The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-25
Loyalty TO PARTY

LOYALTY TO PARTY.
Democratic committee. in response to
an invitation to himself and his fell
low Democrats to join in the organiza-
ton of the new third party, is quoted as
follows:
''The past two elections have satisfied
us that fusion as it has been practieed
in Kansas is failure. We believe the
Democratic platform embodieS all the
cardinal reform movements, and feel that
the PopulistS of the state, VINO are ear
nest in wanting to see reform movements
succeed, can reasonably enter the Demo-
cratic camp. The action taken simply
means that the Democratic party will
go it alone in the future, and that those
who take part in Democratic primaries
and conventions must do so as Demo-
campaign large percentage of the Pop
ulists of Kansas will be found fighting
under the Democratic banner"
The G o b e republishes this language
with much pleasure. It probably pos
sesses no more direct significance than
to show that leading Democrat of suf-
fcient good sense and ability to warrant
his being made chairman of his party s
state committee has decided that he at
least will not be party to the further
disruption of his political organization.
But indirectly it offers convincing evil
dence that we are on the eve of party re-
organization which will operate to sep
arate the sheep and the goats of political
and social reform.
The Democratic party is a great con-
sentative force in the preservation Of
the constitutional limitations which have
been established in this republic for the
protection of individual liberty It has
survived almost continuous defeat since
the days of Martin Van Buren,, because
the American masses have recognized in
it the surest guaranty under our political
by those in public control and because
the foundation principle of the organiza-
ton is security for the largest measure
of individual liberty consistent with the
preservation of the rights of all
For over fifty years the party has been
the victim at brief intervals of unwise
leadership. That leadership has at ir-
tervals identified the party with under
takings which have little in common
with the true mission of American de.
mocracy. Alliances which have brought
Democrats into political fellowship with
Knownothings. with men bent on the dis
indignation of the Union, with liberal Re-
publicans, Silver Republicans, Populists
and other organizations of men whose
success meant in more or less qualified
way the downfall of Democratic prin-
ciples, have steadily proven it's undoing
1t has never won a, victory save when
it has contested the field against all
other political organizations on it's own
merits. Every alliance which it has ever
made with outside organizations, every
occasion in which it has allowed itself
to be identified with third party move.
ments, has resulted in it's being driven
or further excluded from power
The new movement of political reor-
ganization will witness either the com
plete collapse of the Democratic party
or its resuscitation. If the rank and file
of its membership are willing to ally
themselves with the modern tendency
toward imperialism, socialism or any
| other ism which leads to the ignoring
| of the principles of American constitu-
tional government, now is the time fol-
them to make that willingness plain.
| There is nothing for the advocates OF
| Populism and socialism IN continued al
lance with Democracy. The leaders OF
these movements recognize that defeat
stares them in the face at each success
| sive national contest. They are wiser
| in their generation than many who call
themselves Democrats and claim the
prerogative of Democratic leadership
They do not propose to continue chas-
1 ing the phantom of political success un-
der conditions which they see inevitably
make for defeat
The Gl g must respect the men in
politics, whether they be Populists. So
| cialists, or Silver Republicans, who rec.
ognize that life is too short to go on
realizing electoral defeat on at best Ill