The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-08-12
DEMORALIZED HOPELESSLY.
The Democracy Is n Crumbling Tnrty
with "a seIf-DestrOying
Policy.

| in the second Cleveland administration
has been giving the New York Times
his views of the democratic party of to-
day. Mr.. Eckels was one of the oracles
of his party few years ago, and his
views will be of interest not only be-
cause they are justified by the apparent
facts, but because he speaks the spinion
of many who once did not hesitate to
avow their membership in the demo-
cratic party. The former comptroller
calls attention to the fact that in the
present leadership Of the democratic
party there is not n name that COM
mands national respect. The party is in
the hands of an aggregation of little
men of small repute. He might have
added that not a democrat who in past
years has given fame to his party
would have consented to be allied with
such lightweights as now usurp the con-
troll of that party. OF the democratic
party of to-day Mr.. Eckels says:
1T has not now. and 1t cannot gain. the
confidence of any considerable part of the
conservative elements OF the country as
long as 1t has a leadership preaching dis
content and engenderng class hatred.
With the present leadership no matter how
wise a platform might be adopted. nothing
would be gained. No party can come into
power which. on analysis, shows the lead
ers of IL In every local community almost
lacking the confidence of all who make up
the business part of such community. 1t
Will be found on investigation that from
national politics down to local no one is
taking an interest in democratic affairs
who is making living outside of the pale
of politics. OF course, no party will he in
trusted with the conduct of important gov
ornamental affairs which commands the
services of party politicians only 1t must
be willing now and then a least to pay
attention to the advice OF those who have
some property interests at stake, and il
must be able 10 have their respect and
confidence The struggle which democracy
is now making seems TO have as its sole
object the driving away OF all who own
property, no matter whether the amount
be large small. Those who map out its
policy are making the serious mistake of
counting the number of disconnected of
the country to be larger than that of the
contented This Is the basis and the blum
der of demagogism always"
Such policy already has proved itself
self-destructive. Mr.. Eckels need not
lay great claim to prophecy to be able to
say safely that the disaster of 1896 will
berepeatedin 1900. Of the demagoguish
obstinacy and its sure result Mr.. Eckels
says:
The very fact that free coinage of sill
YER Is announced as again TO be the chief
democratic issue of 1909, despite the dead
ness of it, must convince every thoughtful
democrat of the sham and pretense of
those who lead the party. These leaders
must know that they cannot even COM
mand respectful hearing upon that phase
Of the Chicago platform, much less win
the election. They hold to it simply be-
| cause II is the most convenient rallying
cry to bring together the elements of dis
content 10 which they parder. They have
turned the party over to socialism, and
| made IL helpless for public good"
The crumbling of the party speaks
for itself in the loss of political pres
tige. The democratic critic of the dem
ocratic party says:
"Since the advent of the sentimental
rhetoric of Mr.. Bryan and the cunning and
| perverted intellect OF Mr.. Altgeld as con-
| trolling forces in the party's courcilS
| democrats have seen every democratic
United states senator in the north but one,
and he from the state of Montana. lost.
and in addition two senators from West
Virginia. two from Maryland and one
from Ketucky and Delaware. Illinois, Indi-
ana, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Wigcor-
sin, Connecticut and Delaware have all been
driven from the party. There is not a
single democratic governor north of Ma
Minnesota and Montana are popuists."
The result of the freak performance
at Chicago, when Bryan broke loose and
the democratic party rendered him II
qutcaim deed, is expressed in forcible
contrast by Mr.. EckcIs. The party got
Bryan, who is described as follows:
MIR. Bryan. with his too apparent eager
ness to gain the presidential office. and his
NJ Nf Ont 9 do .Nf IL.
ties coupled with his lack OF profound
thought and surface knowledge of pub
lie questions: Mr.. Bryan, with his delight
in preaching discomfort, arrayinS class
against class 10 matter how honest he
may be with 1t ALL can never commend
himself to a people whose common sense
always at the critical time asserts itself.
But this is what the party lost:
"The result of the leadership of the DEM
ocratic party as to-day constituted and the.
principles advocate in the platform TO the
party, | think, may very properly be
summed up follows:
"Frst-The party given over to social
ism In principles, leadership and following.
with the consequent result of loss in both
leadership and following of all the bust
ness and independent elements of the coun-
try.
"Second-The falling away of the organi-
zation as national one, and the making
of II almost wholly local one bent only
on obtaining local standing and local Of
fees
"Third-The elimination of 1t as a force
in the north and the lessening of its i'm
portance in the south
"Fourth-The population by 1t of all
democratic principles, history and teach
ing concerning the money question. the
tariff, the country and the making possible
for political bastardy to claim democratic
parentage.
"Sixth-The depriving the country of the
beneficent effects of a strong, intellectual,
conservative opposition party at time
when grave questions of public policy. far
reaching in their effects, are being dealt
with by the party in power, without the
restraining influence that would follow II
the democratic party stood for something
more than mere agitation and opposition"
Democrats who are loyal to the tradi-
tions of democracy once had Il party.
Where is the party now? AS Mr.. Eckels
predicts, the election of 1900 will answer
that question.-Troy Times.
DThat it is the market price and not
a coinage law which gives value to any
metal is well proven by the importation
of $50 tons of copper coins from India.