The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-08
DEM0CRACY'S FUTURE.
Reflections on the Recent Statement
of Senator Hill ON This Topic.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
/ have read with interest the article OF
Senator David Il. Hill i'm the February
number Of the Forum, on THE Future of
the Democratic Party" As the future OF
that party looked to me both hazy and
uncertain, | was anxious To see if the dis
tinguished senator from New York could
make ii clear that the Democracy had any
future and how il might be brought to
view. The senator's article is disappoint-
ing. He has a great deal TO say of the
past of his party. and he argues from the
fact that il has so much past that 1t must
have future, not recognizing the fact
that that is the chief obstacle. Like all
other Democratic writer's and speakers. he
glor1eS in the past of his party. and. like
them. his rhapsodies increase in exact pro-
portion as he gets farther away from its
later history. Ee says: The Democratic
creed was enunciated in Jefferson's first
inaugural address, wherein he laid down
certain fundamental principles of govern
ment-sxteen in alI-the maintenance OF
which he deemed essential 10 the well-beng
of the country"
the originator of these sixteen fun 1anental
principles or that the Democratic party
nad patent on these sixteen essentials.
They were largely the outgrowth of the
contest with Great Britain long before the
declaration of American Independence.
That the principles set forth i'm President
Jefferson's inaugural are sound and good
will not be denied. The senator says:
"A steady and consistent adherence 10
them kept the Democratic party In power
under the leadership of wise and CInserva-
tive craftsmanship almost continuously
from 1901 to 1850
One of the sixteen principles that Jeffer-
son enunciated was "a jealous care of the
right of election by the people" The steady
and rigid adherence to this principle
gerrymander in every Northern State where
they had control ana the suppression OF
the voice and vote of the anti-slavery men
in the South up to 1860. While il is true
that other political organizations have been
guilty OF the crime of gerrymlnderng. Yet
il is an historical fact that the Democracy
have been the chief of sinners in his
gard.
Senator Hill claims that his party lost its
prestige and power in 1860. when they cut
loose from the teachings of their patron
saint. Thomas Jefferson. He seems TO have
forgotten that this same founder OF the
Democratic party was the inventor of the
scheme Of secession. While he attempted
at the time to conceal the fact. IL was he
who drafted and had adopted by the Legis-
latures of Virginia and Kentucky the cele-
brated resolutions OF l1yS, which. III my
memory is not at fault. were adopted as
Democratic doctrine in the platform when
Buchanan was nominated for the presi-
dency in 1856. The authority of the State
was made paramount; the right TO nullify
an act of the national Congress was de-
clared; the right Of a State 10 proclaim the
national compact ended was affirmed.
Nothing can be more inconsistent than laS
does the senator) To denOunce secession
and praise Thomas jefferson in the same
breath
Since the war the Republican party.
which had given the negro his freedom
over the protest and vigorous resistance of
the Democracy, and since then. for his
own defense, have given the negro the right
of suffrage, in the South. i'm most places
where the Democrats have had control.
they have 50 abridged and interfered with
the constitutional right OF the black man
to vote. that the Jeffersonian principle OF
freedom OF election is utterly ignored
and the majority Is ruled hV tho uinnrffV
The violence and fraud that have been used
TO accomplish this result have never been
condemned by the Northern Democracy,
and will cause the blush of shame to come
to all true Americans who may come after
Us for all time TO come as they read the
history. They Will be filled with wonder
and establishment that such condition
could have existed in a civilized nation.
1t is this that has given Us in the past the
solid South and Grover Cleveland for
President twice. "A steady and consistent
adherence to the right OF every citizen to
vote and have that vote counted" would
have ended the history OF the Democratic
party with the retiren ent Of James Bu-
| chanan.
Senator Hill complains that the sixteen
| fundamental principles OF jefferson were
abandoned at the Chicago convention that
silver. and that the defeat OF the party was
accomplished by the transition OF sixteen
| for one That there was too much sixteen
campaign will be conceded. The senator
attributes the defeat OF his party (as ne
These are electors OF intelligence. usually
men of property. strictly conscientious OPP
ponentS to radicalism in every form. pa
triOtic in their purposes. and sincerely de-
string good government under whatever
party il may be best secured
He thinks the course of the Chicago con-
vsntiOn offended this class and that they
voted for Mckinley. No doubt they did
Was he one of them2 Where was he all
this time2 When did he. during the cam
p2ign. lift up his voice against what he
now denOunces as the Chicago iuiquity?
what share has Re I'm the glory OF the de-
feat OF bryan and the election of McKin-
| ley? What part cid he take IN the great
struggle TO secure good government and
the triumph Of sound principles? Would he
raignment OF the convention and platform
! if his party had succeeded az the polls last
November? How he voted himself n does
not see IT To tell us Was IN the salvation
! OF the country or fealry To his nartv that
/ dictated his ballot? fe certainly did not
/ vote for Palmer ana Buckner. FOR IN speak
/ ing of that branch of his party he says:
II am not in its councils and
cannot outline its intentions"
| His whole article leaves MS position a., TN
certain es IL during the campaign
What object he had In writing IL. and hav-
ing the same published. IL is impossible To
| conceive IL will not have a harmoniZing
effect on the warning factions OF his party.
| He offers no remedy for the many diseases
/ that he confesses are sorely affecting the
| Democracy at the present. and he even
makes It's future look darker and more
| hopeless than ever.
WILL cCMBAcK.
C,reeusburg Ind, Feb.