Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-10-26
The Promise Of the New Democracy.

The Promise Of the New Democracy.
The promise OF the new Democracy
is constitutional government. The
most casual observer OF current events
cannot but see that our present ma
tional administration considers the
! constitution as an instrument to null
lily undesirable legislation, rather
than as guide for the action of the
ruling powers.
No candid Republican but admits
that VIM. Mckinley has stretched the
constitution to the breaking-point, il
he has not openly disregarded its
plainest provisions.
lie may deplore this action, like
Senator Hoar, while hoping, or pre-
tending to hope, that this action may
be only temporary; that the admins
tration will see the error of its ways
and return to legitimate government.
He may sneer at constitutional law,
like Congressman Cannon, and let his
| hearers draw the inference that the
constitution is a "has been"-a back
number and that any one who takes
the trouble to study its provisions and
apply them to present conditions is
an old fogy. Whatever course he
may take, lie cannot shut his eyes 10
the fact that the present administra-
ton has violated both the letter and
the spirit OF the fundamental law OF
the land.
The new Democracy promises to
abide by the constitution. True, it
acknowledges its intention, should the
necessity arise, OF taking advantage OF
the constitutional method for its
amendment. But until then, it
promises to obey it.
The new Democracy promises that
the Declaration of Independence
shall not be ignored; that it shall con-
tinue to occupy its time-honored
place, from which "new" Republican
ism would hurl it, as living declara.
OF the duty of man to man.
The promise of the new Democracy
is the equality of all men before the
law. 1t is protest against govern
ment by injunction for the people,
and no government at all for the
trust.
The new Democracy is progressive.
The spirit OF the times is at work
among its members, and the writer
makes bold to say that it will not be
far behind the Issues which changing
conditions are daily and hourly thrust.
ing to the fore.
Under its banner are arrayed men
of radical thought, men il is true, at
present, who are far ahead OF the prin-
ciples enunciated in its platform, but
who see in those principles the step
ping stones to grander and greater
possibilities.
The promise of the new Democracy
is that manhood shall not be subservi-
ent to money, nor commerce elevated
above humanity.
The new Democracy yields to none
in its respect and veneration for the
Stars and Stripes. To force it upon
alien and unwilling subjects, is as far
from its intention as to haul it down
from above willing and loyal citizens.
Political prophesy is not in our
line. We cannot give you the politi-
cal complexion of the next electoral
college nor name the next Governor
OF the State of Washington, but this
much is plain. The United States,
the world, will be the better for the
campaign the new Democracy is now
waging. Whether il wins glorious
victory, or sustains a no less glorious
defeat, the cause of true Democracy, of
genuine Republicanism, will have
made a marked advance.
This is an object worth fighting for.
It is a battle in which Presidential
campaign is mere incident, the lead
ers OF to-day incidental. 1t is q strug-
gle as old as Right and Wrong, the
final outcome as certain as the rising
of to-morrow's sun.
The new Democracy is, perforce, the
exponent Of the masses. Plutocracy
is too we'll served to think of, or de-
sire, a change. Democracy has no
other course but to serve the people.
The promise OF the new Democracy
is Democracy.