The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-01-14

so far blest; and In so far, the hope that
government Of the people, by the people,
and for the people," might not perish
from the earth, received q new lease Of
life
II, indeed, the power Of aggregated
wealth IL not already able to control the
Impoverished masses, "a renewed and puri
fed Democratic party may yet save to us
q free government. But surely dollar
is more potent to influence needy voter
than It would be to influence one who
was not needy; and tho accumulation OF
vast fortunes, on the one hand, In the
hands OF q few, and on the other, the
reduction Of the multitude TO state Of
want, that makes them suffer down TO
the level where charity receives claim
ants, but where rags and humiliation are
the only recognized ushers to her pres
ence, will give to this wealth greater
and ever-increasing power over elections,
which ere in danger Of becoming such
only in form and name
So long rs the care Of favorite lines Of
business is made the object Of law and
governmental policies, SO long we must
and so long as politics is matter Of bust
ness, we must expect to see the raw
material of politics, which is votes, made
subject matter Of bargain and sale.
Nothing but the heroic application Of the
principles Of Democracy will ever arrest
or change the political corruption that is
a menace not only to. the well being of the
people, but the safety and perpetuity Of
the republic itself. The brazen and no.
torious violations Of election laws, sano.
toned by penalties of penitentisry i'm.
prisonment, are not only unpublished,
but have ceased to exclude the culprit
from fellowship in respectable society,
from the pews in churches or from the
communion table. On the contrary, the
chiefs and generals who marshaled the
hosts of siners are banqueted and honored
and threatened with cabinet and sena-
torial honors, rather than with indiot-
ment and trial.
In view of the conditions which are
present about us, and the certainty that
only Democratic policies will mend them
1t is of first importance that those poll
cies be adopted and enforced at the
earliest possible moment Of time.
m
Democratic party be purged and purified
of the last one Of the willing servants of
monopoly and plutooracy, SO that when
it shall win an election, change Of poll
cies shall result
1t is of much less Importance when we
win an election, than that we know what
we have done, and that we have done |
something useful when we do win. A |
few more such victories as that of 1890
and 1899, followed by the Inauguration
Of no Democratic policies, would kill tre
Democratic party ,it 1t did not also destroy
the hopes Of the friends Of free govern
ment forever.
We are to have a state election next
fall Unless the Democratic party then
excludes from its councils and from its
its internal enemies and the
enemies Of that Democracy which de-
mands "equsl rights for all, and special
privilege for none," that Democracy
which found due expression in the plat
form and candidate Of the Chicago con-
vention, 1t would be we'll to hold no con-
ventiop, and take no part In the election,
but raher to use the time and effort in the
further publication Of itself. Let 1t be
the rally ing cry of the party, that none
but Democrats are tn go on guard. That
we court defeat until victory shall mean,
not merely succession to the offices, but
a change Of policies and the adoption of
those principles In government which
were taught by the fathers, bat which
seem now in danger Of being forgotten
or forever crushed and buried.
Let us give our allegiance and support
10 no candidate. unless, like Brysn, he
cares more for the cause than for his own
personal agpra' 'oizement-unless he Is
willing to suffer d,fsat at the eleotion,
rather than eternal disgrace by the sur.
render Of principles.
Upon you who are more or less charged
with the duty of Democratic leadership in
Ohio is the duty to aid, by the free use
of the headsman's axe, Ia 30 reorganizing
the Democratic party, az that 1t shall
truly and sincerely represent Democratic
principles, and that its success at the
election shall not again be followed by
base and cruel betrayal Of the people, but
by change of policies that shall restore
TO the country prosperity which has
long since departed from us, that shall
reign OF justice that will
give to every one the fruits of bia own
toll, that shall make 1t possible for our
people to enjoy the bounties so freely
given us by nature, that shall Introduce
morality and respect for law into politics,
and that shall completely garner into the
fold hose non .desoript char
aoters who have so long cursed the Demo-
cratic party, and justly deprived it of the
Irust and confidence of the people.
Such is the reorganizatio OF the Demo
,ratic party that Is now in progress. Let
ls warmly aid and encourage 1t by every
means in our power.