The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-03
prMoCRACy's OPPORTUNITY.


That the Democratic party has reached
n critical stage in it's history no student
~ politics can fail TO see. The year lo''
was n revolutionary year. We DO not
uso that term I'm any offensive sense. we
eimnlv state fact which Mr.. Tlliman
and the New York Journal and others
have made so prominent. The Chicago
Democracy was undoubtedly New DEM
ocracv. and the Chicago platform VAS
unlike any other platform that the DEM
ocratic party had ever adopted. The one
ereat aim OF that organization, tine ono
single issue upon which Mr.. Bryan's
fight was made. was the free coinage OF
silver. But can it be fairly claimed mat
the Democratic party is party Of one
ideaq Granting that the free coinage OF
silver would be a good thing for the
country. which Of course we do not grant,
can any man claim that this is the great
and only mission Of the Democratic
party? The most ardent Of the free silver
advocates must now realize that there
are greater questions than free silver
and that the mission Of Democracy IS
now what it has been from the begin
ming. to conserve popular government TO
preserve state sovereignty, to resist
nauonalism and paternalism as repre-
scented by the Republican party
The efforts which the Republicans are
now making in the direction of imperial
ism. colonization territorial expansion, or
by whatever name it may be designated.
is simply a new phase of an old policy
From the very beginning there have been
two great national parties in this coun-
try, the one in favor Of strong, CEN
tralized government taking as much as
possible from the powers of the people
and enlarging as far as possible the pow
ers Of government: the other-in favor Of
as little of law and government, and as
much of personal liberty, as is consistent
with the common good. This. we say, has
been the great principle that has differ
entiated the two great parties Of this
country. one Of which has been known
by many names, the other of which has
been known and is still known as the
Democratic party. 1t is a remarkable
fact that the Democratic party has pre-
served its organization and its integrity
from the start and it is to-day the great
representative of popular government
while the Republican party is the repre-
sentative of natiOnalism.
We say that Imperialism is simply
new phase Of Republicanism. The Repub-
lican party will naturally desire to en-
large the scope of government for in so
doing it makes the government stronger
If we shall annex the Philippine Islands
and go in for conquest generally, We small
be compelled TO have a large standing
army and a great navy and there will
be a large increase I'm the amount Of gov
eminent patronage. We shall have some
citizens who enjoy all the rights and priv
ileges Of American citizenship. and We
shall have colonies i'm which these rights
are enjoyed only TO limited extent. So
in the beginning we shall have classes.
ard once begun the imperialists will not
be satisfied until they have established an
American nobility.
We have not the space to enlarge upon
this aspect Of the subject, and we do not
mean to charge that President Mckinley
and his associated have any such purpose
IN view But we do say that this is the
trend of Republicanism as represented by
the party to-day, and that when we once
depart from our old customs. from the
cardinal principles upon which this gov
eminent was founded, and begin TO imi-
tate Eur.Iean nations. there is no telling
where it will end. We cannot initiate
Europe and preserve our Americanism.
We say. therefore, that it is the mission
Of Democracy to-day as it was In the pc
ginning u resist the aggressions Of this
I'd and persistent enemy Of popular soy
eminent and in order 10 fight 1t success
fully the Democratic party must stand
upon "A platform broad enough for all
true Democrats TO stand upon. If the
party confines itself TO one idea, if it
makes free silver. or any other policy of
that character. its one and only issue, it
cannot hope to gather into its organiza-
ton all Democrats. The party is great
and powerful and successful only when
It makes it's original principles the main
features and subordnates all other
things. all mere temporary questions of
,,oIfcy IA these