New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-05
REAL DEMOCRACY GAINING.

How brilliant these Oratons upon the progress
OF Democracy. How satisfying the thought that
the people, oppressed in other lands, are the
sovereigns here. But this Is the very day OF all
others TO remark that the s0-called Democracy
in this country Is not and never has been govern
ment by the people For fifty years In Southern
States 1t has been government by landlords who
were slavc-owners and have all the temper OF
slavc-owners still. Nearly long. in cities
which turn the scale in other States and control
their votes, 1t has been dcspotlsm OF the Ras-
Gals The men, and only the men. who were
willing to help the rascals in every defeat OF the
right of suffrage. In every fraud and crime for
the purpose Of robbng honest voters of their
sovereignty. and in every scheme TO rob and
blackmail the people for the benefit OF the ruling
ring had real share in the government The
rest. unless by some accidental and sporadic
failure of the bandits to use their power. had no
more real share in the government than the
slaves This was Democracy. and would be still.
if that party had not been whipped almost ont OF
existence by It's own crimes and follies.
So the day has come when the rings Of rascals
are broken. when the bandits are no longer dcs-
pots in the cities they SO long have robbed when
even the Southern landowner tries to trample
under his feet the nsolcn politicians who have
stolen his voting power from him so long. De
mocracy has been tried. not enough to ruin the
country. thank Cod not enough 10 show how
much evil 1t would do If II could: but enough to
show which way It's efforts tend. They have moi
uplifted the tonc millions. but have robbed
them Of part Of their earnings. They have not
raised the people 10 higher prosperity, lat have
brought upon them the worst and most cruel
prosiraton Of their industry for half century.
This Democracy has not served the people
against the spoler. but has openly and Infamous
ly sold It's most important legislation TO monopo-
lies This Democracy has not defended the flag.
but has hauled It down: has not helped free gov
eminent anywhere. but has conspircd 10 force
upon people the yoke Of de'hroned ana
shameless Queen: has not helped America. bur
Great Britain. in every emergency.
The very name Democracy has come 10 he
disgrace 10 self-govcrnment the world over. The
millions In other countries. who watch the prog
ress Of the worlds greatest Republic. see that
Democratic rule means disaster. dishonOr dis
honesty and the most shameless want Of patriot
ISM They learn how q Nation and It's great
cities have been plundercd and delivered over 10
monopoly. corruption and backmail for the sake
Of maintaining the supremacy Of Democratic
rings against the will Of the people. II IS not
strange that muliudcs fail 10 seize the fact that
here Democracy means nothing but government
Of the many by the few. not strange that they
conclude in the light Of recent disastrous and
shameful years. that rule Of the people is in'olcr-
able even here and that only the better classes
and the more competent few can be trusted with
the responsibilities Of government. The very
word Democracy Is lie which the outside world,
to It's own cost, does not always detect. SO the
blunders and failures. the shames and the crimes.
Of the impudent despots and corruptions's who
pretend 10 be the people are charged by honest
observers TO the incapacity Of the honest but
minimizing majority.
This day Of Independence has found us nearer
relief from that ongcontinued defamation OF
the people than any which has preceded The
breaking Of the rings in many cities and states.
the uprising Of The people 10 drive ont the dis
honest and the incompetent who were ruling
In their name the unprecedented majoriiies
against the party which insolently calls Itself
the people. have done more 10 open the eyes
Of men. elsewhere and even here, than the events
OF many previous years. Self government all
over the world has gained. even as the honest
voters In this sclfgoverning country have gained
by the proof that there Is after ALL sense enough
and virtue enough in the majorty to smash any
rings. however strong, and 10 defeat any dis
honest or incompetent party. however infrcnchcd
in power. II Is lesson which will open the
eyes Of many even In our own country. People
who have been told that Democracy meant the
| protest Of honest citizens against the corruptng
monopoes now know better People who imag
| ned that maioriiics cast by rascally rings In
| cities represented honest votes have had their
eyes opened A better day for the people dawns
when they learn how they have been cheated ana
robbed. and know that they have the virtue and
the power to overthrow The cheats and the rob
! hars