The herald., 1897-05-31
UNIFIcATIoN OF DEMOCRACY

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east, and ex-senator David B. Hill is
devoting his energies to that work
The troublesome point is to devise sat
isfactory basis of reunion. Mr.. Amos
upon the basis of common sense, which
is correct as a general proposition, but
it will be necessary to state details that
it may be determined whether there is
common sense in them. Mr.. William R.
Morrison gays he is unable to see how
the Democrats can be Reunited on ac-
count of the wide divergence of views
on the money and tariff questions. so
long as there are protective tariff and
revenue tariff Democrats. and also gold
standard and bimetallic Democrats.
There can be no successful unificat ton
through pickering and patch work. The
true Democracy have an organization
and voting strength almost sufficient
to carry the country, and it is wisest to
preserve that force and to gain strength
from whatever source it can be obtained.
Let the schisrnatics of last year come in
and take part in the next national con-
vention, and support whatever platform
shall be adopted and the candidate who
may be nominated. True Democracy
recognizes and submits to the will of the
majority,
1t can hardly be expected, however,
that all former Democrats can be brought
back to the party by any arrangement
that may be made, or by any platform
that may be adopted, or any candidates
nominated. Reorganization of parties
often takes place to greater or less
extent. and conditions at the present
time are such as to bring about reorgan-
ization on a larger scale than has been
common. The issues before the country
are unusually important, and such as
oblige men in. obedience to convictions
to so from one side to the other. Defec-
tion from party association is manifest
on all sides.
In discussing this subject the New
Orleans Picayune takes rather lugubri-
Gus view. 1t says in substance that the
American people are rapidly aligning
themselves into two new parties, al
though the old names are retained; that
one Of them is seeking to create great
centralized government to be supported
by an aristocracy of wealth, to be
strengthened by a high protective tariff
which taxes the many for the benefit
of the few-an aristocracy that will have
to be protected against socialism by a
powerful standing army; and that the
other devotes its energies to leveling
down, to the abolition of all social dis
tinctione, and all differences, in regard
to property, and placing all on the same
plane of stagnation.
We agree with the Picayune that
neither of such parties is wanted by the
body of the American people. The
trouble with the Picayune is that it has
morbid imagination and does not dis
tinguish between efforts for practical and
just reform and the extravagant de-
mands of few extreme and noisy men.
Because the genuine Democracy IS
progressive and would promote the well
fare of the masses through measures
that thwart the schemes of the few, is
not evidence of tendency to anarchy.
Progress more surely than anything else
tends to promote the purity and per-
petuity of our free institutions Liberty
is more in danger from inertia and retro
gression than from activity in the direc-
tion Of radicalism. Moving forward
where the conditions require it, is the
best conservatism
There is unrest in the country. and it
is not without cause. True Democracy
will inquire into the cause and when it
is discovered. will remove it. The aris-
tocracy of wealth will not desist from
ito oppression SO long as it is let alone.
All wrong-doers only wish not to be
disturbed. The Picayune expresses its
adherence of those who would CEN
tralize the government and create pow
erful aristocratic establishments, and
yet it fails to suggest how their schemes
shall be resisted; it even dares not sug-
gest any step from fear that to deal with
the subject will lead the nation into
socialism or anarchy.
When Thomas Jefferson became pres
ident the aristocrats pretended to be
for the fate of liberty because
he proposed to clip the wings Of central
lied power and secure greater liberty
and benefits to the masses. Instead of
weakening free institutions his policy
made them stronger. When Andrew
jackson proclaimed war against the
national bank the aristocrats of wealth
declared that the country would be de-
stroyed. but the government became
stronger in the hearts of the people. If
anything will sap the foundations of our
liberties it is submission to oliearchic
rule. The mission of Democracy is
to preserve the rule of the masses and
SO long as that is done there will be no
danger from class tyranny, l.or of an