Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-07-20
II DEMOCRATIC DUTY.

Democrats can learn much If |
they desire from the tone of the
Imperialist speeches which found
delivery OH Tuesday of last week.
They were many, and they were,
most of them, halcyon and vocif-
erous. Mark Hanna and Chauncey
Depew sounded the keynote for
the rest of the oratorical brood,
and as result we have had a glori-
fcstion of militarism and trustism
such as should arouse the fears of
all thoughtful men for the future
of American institutions.
Everything is lovely now in the
United States. If only a few
traitors could be muzzled, and
things let to 60 just as they are 60
ing in the industrial concerns of
the country, the prosperity which
is coming upon us would increase
until it had become perfect tor
rent. It is, moreover, of course
due entirely to the remedial
measures which our masters. the
Imperialists, have iuaugurated,
Notwithstanding that the only f.
nancial or economic legislation
enacted was that occasioned by
the necessity Of meeting the i'll
creased expenses of the war, and
that delightful improvement on
the Mckinley tariff bill, now in
operation.
This is the burden of the In
perialistic story just at this time.
There is no real belief in the eff
ticacy or good faith of anything or
anybody, however, even among
themselves. On the other hand,
democrats are united III regarding
the entire fabric of imperialism
and militarism as involving the
most serious consequences to the
country. There is not policy
with which the present adminis-
tration is identified that any true
democrat can give his adhesion to.
Save and except the needed efforts
to restore peace and civil govern
ment to Cuba aud the Philippines.
The best minds of the country,
even among leading republicans,
have serious doubts, and many of
them are openly in opposition to
the republican policy; yet the dis
cordant note is here and there
heard, showing that there are those
who would rather suffer defeat
than win victories except as they
desire to win them. The admir-
able address delivered before the
Tammany society by the Hon.
Joseph j. Willett shows that gen.
tlemen to be one Of those who fully
appreciate the grave duty which
rests upon every democrat in the
country. There can be no truer,
more timely or wiser words than
the following taken from that adj
dress:
| A great duty confTonts us, that OF driv-
ing from power the party which con-
tenptuously ignores the right of the
great mass OF people and makes laws for
the favored few And 10 win this victory
all that is necessary Is that we should
come together in the Old. time spirit of
mutual concession aud liberation for each
others views. When we stand thus
| shoulder to shoulder and our republican
enemy give lis battle we usually leave
| him very much i'll the condition OF those
! Spaniards who went mp against Dewev's
guns at Manila and Schiey at Santiapo
But to get together with the old-time
spirit and with the old-tlme enthnsiasp
we must fight the coming campaign on
living issues. The American people are
so constituted, whether happily or I'M
happily. that they prefer to settle the
questions Immediately III front Of them
rather than those which may arise in the
future. Happily for us. there are issues
right in front OF US npon which we can
all be united. One of these is the tariff
with its monstrosities and obsurlities.
The need Of tariff reform was never more
urgent than it is today. and every one
knows we must look to the democratic
party.
There is not democrat who
reads these words. no matter how
widely he thinks he differs in his
opinions Of party policy from
other democrats, but should take
those words to himself, Hla see
whether be cannot do something.
however slight, to cause such senti-