The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-21
DEMOCRATIC PROFESSION.
How the Unterriaed Conjure with IL
Iustrious Names.
Allan Weir in Morning oiympian.

Allan Weir in Morning oiympian-
One scarcely ever reads about Demo-
cratic convention these DAYS without
learning that they have canonized historic
leaders. There is something indescrina-
bly, humorous. even grotcsuue. in these
attempts by modern Democracy TO con1ure
with fllustrious names and claim lineage
from former great statesmen. To even
a casual observer of history the erect
could not possibly be more ludicrous II the
performers wore cap and bells and all
other clownish paraphernalia. For IN
stance, the Democratic convention assem-
bled in this city last Saturday gravely re-
solved in favor of preserving the liberties
and institutions of this country as they
were builded and preserved by Jefferson,
Jackson and Lincoln. When the last
named was president of the United states
no Democratic platform was considered
complete without containing some form
of denunciation of the great Illinois
statesman. He was denounced as
tyrant. usurper, a baboon, etc, in fact.
modern denunciation of Mark Hanna Is
tame compared with the variety and yiru-
lence of abuse heaped upon "Old Abe"
For years every Democratic platform was
filled with peers and denunciation Of the
man and his policy. The war for the
preservation of the Union was declared
failure, Union soldiers Were denounced as
Lincoln hirelings. Every Republican was
spat upon, so to speak, as man who
wanted a 'nigger' to marry his sister
Unceasing demands We're made that the
war should cease, and that the seeding
states be allowed to establish for them
selves an Independent government. Yet,
to read Democratic platforms today. one
would conclude that Lincoln was a great
Democratic statesman. and that he was
among the founders and defenders of the
Democratic party BY parity of reason
ing in thirty or forty years they win be
claiming credit for all the good President
Mckinley ever accomplished. Jackson
was a living embodiment of the idea of
strong central government. as against the
Democratic doctrine of states rights. He
ruled with an iron hand and had nothing
whatever in common with modern maudln
sentiment over so-called consent of the
governed" He was unalterably in favor
of money based on the single gold STAN
dard. In fact, he had nothing in common
with any of the leading doctrines advocat-
ed by Democrats of today. Jefferson was
the greatest expansionist of any president
the republic ever had. Fancy the people
who are now denouncing Mckinley for
| maintaining the supremacy and honor of
the flag and for putting down armed re-
bellion in our new outlying possessions
fancy these people claiming inspiration
and lineal descent from Jeffersoni Jeffer-
son was reviled at this time. Had the
people who are now so vigorous in de-
nouncing McKinleys policy been alive in
Jemerson's time. and had they been true
To their instincts, they must have de-
nounced Jefferson as they now denounce
Mckinley. And then there is the exert
ciatingiv funny idea of these people de-
nou. ing the Republican policy toward
Puerto Rico as being forced or dictated in
favor 81 the trusts. when as matter of
fact every person of adequate intelligence
knows that the Puerto Rican tariff is
mainly or the purpose of checking the
rapacicious greed of trusts that sought to
make enormous profits from monopolizing
and importing staple products from that
island! Think of the side-splitting farce,
anyway, of the Democrats protesting to
be the only and original repository Of OPP
position to trusts! The fact is that every
antitrust law on our statute books is a
Republican law. Not only this, but from
the years 1892 to 1896, when the Democrats
were in control in the White House and
in both branches of congress- whehn they
had golden opportunity to deal the trusts
paralyzing solar plexus blow, with none
to hinder, they conspicuously refrained
from doing anything OF the sort Their
strong suit seems to he that of resolving
and denouncns when they are out of
ppWer