The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-16
SLOW, POLITICAL SUICIDE.
Thomas j. Reid Is Severe on Demo
cratic Winking ut Fusion.

Thomas j. Reid Is Severe on Demo-
cratic W1nktng at Fusion.
To the Editor of The Globe:
What is to be the future of the Demo-
cratic party in the state of Minnesota Is
a question that presents itself for solu
ton to the mind of every self-respect1ng
Democrat. The party, anxious to secure
certain reforms, was willing in an I'M
guarded moment to unite with PopuliStS
and Silver Republicans. Many Democrats
would not listen to the song of the sirens.
but vigorously opposed such union. The
wisdom Of their opposition is now clearly
apparent. AS result Of that union the
Democratic party finds itself diSorgan-
lied and demoralized. In fact, 1t Is
question whether there is a legal Demo-
cratic party existing in Minnesota or not
Our governor, although nominated and
elected by Democrats, claims to be allied
to no particular party. Some Of his chiefs,
who have been SO recently elevated from
poverty and obscurity, claim to be sail
ing in the same nonpartisan boat. Demo-
Gratis have found already what has been
the verdict of society since its very
foundation that you can take an orphan
out of the street into your home, clothe,
feed and shelter him, only to find that at
the first opportunity he will repay you
with ingratitude.
The appointments to Office should not
be the sole measurement Of a governor
and his administration, but they are SO
interviewer with his official life and
reflective of his policy that we cannot
ignore them. In those already made there
are few noble exceptions, but the ma
jority are political renegades and nom
deScriptS. What spectacle for the COM
miseration of gods and men they would
make If they were to be stood up in a
cratic convention! Would not the verdict
be-what mental in.beciles and political
paralytics! Common decency would die
tate the immediate burial of men so long
dead, rather than a reSurrecting of them
into a poor, decrepit, political life. Dur
ing the present Administered ton the state
house is evidently to be a veritable cave
Of Adullam, where every traitor and po-
litical weathercock can find an asylum.
Democrats are reaping the reward of
their misguided zeal and hero-worship.
What Is done cannot be undone, but
there need be no repetition of such po-
liticaI madness. In the presidential cam
paign Of 1900 fusion on any basis what
eI er must not be thought Of There is
nothing in 1t for Democrats but disor-
ganization, bitter disappointment and
remorse. The password all along the
line at the present time should be or
ganiZe. organize. Democratic clubs
should be formed in every city and town
Populists and Silver Republicans who
are willing to be Democrats and follow
the fortunes Of the party should be cor
daily welcomed; but political half
breeds, Quadroons, octoroons and or
phans should be disbarred as totally un-
fit for membership. A political tramp
creates discord and strife. His creed Is
to get Office. if not in one party, then
in another. Let us be done with this
%. LII Tt,
they are eX-congressmen, and aspire for
a senatorial toga. In the next campaign
great many important questions will
come before the people, Not since the
foundation of our government have such
living vital issues to be settled as in the
next decade-taxation, finance. trusts,
tariff, corporations, together with the al
most unlimited number of questions
arising out Of the foreign policy Of the
government and its newly acquired ter
ritories.
Let the Democratic party get on the
right side of these problems, and 1t will
not have to resort to fusion to acquire
it's old-time prestige and power. What
we need at this time Is a bold, intrepid
leader to come to the front and call a
convention of loyal Democrats. when
the work of organization could be start
ed. 1t is not moment too soon Young
mems Democratic clubs are all right, as
far as their influence and mission ex-
tend; but we need something more COM
prehensive and representative The fact
is, We must have them. To allow mat
tiers to drift along as at present until
another campaign is upon us is slow po-
litical suicide. There are thousands Of
Democrats who will never be f1attered,
cuaxed or driven into another fusion
pesthouSe.
To allow the state administration to
dictate In this matter is to see a repeti-
ton Of the whole business. If the IN
fernal furies should open the seven Walls
of their wrath on the Democratic party
in Minnesota, they could not more eff
fectually annihiate it than would an
other fusion campaign. By organization
we will be more likely to secure harmo-
ny among Democrats. During the past
two elections we threw overheard some
of the ablest advisers, hardest workers
and most liberal givers, believing, in our
zeal for one issue, that they were Jonahs.
and by getting rid of them We could run
unbridled pell-mell after strange gods.
AS a party, we were rendered 1nsens1-
Bile from the soothing opiate Of a fusion
marriage, and fell for the time uncon
scfous into the lap of Delilah that has
'shorn our locks. We wake up to find
our strength gone, and our old-tfme -po-
lttical enemy hooking and making sport
Of our misfortune. IF we will but seek
harmony and organization among our
selves we will yet be able to retrieve our
lost fortunes. At present we are in po-
liticaI slavery. Our taskmasters are OF
a very inferior breed. Lord, how long
before a Moses will appear to take up
the work of leading us out of this bond
age? Respectfully, Thomas j. Reid.
MINNEAPOLIS, March 13