The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-10
SEATTLE, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10.
The Passing Of Democracy.

The observance Of Jackson day
throughout the country emphasized how
the Democratic party has departed from
the traditions Of the past, until now 1t
stands IN the attitude Of having dis
carded every distinctive principle advo-
Gated by 1t in it's former history and
completely changed front on the very
basic idea upon which It was founded.
In all legislation in q popular govern
fnent there are two opposing principles
on which party lines in general are
drawn. On the one side are arrayed
those who believe in the largest individ-
ual liberty, the constant limitation Of
the powers Of government, the ultimate
reduction Of all government to the sim
plest form. with it's sole province that
Of preventing one individual from in
vading the rights Of another. Carried
to It's logical extreme, this spells an
archy. On the other hand lies the idea
Of constantly charging the powers OF
the state, regulating with more or less
tninuteness the business affairs Of the
Individual, taking care Of the education
Of the future citizen, regulating and
controlling and ultimately acquiring all
quasi public utilities, and in general
tending Enthusiastically toward the pater-
nal idea, that government Is something
greater and above the ordinary citizen,
who must surrender to a large extent
his Individual preferences and accept
Gne guidance of this superior power.
Logically the extreme end Of this IL
state socialism.
Through all its vagaries and until
within the last few years the Demo-
cratic party has held with more or less
consistency to the former idea Of the
function Of government, and throughout
Its long history every attitude which 1t
assumed on public questions could be
interpreted by reference to this basic
principle. The doctrines of state rights,
squatters' sovereignty, notification, OPP
position to the United States banks,
opposition to public schools and to the
homestead law, strict Interpretation Of
the constitutions, state and national,
free trade. even noninterference with
slavery, all rested upon the one idea Of
limitation Of the powers Of government
and charging the liberties Of the in
dividual.
The manner in which, under the spell
of Organism, the party has absolutely
changed front on this basic principle
and turned its back upon all the tradi-
lions Of the past must be amazing to
every old Democrat who knows some
thing OF the history Of his party. Today
nearly every proposition which Is advo-
Gated by the heterogeneous conglomera-
ton Of diseordant elements, called the
Democratic party, looks to radical and
revolutionary legislation to carry 1t into
effect. For the admitted evil Of monop-
olistic trusts. the great leader of the
party, Mr.. Bryan himself. can suggest
constitution Of the United States, con-
fefrfng upon congress the power to reg
ulate and control absolutely all the
domestic corporations of the state; a
proposition which contemplates and
provides for an absolute change In our
form OF government centralizes an
enormous power in the hands of the
Federal authorities and enlarges the
jurisdiction Of the Federal courts to
such an extent as would give them prac-
teal control of all Of the litigation Of
the country. Under complete congress
sional regulation Of corporations all lit
igation to which corporation Is party
must of necessity turn in some OF its
phases upon interpretations OF acts of
congress. Such proposition as Mr..
Bryan advocates seriously could not