The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-23

IT'S FUTURE FATE.
That the Democratic party in our CAS-
and erEeratson car have . future. IN
the sense Of being again Entrusted with
such power as 1t was lowered with IN
1882. no man who knows the American
people or who has read the history OF
this government today believes pos
ssble. The most sangnine Democrat IN
the nation. possessing ordinary fore
sight, can see no prospect OF the ressso-
ration Of his party to such complete
control OF tho machinery as It had,
when In 1888 the F1fsy-tsrard congeess
was assembled IN extra session
Not In the history Of the government
has sszcil q radical change been made
as by the elections Of 1892. A Demo
cratic president was reelected after an
Intervening term. He had. thaslks TO
the intervention OF Republican senate.
not been able to put into effect the
yagaries which ne then advocated and
with which later events have shown him
to be srnbued. He had made no serious
mistakes during hts term and lef. the
Office in 1859 with the full confidence Of
his party and, as was afterwaru de-
yeiopesa In 1852. with that Of the ma
3ority OF the people.
When the Democrats part.r took con-
troll In 1882 IL had control OF the senate
and a majority Of over 100 in the lower
house. 1t was equipped with full iegss-
aative and executive power. II was
numerically able to pass any bill In
furtherance of It's declared policy. 1t
had the blind confidence OF Its own fol-
lowers and, moreover, among its oppo-
nents there was an earnest desire that
the principles for which 1t stood and on
which II made a successful campaign
should be put to fair test. The mi
nority stood back and waited for the
! majority to act and there were many
Republicans, stin holding allegiance to
the party. who thought that perhaps
after all the protective idea might have
beeen carried too far. and at any rate
an experiment In free trade or tariff
reform could do no great harm.
This was the situation two years ago
What IL IL today? If any Republican
can be found who has not had enough
OF the experiment. II any Democrat be-
1ieyes that the policy OF his party has
been beneficial TO himself, his neigh
bors or the nation, neither Is vocifer-
Gus In SO declaring. But one affirana-
tive act of national scope and import
auce has become a law. and that with
our disbursement OF the Democratic
president. Tho Havemeyer tariff bill
today stands a lonely sentinel over a
disfnantied fortress OF unfulhllei prom
Uses. That sacrificial and saccharine
act and the negative legislation On the
Sherman silver purchase bill are the
sum total OF two years of Democratic
control OF congress.
The executive department has rec
ord by none more nefcely condemned
than by leading statesmen OF the
Democratic party. 1t has a foreign
pt.Icy, styled by a leading Democratic
PAPER as one 81 infamy: domestic
policy that has impeached the good
faith. impaired the credit and palwned
the obligations Of the nation at a sarrI-
fee never approached during the four
| years war of the rebellion. 1t has cost
tale people during the past twenty
months a sum greater than the ex-
penses Of that war. and has added TO
the national debt more than the saw
ings of two years previous under Har-
rison. This is the party OF Cleveland
and Gresham. OF Wilson, Carlisle and
| Hoke Smith
What Will be the future of such an
| aggregation of demonstrated incaus-
| city. az Tveorded ipahecihty, Of legfsia-
| tive corruption, as charged by its presi-
| dent upon iis senate? What can II r,
| but future like It's past for thirty
| years. future Of uegation? IL must
| and VIII do a. II has been doing since
| the war--live In the past: 1t cannot, as
| national organization keep pace with
the living, active present. 1t viii be a
/ party of mere opposition. having no
/ fixei principles upon which It's strange
| Is diverse elements can be united. al,
! VIII" "a quote ffsszn an eminent orator
/ speaking at the Lsacoin anniversary
! last week. gather 80 ttstse all the
| es7Alks ard fads Of the day. II vii,
welSssEne with open arms ponufssS,u
! socialism, Augwumpisn and any or all
| the fsuls thai can bring many or few
| votes" II VIII. as party. OPPOSE
| anything. no matter how good. and I'D.
! Sosc1ts anything, no matter how bass
the Rspuh!tcaa party may champion 81
/ oPpSSss. In other words. & will con.
iiu'Ee 20 fse what IL has bcen since the
| Republican party took charge 81 the
nation ~ 1851. csrvtng critic. = brake
rea1tsoEfnry. with capacity ouiy TO tear
| down. ard destroy.
Z