The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-10
THE FUTURE OF THE DEMO.
CRATIC PARTY.

Inc OUTLOOK LOT DeuloCidti~ SVSeSoo IL
1904 is ten-fold more bright today than
it was in 1892. The party is in better
shape than it was after the defeat in
1885, There is every reason why Demo-
Gratis should be hopeful and cheerful,
earnest to fight for Democratic principles
and vigilant to prevent any undemocratic
influence controlling the party.
In Col. f. A. ODDS Sunday letter in the
Charlotte Observer is the following:
.Your correspondent having thus COM
pleted the interview with all the eA-
State chairmen of the Democratic party,
asked Mr. Josephus Daniels, as the mem
Der of the national committee for North
Carolina to give his views. His reply is
pretty spicy, as will be seen. File said:
THE Democratic party must be party
of principles and not an organization
of opportunists party that is willing
to adopt q policy of anything to win,
regardless of measures Of right and
wrong does not deserve to live The
Kansas City platform was right i'll its
declaration of principles. Imperialism is
wrong; monopolies are dangerous; pro-
tective tariff in all forms ere oppressive;
the demands of the money power are
tyrannical and unjust. We must fight
these.
1.-The conditions of 1896 demanded the
silver issue. 1t is not ar. issue TO-DAY
because the conditions do not demand
it.
1.-The Democratic party must fight
the entrenched hosts in the ration who
are enjoying special privilege where
ever found If the Democratic party
should fail to do this, help and deliv-
erance will come from another quar-
ter but the great Democratic party
would fail of the mission which brought
it into being.
Democracy asks the question: is
is right?' and lives forever, strong and
useful in defeat as well as in victory.
The Republican party asks only will
it pay?' and like a score of other like
parties that put opportunism above
principle, will perish when it loses the
prestige of victory. If the Democratic
party has been all wrong on the money
question, Imperialism, protective tariff,
and wrong in it's pledge to make eter-
nal war on trusts and monopolies and
subsidies ana every OInoi SpSSlCS VI
special privilege until they are de-
stroyed-if the Democratic party has
been wrong on these things then there
is no need of the Democratic party. 1t
ought to disband and join the Repub-
lican party at once and stop all the po-
litical fuss.
1.-The Democratic party will deserve
to win by being true to it's time hon
ored principles, applying them to the
living questions that are to be settled.
A victory won by addition, division
and silence, secured by pledges of pro-
lection to trusts and other outlaws of
commerce, would be thousand times
worse for the party than defeat. The
party has been strong and honest in
defeat. 1t would be despicable and dis
honest in victory won by sacrificing
it's principles.
ut is three years before it will be
necessary to elect the delegates who
will write the Democratic platform of
1904 The men who will write that
platform will be men who will abide by
it. The men who will nominate the
candidates will be men who will sup
port them when nominated. The doors
of the party are always open-they
swing backward and forward-and
men may so out and come in as they
choose. But when they decide to come
back, they will find the party of Jeifer-
son doing business at the old stand,
fighting under the old banner; Equal
rights to all and special privilege to
none and will be welcomed back home.
But if they are not asked to call the
figgers' at the first dance, they viii
find that those who serve the party best
will be called to leadership.
g Forgetting those things that are
behind, the time is at hand for all men
who call themselves Democrats to come
together and fight to restore to the re-
public the old time simple virtues OF
economy and equality which prevailed I'M
til the Republican party used the taxing
power for private enrichment and for the
payment of campaign debts Men who
agree that hostility to special privilege
is the shibboleth for right and victory,
will not have any trouble about writing
a platform in 1904. Men who wish the
Democratic party to advocate ship SUD-
sides, protection, reciprocity as the
handmade Of protection and the break
ing down of racial barriers will not and
ought not to be heard in councils WDerc
Democratic platforms are made or where
Democratic candidates are nominated.