The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-06
THE MILLS OF THE GODS.


Flippant Republican paragraphers,
who esteem Smartness above Yeraclty,
have for years had in stock the cpl
gram that a Democrat is one who
never learns and never forgets The
elections since 1894 indicate that, what
ever may be the capacity Of Demo-
Gratis to learn the hard lessons De-
mocracy SETS they have excellent mem
cries and relentless tenacity of pur-
pose that patiently waits it's opportu-
nifty and then strikes with unforgiving
hand. We invite the attention of such
Democrats as may aspire to positions
where they can execute the trusts re-
posed in them by their fellows to the
punishment Democrats inf1ict upon
those who prove recreant to their trust.
The dispatches from Maryland that re-
move all doubt as to the political COM
plexion of the legislature just chosen,
and make it certain that Arthur Pue
German will retire to private life at
the end Of his present term, furnish
the occasion for some useful reminis-
cenceS.
We need but refer to the awakening
of Democracy that followed the mes
sage of President Cleveland in 1887 and
the campaign that followed By the
time the national convention met in
1892 the spirit of true Democracy had
gained strength sufficient to tear out,
with indignation, the compromise Of
fered by the platform committee and
insert in it's stead a blunt, honest de-
claration that protection is a fraud
and a robbery. On that candid declar-
alton the party went into battle and
won the most stupendous victory par
ty ever won. It's distinct, emphatic and
imperative command to every senator
and representative in congress owing
it allegiance was to construct tariff
solely for revenue. How that COM
mand was trif1ed with in the house and
fiOuted in the senate is too shameful
story to dwell upon.
Indefensible as was the compromise
made in the house. one that drew from
Wilson the humiliating confession that
the bill contained a large measure Of
protection, the action of the senate,
dominated by coterie calling them
selves Democratic, far surpassed the
action of the house. The reception ac-
corded the protest made by an associa-
ton of Minnesota Democrats by Demo-
Gratis all over the nation showed the
feeling in the ranks. Needless of it
the Judas Iscariots went on with their
chaffering and completed a surrender
that was the chief factor in bringing
about the defeats that followed 1t is
we'll now to point out the fate of the
men who thus betrayed their party to
illustrate for the benefit of those who
may hereafter trifle with the deep con-
victions of the rank and file.
Instrumental as leaders in that
treachery were German, Brice, Hill,
Mcpherson and Smith, in the senate,
with such understudies as Murphy,
Gibson and others. One after: the
other, as fast as they could be reach
tied upon them the only possible pun
ishment, political death. Brice went
first, Hill followed, Mcpherson and
Smith fell next, and now the arch-con-
Spirator, German, meets his doom at the
hands of an infleXible and inexorable
Democracy. Each was the master OF
the party machine in his state, and
the only possible way of reaching them
was by smashing the machine through
a party defeat. If the rank and file
were to be represented in the senate or
house by a prOtectionist,- then they pre-
ferred that their representative should
not be Of their faith or party A Re
publican protectionist could not dis
grace Democracy or its principles Of
the two inevitable evils they chose the
lesser. No severer lesson, none which
future representatives may so profit
ably con, as is this expulsion of dis
loyal and treacherous Democrats, has
ever been administered by the rank and
file of any party. They are the gods
of the party, and their mills grind eX-
ceeding small, if they do move slowly.