The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-10
FALSE DEMoCRATIC DocTRtNE.


1t is distinguishing feature of Demo-
cratic social and political creed that all
men are alike before the law It has
never until recently been put forward as
an expression of Democratic faith that
the rich man deserved and should r.
ceive at the hands of the public agen-
cies any less consideration of his rights
and privileges than any other man. But
| such doctrines did of late find approval
among those who affected to expound
the teachings of the American Democ.
racy.
If there is one characteristic OF Amer
lean life more marked than another it
is that all men are permitted to pursue
their own gain in every way which their
enterprise and ingenuity may dictate,
consistent with the rights of others, and
are permitted to enjoy the fruits Of their
own industry in their own way, and
free from the interference of govern
mental power. Perhaps there is no 9th
er popularity of our social and political
system which has operated so effectively
as this in bringing TO us the natives of
other lands, where there is no such as
surance offered of the immunity Of the
individual from public exactlon or greed.
Men have struggled since the world
began with the chief end of lettering
their worldly fortunes It is a remark
able doctrine which has been implied in
the contentious of many who took part
in the recent presidential campaign, that
when man has succeeded in acquiring
wealth he must submit to having the
state occupy an attitude of 0isfayor
toward HIM. 1t is the poor man. accord
ing to these philosophers, that must he
regarded in the management of public
concerns, and all advantage must be ex-
tended to him, even If the extension in
wolves the curtatlment OF the rights and
privileges of his neighbor who is better
off than he.
This is, of course, sheer demagoefsn.
But it has passed for Democracy. And
It still passes as such with a number
of passionate mortals who happen to be
aWry iii their notions of social right. 1t Is
not Democracy, it is the very opposite
of Democracy. 1t would set a pail On
the efforts Of men to become well-to-do.
1t would paralyze individual energy:
and it would inevitably result in trans
forming the face of the society in which
1t prevailed into an oligarchy pure and
simple
1t is true that wealth and power often
succeed in securing many public rrivt-
leges at the expense Of the common
wealth. But the fact that such is the
case is not to be advanced as a reason
why limitations should be placed on the
legitimate accumulation OF individual
wealth. The Democratic party in It's
very essence, and in all the policies with
which 1t has been identified since the
foundation of this government, has stood
the unwaYering foe of special privilege.
it has been the poor mans party in all
respects in which it could favor him
with due regard to the rights Of his fell
low man, whether rich or poor 1t is as
much political heresy for a Democrat
to claim that his party stands for the
rights of the poor as against the rights
of the rich as to claim that it stands
for the rights of the cich as against the
rights of the poor.
The fight of the common man for
co-equal rights and opportunities has
been made on this continent by the Dem
ccratic party from the days of Thomas
Jefferson to the present hour. 1t can
never go back en- its traditions in that
regard without ceasing to be the party
of Jefferson. It has been the foe Of mo-
nopoly in every period OF the national
progress because it has been the friend
of the largest possible freedom Of action
for the individual in every activity which
ne may choose to pursue, whether in the
direction of money accumulation or
otherwise To urge, as certain of the
orators in the last campaign seriously
urged. that the government should in
some way curtaii the freedom of the in
dividual to better his worldly lot is to
utter treason to fundamental doctrine
of American Democracy.
Never while the American Democracy
has a controlling voice will there be