The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-21
THE HOPE OF THE COUNTRY IS IN The
CONSERVATISM Of UtMOCRACY.

CONSERVATISM Of UtMOCRACY.
IN closing mastery and rushing re-
NV to Governor O'Ferrell, who bolted
the party that elected him, Senator
Daniel defines Democracy IN manner
that epitomizes what the Democratic par
ty stands for. We quote:
democracy is the true conservative
uarty of the country. 1t would preserve
the trial by jury. 1t is an hereditary
right 1t would not displace it by gov
eminent by injunction" 1t would pre-
serve free speech, and not lift judges,
presidents or governors beyond the pate
Of criticism of freemen. 1t would pre-
serve home rule, and not consolidate gov
eminent, and found tyranny on Federal
election force bills. 1t would preserve
the values of property by preserving the
volume Of money that sustains prices.
and not by playing into the hands OF
stock gamblers. 1t would pay pubic
debts according to the contracts made,
and as The Supreme Court of the United
States has interpreted them, and not in,
vent new contracts more oppressive to
those who bear tne burden and aggran-
dizing to those who get the benefit. 1t
would preserve both gold and silver as
STANDARD MONEY as it has so Of
ten promised to do, and not jump ilrst
from free silver to international agree
ment, and then from that TO the single
gold standard. 1t is against the conf
munism of capital which Mr.. Cleveland
first inveighed against, and then succum-
bed to. 1t will stand for America and for
financial independence, and not chain the
country to European thrones. LIT will
hold to decisions of hundred years, and
not fail to criticise judicial novelties.
Woe be unto him that removeth the
landmark" Because it is conservative of
the Rights of man / am Democrat
This model definition has also the merit
of proving that the Chicago platform is
a true exposition of true Democracy.
Senator Daniel has epitomized more prin-
ciple, given an ADLER defense of party con-
sistency and a stronger plea for popular
support of Democracy in this extract
than can be found elsewhere.
sThn Democracy is the true conserva-
tive party of the country" today as it was
IN Jeferson's time, though the money
power through Hamilton denounced the
party as advocates of mob law and athe-
ism. 1t was the conservative force in
1S50-'60, though it was denounced by
every vile epithet that could be employed
by those who were bent on disunion. 1t
was the conservative force in the days of
Reconstruction, seeking to preserve con-
stitutional rights, though it was reviled
by those whose hate wanted to crush
the South forever in the dust 1t is to-
d.y as it was in 1896, the hope of the
conservative thought of America, though
It is declared to be the party of anarchy
and the breeder of envy and hate. If this
country is to be saved land it will be
saved from the communism of capital on
the one hand and the revolution of an
archy ON the other it will be through the
conservative Democratic party.
The Democratic party stands for the
safe ground Of constitutional govern
ment, standing between the usurpations
Of greed and capital and the lawless-
ness of the mob or the cry of commun-
lists. 1t is not conservative party in
the sense in which the term ''conserva-
tive" is often used,--that of a do-nothing
or stand-still party. No good word in
our language has been more abused and
misunderstood than the word "conserva-
tive" 1t has been seized upon by re-
acti9nistSfor men satisfied with their spe-
eial privileges to express their antagon-
ism to giving up what they enjoy. Ori-
ginally it meant that which preserves
from ruin, innovation, injury or radical
change" or zone who desires to main
tain existing institutions and customs;-
opposed to revolution or radical" Con-
serve means ito keep in a safe or sound
state" and conservor is zone who
keeps from loss or injury" And yet
SO frequently has it been used by men
who opposed progress or who wanted
some unfair advantage, that to call a
man a conservative in some communities
has implied anything else than a COM
pliment.
Senator Daniel did well, when declar-
ing that 1.-The Democracy is the true
conservative party of the country" ia
outline what il was the intention of the
party to accomplish, as rebuke t.
those who would use the word "cunser-
,yat;ve" as a cloak to leave trusts. cor
poratiOn-greed and wrongs entrenched
He declared the mission of the Demo
cratic party TO be to preserve:
!. Trial by jury, and not displace i