Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-01
WHERE ARE THE LEADERS.
In All the History of the Democratic
Party There Has Never Been
So Poor u Showing.

Democrats when in reminiscent
mood say that their party in respect 20
leadership reached its lowest estate
during the civil war and reconstruction
times. This judgment is, of course,
based on the assumption that most OF
the democracy's leaders came from the
south. and at that time that section was
not represented in congress. This as
sumption is correct. From the days of
Jefferson and jackson on to those of
Buchanan the brains and character of
the democratic party were provided ty
the southern states. After the recon-
struction period the south did not com
pare as we'll in intellect in its represen-
tation in congress as it did before the
war. The race which produced Cal
houn, McDuflie, jefferson Davis, Breck-
inridge, benjamin, Toombs, Stephens,
Hammond and the rest of the magnates
of the old south did not come to the
front Immediately after their states
were restored to their former relations
TO the union. Some of the men here
named were wings at first. but all of
those who were alive when the whig
party died in 1856 became democrats.
4 lower grade of men Intellectually
were in the ascendant in the south in
the 70s and SOS from those who gave tie
law to that locality from 1900 onward
to 1860. and the democracy as ma
tional organization suffered in corse-
quence.
But, tested by intelligence. courage
and character. the democracy of tie
country has at this moment touched
lower level than it reached in the dark
est days of its previous history. Though
the south was absent in the 6Cs. the
democracy was not altogether destitute
of intrepid and capable men. IT was
represented in congress by Pendleton.
Richardson (of Illinois,, Nsllandigham,
Phelps. Randall, Bayard, Thurman, Cox
Hendricks, Voorhees, and other men of
that caliber. Feeble in point of num-
bers the democracy was in those DAYS,
but in courage and general ability it
was far from being contemplate. in
the contests of that time, though it was
always beaten, it was able to make a
try. The best that could be said for
democracy as a partisan organization
was said by one or other or all of these
able and conscientious men. and said
effectively. Their arguments and pre-
tensions never aroused the deriSion or
provoked the laughter of the country,
as do those of their successors
In neither branch of congress at the
present time has the democracy any
man who, in point of character or gen
eral capability. can compare favorably
with aEy of those who have been men
toned. None of the democratic chief
tains is able to carry his party in his
branch with him on any question of ma
tional policy. Bailey. technically, is the
leader in the house, but the rest of his
party does not take him seriously. and
it is not altogether certain that he does
himself. The ablest democrats in the
senate are Lindsay and Gray, but
neither is in harmony with his party OIL
the money question, which the stump
speakers of the party say is the prin-
cipal issue before the country. Neither
has any personal following. Cray is to
be succeeded by a republican on March
next, and Lindsay will be succeeded
by republican or a silverite. probably
by the former, when his term ends.
Outside of congress the democracy is
equally destitute of men of capacity
and popularity. Cleveland is out of
politics, and long before his term ended
his party repudiated him. Hill is a
political corpse. Croker has no stand
ing outside of his own state, and there
are indications of revolt against him
in that state. Bryan could not get
third of the votes in a national conven-
tion to-day. Stone and Altgeld arc
local magnates only. and locally their
reign is probably nearly over Outside
of the south, the democracy has not in
the entire United States man who
could carry bis state in presidential
election. Not in all the 100 years of
that party's history hes the democracy
been so contemplate in the quality and
standing of its representative men as il
is at this mOment.-St. Louis Globe
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