The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-12-11
THE OPPOSITION PARTY.

THE OPPOSITION PARTY.
There is much talk nowadays
among politicians about the re-or-
ganization Of the democratic party.
This talk is all an absurdity; par
ties cannot be organized or re-or-
gained by any set or faction of
fmen. The democratic party exists
as party of opposition, and a
party OF opposition will always ex-
list no matter under what title its
ticket may be printed. 1t is the
history of every government under
every sun that there has been a
party of opposition whether the
country be republic and the par
ties go before the people, or
whether the work of the opposition
be confined tocourt intrigue. OPP
position is to politics what compe-
tition is to business. The demo-
cratic party has a mission as an
opposition party; we are glad that
it exists, as il serves as a necessary
check upon the acts of the con-
structive party. For our part we
would rather belong to the party
of acts, rather than to the party
whose mission is to oppose. We
would rather do something, achieve
something, even though we make
mistakes, than to be the man on
the dry goods box whose mission
in life is solely to criticise and find
fault. Doubtless the man on the
dry goods box is a necessary evil,
and so is democracy. A party Of
opposition depends largely upon
chance for its issues; whatever the
constructive party may do serves
as basis for the platform of those
opposed to it. This was we'll H.
Illustrated during the past two years
by the different attitudes taken by
democracy on different questions;
when it was thought that it would
not be the policy of the administra- !
ton to retain the Philippines, nu-
merous democratic state conven-
tons passed resolutions denounc-
ing the president, and the party
headers were prepared to make an
active campaign for expansion and
the extension of our sovereignty.
\ 1t is also matter of history that
no opposition party has ever
\ achieved success when placed in
/ power. Democracy has captured
1 the government in the past and may
! again, but the people have always
been FESTIVE under its control, and
have always gladly exchanged that
party for the constructive party,
and have always felt repaid for so
doing. It's we'll in a government
/ controlled by people who are sub
/ ject to sudden caprice, as are the
American people, that there is a
/ party of opposition. Doubtless
4 there would be many more acts of
extravaganza, many more unwise
laws, and more inconsiderate ac-
/ lions were there no opposition.
\ In fact one of the greatest fears of
any constructive party is that they
will have too large a majority in
Legislative bodies. Just as we be-
4 lieve that it is for the best that we
have a large democratic represen-
tation in congress, so we believe it
would be wise if our board of SUI
pervisors was not composed wholly
4 Of the members of one party.
Thus we say that there is no
need to re organize democracy. 1t
will re-organize itself, however. in
convention without party leaders.
1t will oppose whatever the repub-
lican party may do, and its next
platform Of principles depends not
upon any fixed principles of right
or wrong, but solely upon the acts
of the administration. There is nc
need to change its name, democra
cy under any other name woule
smell as sour; there is no need tc
change its principles, for it has nc
principles save that it is "agin the
government. It," Do not give nj
courage then, our democratic
friends, your party has a place ii
the government which it will al
ways keep. We cannot say tina
IL