Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-11-29

. Swift upon the heels of the
lefeat of the Democratic party in
he nation comes the intelligence
hat the men who helped to defeat
It are about to call a conference to
The end that the party which they
deserted may be "reorganized" SO
rs to put them in control. Re-
of the party under
the leadership of the men who
are now thrusting themselves
forward would mean the elimina-
ton from that party of all the
fundamental principles of real
democracy. We have had dem
cratic party controlled by gentle
men like Don M. Dickinson,
Daniel S. Lamont, Grover Cleve-
land and their sort, and their party
was so little different from the re.
publican party that it made no
difference to the monopolists and
the plutocrats whether republic
cans or so-called democrats we're
in power. Shall we recur to that
condition? In the Chicago con-
vention of 1896 the democratic
masses found their first opportu-
nifty to express their will and
enunciate their principles of
wealth. 1t is not a question of
leadership, but a question of
principle. The men who announce
that they will meet and reorganize
the party mean by that that they
will strive to seize the leadership.
At this moment the personnel Of
the leaders is of the last impor-
lance. Indeed the party does not
need leaders. Itneeds merely the
expression of the peoples desire
aud the selection Of men who can
give their time and their energies
to putting that desire into effect.
The vital thing is that the princi-
Piles of the party shall be main
tanned. Mr.. Dickinson-whc
typifes certain element, but who
individually cannot be dignifed
by recognition as leader-seeks tc
overthrow the principles of the
democratic party. 1t is for real
democrats, for mon who believe
thai defeat at the polls does not
necessarily demonstrate that the
views held by the party ara
wrong, to oppose in every way
this selfish and sinister movement
to attack it wherever it shall
appear, to destroy its emissaries
and uproot and obliterate thei1
influence. The men who for the
last six years have served the dem
ocratic party in public positions
and have been called leaders
although in fact they merely
followed the path blazed out by
the masses of the democracy, may
be retired, may be sent into obi
won if you will; that is not the
important thing. The party ane
party principles are greater thar
any individual, greater than the
candidate for president, greater
than the managers of his cam
paign. individuals may be retir
ed. Principles, if they be true
principles, are eternal and cannot
be abandoned by one who holds
the name of democrat unless ir
abandoning them he confesses hi
treason to the organization created
to give those principles effect. 1
is necessary that democrats should
face this situation. Let them bea1
in mind that just as the forces o:
plutocracy have captured the re'
publican party and diverted i
from those ideals which charact
lied it at its birth, so now the
forces of plutocracy are moving
upon the democratic party from
which they were expelled in 1896
and which they now hope te
capture and use for their owr
profit and for the spoilation ane
betrayal Of the people Of the
United States.