Natchitoches populist., 1898-10-07

The principles for which the Dem
ocratic party contends make it i'm
mortal. AS long as it is true to them
1t cannot lack a reason for being. At
this time many of the principles dear
TO the American are in jeopardy, due
TO rapid and great changes in the eco
nomic and political phases of our ma
tional life. Our institutions are about
10 be put to the test of insiduous as
saults by powerful enemies. There is
spirit abroad in the land that thinks
the people are not capable of self-goy-
eminent. Its strongholds are the
great cities, but it is sporadically pres
ent In all Of our towns and villages.
Inc people so believing justify them"
selves In cireumventing the common
people In any way they can. 1t Is the
province of Democratic party to resist
THIS Spirit. Already the Democracy
mas become such an uncomfortable
habitation for the spirit named that
1t has changed it's hiding place and
seems to have permanently attached
Itself to the Republican party. It's sur
roundings now being congenial, we
may expect to see 1t thrive and grow
IN Vigor. 1t thus becomes the peculiar
task Of the Democratic party to per-
petuate' the principle and fact OF gov
ernmerlt by the people.
A centralized government is not
very dangerous when it is in the
hands of the whole people, but be-
comes menace to the people when it
passes into the hands of the few. Who
can doubt that In recent years our ma
tional government has been passing
into the hands of the few? Who con-
trlDuted the immense campaign fund
that created the present president and
cabinet, the many or the few? We
an know that 1t was the few rich ones,
the personnel OF the committee that
supplied the money for the Repub-
lican campaign representing more
tnan S700.000,000 in their own names
is it to be supposed that these men
have been forgotten by the men they
elevated to power? Is 1t to be be-
heVed that they have no influence IN
the shaping of legislation and the
making of treaties and the creation
OF tariffs? The Democratic party is
opposed to this concentration of gov
ernmental power in the hands Of the
Few, and It's battle line is set against
it.
The glory of the Democratic marty is
to represent the interests of the peo-
pie. Those interests require that COM
merce should be made as free as pos
sible, both internally and externally.
The exchange of goods with foreign
countries should be made easy. that
more goods may be sent ont and
brought in. To this extent the Demo-
cratic party is one of the great civil
izing influences of the world 1t Is an
established fact that civilization walks
IN the steps of commerce. To impede
commerce is to impede the enlighten-
ment OF the world. To encourage
commerce is to benefit the people of
all the nations concerned in the ex-
change. To impede it is to benefit a
few In each nation at the expense of
the many The Democratic party, be-
ing the party of the people, naturally
takes the side of the greater number
benefited.
Not the least good work of this par
ty Is to be on guard against the men
on Horseback" This is favorise
term Of Joseph Cook 1t refers to the
fact that Caesar 1.-THE man on horse
baek) crossed the Rubicon to over
throw the liberties of his country. In
one of his Boston lectures the above
mentioned lecturer predicted that the
time might come in this country when
the people would overthrow many of
our existing ideas as to- government
and that this would make way for
the entrance of the Man on Horse
back"-a dictator. For himself he
said he would in such case prefer
the rule Of the Man on Horseback.
Well, In thar event it will be the glory
Of the Democratic party to annihilate
the Man on Horseback"
Fl. F. THURsTON.
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