The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-02
A Party Of Critics.

A Party or Critics.
While the Democratic members OF
congress can say with truth that, as a
minority. they are not responsible fer
any of the laws which are made, it
should not be forgotten that under our
precisely equal right with the majority
to initiate legislation and to present bills
which they consider 1t advisable to be
enacted. Thus they are enabled to pre-
sent squareiy, for the Information Of the
country. and as contrast to the pro-
posed legislation Of the majority the
precise form which legislation should
assume according to their ideas, and
make clear-cut and well-defined issues
future elections.
If Republican legislation were thus
contrasted in a concrete form, with the
measures which the Democra tic minor
ity insist should have passed, then the
people could have full and complete
light upon the subject. and an opportu-
nifty TO express distinctly and squarely
their views as to which they prefer
This is form OF the referendum which
of representative government, and
which requires no constitutional change,
no remodeling OF the framework OF gov
eminent to carry into effect.
The fact is. however, that the Demo-
cratic minority has not and has never
had. within the past generation, any
distinctive legislative programme. It's
province has been criticism, not crea-
ton, and the Democratic plan presents
no ideas in a concrete form, but is SIM
ply mass of generalities.
When the existing tariff law was be-
fore congress at the commencement OF
the present administration. no Demo-
cratic tariff measure was presented,
that a contrast could be afforded he
tween the policies OF the two parties,
the Democratic opposition simply TAX
ing the form Of sluggish obstruction
The same was true when the financial
bill was presented and passed The
Democrats even neglected to bring for
ward their customary amendment for
the free and unlimited coinage Of sill.
yer, which seems 10 be the sole and
only proposition on the intricate sub
jet Of finance that the Democratic
party has ever grasped Towards all
other Of the important matters Of legis-
lation before the country the Demo-
cratic attitude has been precisely the
same. Not single suggestion as 70
what ought 10 be done has reached
concrete form on the Democratic side:
all that they are united upon Is that
what the Republicans propose. IN any
or all directions Is necessarily and in
evitahly wrong
There Is no Democratic programme
for the treatment ~ the Puerto Rico
question or for the Philippines. beyond
the vague and indefinite suggestion
that the United states ought 70 set out
81 the Islands IN some way, but that II
ought 70 see some form u government
initiated there and IN running order
which government 1t ought In some
equally vague and indefinite manner 10
protect from domestic disturbance or
foreign Interference. For the reorgau-
izat.on of the army It has no pro
gramme 81 any form or character. save
denupciatlvn ~ amy incrs8se. 40 mat
ter how pressing the necessity. t. the
showing that there Is not sufficient
artillery force 90 Keep the p7csen, sea-
coast guns already mounted FROM go
Ing 20 destruction. ana that the whole
artillery force ~ thc country could not
handle one-haf ~ the guns now in p9-
/ sition. the Democrats answer Is that
a standing army is menace 70 the
liberties OF the people. and that the tn
crease OF the army is intended solely 10
furnish the employers OF labor with
the means Of overRwing their employees.
For the trusts 1t has nothing but denun-
citation.
The truth is that the Democratic
party has no legislative programme OF