Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-11-23
DEMoCRACY'S LEADERS.
In All the History OF the Demo. ratio
Party There Has Never Been
so Poor SHOWING.

i
Democrats when in reminiscent
mood say that their party in respect 20
leadership reached its lowest estate
! lurir. the civil war and Reconstruction
ZINES. 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 by
the southern states. After the recon-
struction period the south did not COM
pare as well in intellect in its represen-
tation in congress as il did before the
war. The race which produced CAL
houn. McDuffie. jefferson Davis. Brock
.nridge, Benjamin. Toombs. Stephens.
Hammond and the rest of the magnates
IF the old south did not come 10 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
lower grade of men intellectually
were in the ascendant in the south in
the 70s and SOS from those who gave The
law to that locality from 1900 onward
to 1860, and the democracy as a ma
tional organization suffered in copse-
quence.
But. tested by intelligence. courage
and character, the democracy of TIE
country has at this moment touched a
lower level than il reached in the dark
est days of its previous history. Though
the south was absent in the GOs. the
democracy was not altogether destitute
of intrepid and capable men. II was
represented in congress by Pendletor.
Richardson (of Illinois), Vallandigham,
Phelps. Randall. Bayard Thurman. Cox
Hendricks, Voorhees, and other men OF
that caliber. Feeble in point of num-
oers the democracy was in those days,
but in courage and general ability IT
was far from being co1temptible In
the contests of that time. though IL was
always beaten, ii was able to make a
light which won the respect of the coun-
Try. The best that could be said for
democracy as q 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 ut the
present time has the democracy any
man who, in point Of character or gen
eral capability. can compare favorably
with any 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
il 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 on
the money question, which the stump
speakers of the party say is the prin-
cipal issue before the country. Neither
has any personal following. Gray is TO
be succeeded by n republican on March
next, and Lindsay will be succeeded
by republican or n silverite. probably
by the former, when his term ends.
Outside of congress the democracy 10
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 n
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 national conven-
ton 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 a man who
could carry his state in n presidential
election. Not in all the 100 years of
that party's history has the democracy
been so contemplate in the quality and
standing of its representative men as i;
is at this moment.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.