The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-21
The Independent Minority.

Inc independent minority.
II is one of the most singular facts
Of political history that the Democratic
party owes what little Of standing or
reputation it has left to the indepen-
dent minority which refused to be
bound by the party action at each par
ticular crisis In the party's history. In
each successive abandonment of posi-
lions formerly held. the Democratic
party has coolly attempted to slough
responsibility for past actions. and ar
rogated to itself credit for the actions
of such of the Democratic leaders as
refused to be bound by or follow the
party's past policies.
Nothing is heard now from any DEM
ocratio quarter Of the attitude which
the party adopted during the war Of
the rebellion, or of the leaders who
then guided its course. The party dis
claims all responsibility for the actions
Of the copperhesds OF the vallandis-
ham stripe. The popular heroes Of the
Democracy In the war era, according
to the Democratic claims Of the present
day. were men like Douglas. who
threw the weight OF their influence on
the side Of the Union as soon as the
first gun was fred on Sumter. The
men who stayed at home. and fired In
the rear atsthe armies of the Union.
are ignored. The claim is now made
the Republicans. and for the truth OF
the assertion reference Is made to the
unquestioned fact that many of the
more prominent generals In the Union
army were men OF Democratic ante
cedents
Ths Democratic party Of today like
wise ignores the fact that II was at ons
time committed to the policy of repu-
dating the public debt. and now points
with pride to the record OF the strong
and conservative minority which stood
for keeping good faith with the public
creditors.
In recent history. when under the
Cleveland administration the country
was led into the slough OF despond
through the passage of tariff act
framed by the Democratic leaders in
congress and passed by their votes, In
eluding the vote Of william Jennings
Bryan, the Democratic party coolly
sought TO evade all responsibility by
repudiating the administration which Il
had voted into office. And so II goes
The present attitude OF the Demo-
cratic party towards the Philippines
differs in no essential particular from
the attitude which the Democratic
party OF generation ago adopted In
connection with the war In the South
The party VIII 80 to defeat on the is
sue as IL went down before The hands
% the clock will not go backwards. The
Democrats party Of ten years from
now will soIemniy claim a share in IN.
credit for the expansion % American
territory over the Islands OF the Pa
eihc. viii point to the gallant services
Of such Democrats as Gen Joe wheeler.
and the patriotic utterances OF such
men as Senator Morgan and Henry
watters0n. and calmly ignore the fact
that Il sought TO win control Of the
federal administration Ia the election
of 1900 on the issue u anti-expanslon-
II has now attempted 10 claim fell
iowship ~ith Lincoln. In another geaer-
alton 1t VII ciairn 20 be the party @,
Mckinley, AS Il claims now that tire
true Democrats were those who cast
their lot with TIRE party fer the preser-
walton Of the Union IN issl -. in the
future. & win claim that the true Dem
OcrAts were the ones who. IN the cleo
ton OF 1870. refused 70 D. counted With
the enemies % progress ami the abet-
tors % The existing rebellion aEaius:
the authority q the United states.
Although the P6st-Inteilisencer has
announced through rs columns hair a
dozen times that every communication
Intended 70 appear under Letters from
the people" must be signed for publ
cation with the actual name 81 tar