The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-07
THE PARTY COLLAR.

There arc those who say that the badge
=, democracy is the party collar and
that the test of Democracy Is implicit
obedlence al all times and under all cir
cumstances 10 the party dictum. Con-
eressman Swanson defines a Democrat
as zone who supports the party nominee.
That was not the doctrine of Thomas
jefferson the father of the Democratic
party and the true exemplar of true
Democracy. Il am not Federalist;
said he because l never submitted the
whole system Of my opinions to the creed
Of any body Of men whatever, in religion
in philosophy. IN politice, or in anything
else where I was capable of thinking Tor
myself. Such and addiction is the last
degradation OF a free moral agent. If
] could not go 20 heaven but with a party
/ would not go there at ALL
That is the doctrine Of The Times and
that is what we mean when we say that
we will never knowingly put the party
collar about our neck. neither the collar
Of the Democratic party nor of any other
party that now is or may be hereafter.
We do not believe in party slavery any
more than we believe in any other sort
Of slavery. We do not even believe in
church slavery Every man is a free
moral agent responsible TO the God who
made him such for his conduct in this
life. We belivc in patriotism. we believe
in party loyalty TO degree. We believe
in Democracy. But we set principle
above them all. There Is given 10 every
man a conscience for his moral guidance
and that conscience is TO be cultivated
and not stined and seered by any outside
influence. Sometimes I'm great political
contests a voter is called upon to choose
between evils. and he may be justihable
in voting with his party. even though his
party does not at that time represent all
those principles in which he believes. Tut
we cannot accept the doctrine that
man should always vote with his party
for the sake Of party regularity, even
when In so doing he does violence to his
conscience and to his deeD convictions.
That is what we mean when We say that
no freeman should wear the party collar
TO be led around by the neck withersoever
the leaders may elect 20 carry him.
We preach the doctrine of independ-
cnce. self reliance. American manhood.
we do not preach mugwumpery. We
have no patience with man who has no
stanch political principles. no definite
party afiliation. We believe in political
parties We beliye in party organization.
we believe IN honest partisanry. But,
as We have said above. we set principle
above all these. Democracy is not
Thing Of to-day. not mere term OF con-
vcnience. Its principles are fixed and we
believe in them as firmly as We believe
In the principles OF the Christian re-
lgion. There is no skepticism in our
creed. We have never doubted Democ-
racy, We have never doubted that 1t is
best adapted to our form of government.
best calculated 10 promote the welfare
and prosperity OF the American people
Hence we shall continue In the future, as
We have done in the past to proclaim those
principles as enunclated by the fathers
and We shall endeavor to live up to them
as far as in us lies. no matter how far
any party which calls itself Democratic
may depart therefrom. We wear the
badge OF Democracy. and wear II pro IDLY
but we Will not wear the collar of any
political party. and thanks be TO American
manhood. there are thousands and hum
dreds OF thousands OF the same sort i'm
Virginia. throughout the South. and
throughout the Union. The press OF
Virginia was never more indeoendent
Self-assertiye and more pronounced
against bossism than It is to-day and
VIC regard It as one Of the healthiest
signs of the times.
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