The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-28
Recognizing the Democratic Party

ocratic party is up sgain. There was
held a convention to consider this vital
question at Lincoln, Neb., Dec. "a, in the
form of banquet. In the meantime the
statesmen are being interviewed on the
subject by newspaper men, as kind of
forecast of what should be done. J. Ster-
ling Morton, Eye ken the name;;" he was
the great national banker farmer who
represented the agricultural department
in Cleyeland's cabinet. The following is
a part of Mr.. Morton's say on the future
of the Democratic party and Organism. !"
Mr.. Morton and his set voted against
Bryan in 1896 and 1900. Speaking of the
future of Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Morton is quoted
as follows:
ssMr. Bryan knows we'll that reorgati-
ization is not only certain, but that it is
essential 10 the very existence of the
Democratic party He knows this plan
contemplates his elimination. He will
undoubtedly continue 10 control a con-
siderable element of Democrats and Pop
ulists, who will constitute a boiling
crowd When the Democratic party is
reorganized and names its candidate for
President in 1904, it is quite probable
Bryan and his immediate followers will
also meet and name national ticket.
They will, in my humble opinion, bear
about the same relation to the organized
Democratic party that the Middle-of-the-
Road Populist party today bears to the
fusion forces-nothiug more. After the
conflict of 1904 do not believe Mr..
Bryan and his party will be factor snf
ficient to attract attention"
The sooner this reorganization takes
place the better, and we hope that the
millionaire contingent which Mr.. Morton
represents will take the old name. The
atmosphere would then be cleared and
the name will go with that of ''Whig'
and Federal" party, and the Doodle pol
iticians left nothing to conjure with.
The element and principles that J. Ster-
| ling Morton represents are entirely Re-
publican. They are part of the plutoc-
racy which the Republican party stands
for, and have no part whatever in gov.
eminent which represents democracy OF
popular government. They may repre-
sent the Democratic party as it was known
before 1896 for forty years.
The new organization which is to be
stuffed off by the Morton plutocratic ele.
ment, must go forward and stand fol
something even more aggressive and
definite than the platforms Of 1896 and
1900. There is but one way to get rid Of
monopoly and bought legislation and the
curse of plutocracy. AS to Morton's
Democratic party it would be simply g
side show to the Republican party. place
to tempt in the country innocents to see
the wonderful abnormal things it has or
exhibition, its 'giascutas
The new party. if such is organized
will go forward, not back to the feshpcts
of the past. In place of the vague dec.
larations on the most vital questions
which are made in the platforms of 1896
and 1900 there must be positive declara-
tons for the government ownership OF
control of natural monopolies. The
finance or money of the nation is one
and the most vital of those natural mo-
nopolies. Money is created by the gov.
eminent for the use of the people and is
owned only temporarily by any person OF
association of persons. 1t is held like a
roilroad ticket, as a representative Of
service to be used in exchange for some
other service, TO pass from hand to hand
in the transaction of business, and should
not be allowed to be cornered by chartered
companies, plying their vocation on the
highways or high seas of trade, levyine
tribute in the form of interest on every
dollar in use. A bank in private hands is
financial letter of narque to prey on the
trade of the country.
The second in importance of these
natural monopolies is the transportation
or carrying business, which is all placed
in the hands Of a comparatively few per-
sons by special government grants, called
charters, and not taveler or pound OF
merchandise can be moved over these
great highways of freight and travel with
out being taxed at the option of these
government favored parties.
The third in importance ofthese natural
monopolies is the telegraph aud its
younger brother, the telephone. This
modern invention for transmitting
thought is natural part of the post office
and should be added to that department
of government. They are branch OF
the post Office in every country except the
United States.
The time has come when the party OF
the people must take its stand as the
avowed advocate Of these reforms. Until
these natural monopolies are placed in
the hands of the government, acting as
the agent of the people, not step can be
taken toward righting monopolistic abuses
and the publication of our elections from
bribery.
The ]. Sterling Morton democracy will
never consent 10 such an Innovation OF
what it styles the old Democratic party
and principles, and what he scouts as
Organism under whatever name will be
forced to plant itself on this solid basis.
The party that refuses or lodges these
fundamental principles. will have no
future, and the party that upholds them
is eternal.