The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-07-24

A NEW leaf 10 the history OF Afneri-
can politics, says the Bsllefopte W'atrh
raaa. was turned in Chicago by the
Democratic convention whose proceed
ings constituted an episode in the course
of political events that may give new life
to popular institutions, and a new lease
to the Democratic principles upon which
this government is based The eharac-
teristics of that gathering, the spon
taueity of its action and expression, the
independence Of its dsliverances, and IT.
entire freedom from the control of man
ayers and bosses, confer upon II distIne-
ton that can be attached to no other po-
litical convention that was ever held in
this country.
Great effort is being made to stigma
tie it with the charge of populism, so
cialism, agrarianism and even anar-
ch;sm; but its greatest offense in the
eyes of the pampered classes and pro-
ed the special favors of government, Il
that it represented popular upheavel
against the long continued discrimina-
tions in behalf of limited interests at the
sacrifice of the general welfare. The
methods of such an indignant protest
as that which was made at Chicago may
present features tnat appear to be turbu
lent, and may embrace some characters
that are Objectionable, but the actuat-
ting spirit of the movement, and the
principle of popular rights that inspired
and controlled every action of the con-
vention, represented the very essence OF
Democracy. There may have been de
parture from ancient forms, departure
required by the exigencIes of the crisis
but no departure, whatever. from the
undying principles of Democracy as es
| Cablished and enunciated by the grea
| founders of the Democratic party.
| There is not student of political his
| tory who is not aware of the fact tha
when the immortal Jefferson announced
| and enforced those principles of popu
| lar right that constitute the basis o.
| Democracy, he was denounced more bit
terly and pictured more darkly than any
| of the men who are charged with giving
| an anarchistic and communistic charac
ter to the proceedings at Chicago. He
was assailed by the old Federal support
ers of aristocratic privilege as being {
| Jacobin, an infidel associate of Ton
| Paine, and a sympathizer with Robes
| pierre, Danton and the other leaders o
the French reign of terror. Wha
American citizen has not reason to re
| ioice that the great Jefferson succeeded
in imparting Democratic principles Il
our form of government In spite OF sucl
detractors? When the heroic Jackson
the other great apostle of Democracy
broke the money power that aspired t
control the government through III
agency of the United States bank, h
was denounced by the plutocratIc poten
tates of that period as being as danger
Gus a character as Altgeld is mo-
represented to be, and more mi
chievious in his purpose than Tillmar
1t cannot be denied that the Demt
cratic party has entered upon mo-
momentous crisis. Though it may haN
the appearance of a new departure, y
: as there is no appearance of the sacr
flee of single Democratic principle, bl
: rather a reassertion of true Democrat
I in the vindication of justice to the mar
p as against favors to the few, that wbiC
8 may look like a new departure w
/ prove to be a new birth of Democrat
D if the members of the party remain trl
to their faith and steadfast in the mai
T :enance of Democratic principles,