Evening journal., 1901-10-03
THURSDAY. OCTOBER }. 1901
nENrAaoG Io APPEALs

During the past eight years the
Democratic party has turned out the
most varied assortment of cranks and
demagogues this country has ever been
afflicted with. There seems 10 be an
idea prevalent that the average voter
of that party is a man with griey-
ance, whose ignorance Of general ccn-
ditions OF finance trade ana govern
ment, may be turned to account. De-
mccracy long ago assumed the pose Of
he workingman's friend, and in the
face CT any adverse proof, sticks to the
role
Yet it cannot be denied that the
greatest periods of industrial activity
have been under Republican admins
trations. while disasters seem TO have
been the invariable accompaniment Of
Democratic accesslons to power. II Is
only necessary to state that the most
depressing period through which we
ever passed was under the Administra-
ton OF Cleveland and it is also truo
that likelihood OF Democratic success
in a national campaign is sufficient to
cause Il grave depression.
There has ever been tendency on
the part of the demagogue to appeal
TO discomfort and misfortune. Few men
consider their lot equal to their deserts,
and the consequence IS that there are
always numbers who are ready to lis
ten to any appeal to passion and preiu-
dice. In the recent campaign the far
mems OF Kansas really believed that
there was giant conspiracy, with
headquarters in Wall street, whose sole
purpose was 10 grind down the tiller of
the soil. and make him a beast of bur
dent. The position was defended by a
sophistry that was both plausible and
cunning en- the surface. nctwithstand-
ing it was an economic impossibility.
But this tendency is seen, not only
in the West. but also in the East. The
following utterance OF Josiah Quincy,
Of Boston. is fair sample:
The Democratic party should be un-
compromising in opposition to certain
Republican policies and in its advocacy
Of progressive legislation in the inter-
ests of the masses OF the people; in
the nature of the case Il must tend 10
favor the side of labor rather than that
Of capital where their interests are am
tagonistic, just as the Republican party
lis necessarily capitalistic in it's ten
dencies."
1t Is inconceivable that Mr.. Quincy
doesn't know better. unless. indeed
he would have his party adopt falla.
cies merely for the purpose Of catching
the votes Of the ignorant and unwary
II there is any economic truth clearly
established it is that there cannot be d
conflict between capital and labor
without serious injury to both. AS al
evidence of this Il is well to recall tina
during those periods in our histOr,
when capital has been secure, and in
vestments have paid. tabor has invari
ably been in demand at good remun
Grafton.
The question arises what "progres
sive legislation in the interests OF tn
masses Of the people" Mr.. Quinc
would urge? His party has tried fre
coinage, governmental control Of Gel
tain corporations, income tax an
many other ideas which its adhereni
declared to be in the interests OF til
people; but rea. prosperity came onl
when it was seen that these heresil
were laid to rest. The guarded stat
ment that the party should favor II
side of labor. rather than that Of can
tai. is the catch phrase Of a demagogu
Can anyone frame such legislation
that it will really accomplish its pu
pose? When investments become i
secure. they are withdrawn. and {
money is locked up in vaults. VIII
capital ceases TO earn a dividend, mi
are closed. and men are idle. On t
other hand. with money seeking
investment as it is now. factories
running full time. new enterprises {
being founded. and labor is at p
mium.
The attempt to make one party
friend Of labor. and the other Of ca
tai. recalls the days Of soup-hous
and compels a comparison betw'
those times and the present nome
Whether that administration tr
represented Democracy or not,