for which the Democratic Ad
sninlsuation had not the least respon.
ability created temporary alarm
among the people and disposition to
Setreat in timid aud time.serving
aortion OF the majority in Congress.
The causes of the panic were mo,t
diligently misrepresented by all the
ergans and orators of spohanon, and
aulntudes who had enthusiastically
oted for Tariff Reform began to
oubt the wisdom OF the measure.
nd this apprehension was not long in
etrasing itself among the Democrats
Congress.
The House, it is true. made no Tn.
ecessary delay in passing the Wilson
III, but coupled with it an exlraordi-
airy and unpopular system OF taxa
on utterly foreign to the platform up
! which the Democratic party sue
>ssinlly appealed 10 the country in
{ election OF ISQ,. So far from be
0ging 10 the Democratic conventions
Pennsylvania and many other States
d never failed 10 denounce an in
me tax rs inQuisito,ial, partial and1
Unconstitutional as long aS =, belonged
the policy 0t The Republican party.
Is no, strange, then, that the Demo
ai'c voters in Pennsylvania and
eywhere else should have been fll
with dlStruSt anu apathy when they
" their representatives in CCnsrcSS
ling and hesratipg over the parry
sgramme and patching the garment
1anff Reform with : caSl-oif ras Of
spubhcan policy.
In the midS, Of 50 many causes Of
gcoUragemen, the defeats that have
eTtaken the Democratic party are
SLY accounted foy. These defeats
4 the just penalty fov wandering
m the true political path, and it is
Improbable tia, the party will ex.
ience similar chanSemeals before
work OF purgAtion shall have been
sompllshed. But the grea, heart Of
Democ'ac, is sound 10 The core,
! there is no reason 10 doubt It's
pose as well as power to carry out
ordained political programme. In
other way can the party justly the
son Of It's existence. One OF the
steps toward purgation is to shake
the machine managers, who abuse
organization for their selh>h ends
the men in Congress who have
aiken the principles OF the party 10
re local interests and private mono
les at the expense OF the people.
h the great work o, rehahllitating
nemoeyatc societies will prove