The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-23
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1900,
THE SLOGAN FOR 1900.

In discussing the other day the Demo-
= cratic slogan for the campaign Of 1900
we said that the preservation OF the re-
portancc than either free silver or Trusts.
We are gratifed to see that our remarks
have attracted some attention. and recur
to the subject this morning by way oil
emphasizing and. IL We can OF impress
ing that great truth. 1t is the great mis-
Son of the Democratic party-wc might
almost say its only mission-to preserve
The integrity of the republic The ten
dency of the Republican party is toward
monarchy: the tendency OF the Popuilst
marty Is toward socialism; but the Demo-
!. cratic party stands for the repuehc ana
represents those great principles OF mai
ridual liberty, of local sclf-Sovernrncht'
OF complete separation OF church al"
State, OF separation as far as possible
of government from the private Affairs
of life That bcin. The case, the Demo-
cratic party is never at a JOSS lof an
issue New questions arc constantly
arising in a progressive country axe
ours and the policy of the PARTY with
reference to Incidental questions mus
net cs sarily change from time TO 'lme.
But the principles Of the Democratic
narty change never So far as principles
20. the first platform upon which the
marty ever stood Is a good platform 'or
to-day and for I'll time. The man who
will take the trouble TO read these plat
forms from the beginning until nov tend
we will say, by way Of parcn1heals. ;hUt
we keep a hound volume of the same
ever within easy rcacn, will find that
ihese underlying principles pelmcated
them I'll up 10 and including ihc Platform
of 1892 Indeed. the revolutionary con-
Nention of 1896 had the grace at least to
incorporate In the preamble of ITS re-
markablc platform these cardinal prin-
ciples, however far the party may have
departed from them in the conduct of
the campaign.
We insist that the Democratic party is
not a party of fads. Let us leave all
these TO the Popuiist Jsar1y. the Socialist
party, the S;nsle-TaN party. and all the
rest OF the little onc-idca parties thai
have sprung up from time to time for the
purpose Of promulsating some new thing.
The Democratic party is a party of broad
principles, and. we have said. its
great and glorious mission has been and
IS 10 preserve the integrity of the repub-
tic. il does not need TO adopt fads. 1t
does not need 10 cater To those who are
In love with fads. On the contrary,
, whenever il does SO II weakens itself by
so much, and dcgradcs itself in the esti-
nation of the public.
The idea that the Democratic party
should make free silver, or opposition 10
trusts, or any other one policy OF this
Character the all-absorbing issue and eN-
plot these things TO the neglect and
abandonment of The great principles upon
which IL was founded, is as absurd as it
were for the Christian Church: to aban-
don the Bible and exploit some moral
reform. /, was that course that drove SO
many Democrats out Of the party in 1926.
ard a repetition of that course in 1909
would have The same effect. But if The
rarity will now return to its Inoorinss.
plan, itself upon its eternal principles,
proclaim first OF ali that i, is for The
republic instead of the empire and make
all mere questions of party policy incl
dental and suhse1wicn; to this one great
proclamation. 1t Will regain the conf
dense tho, :, has lost and will be carry
Ing 81 SIS great work and performing Its
great mission. even though 1t should be
defeated.
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