Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-31

e Sssss ..
Signs of Democratic Revival.
OF all the signs of Democratic re-
vival none give more promise than the
present situation in the State of Penn
sylvania, which has been torn to pieces
by the plundering policy of its Repub-
lican leaders.
Recent events In that State are cal
culated to set honest men to thinking,
and to drive them to some remedy for
the disgrace which has now fallen upon
them. In discussing the action OF May
or Ashbridge, of Philadelphia, in CIV
ing franchises to his friends for which
he held a cash offer Of So, SOC, 600, it has
been denounced by The Philadelphia
Press MS dishonest. 1t must be remem-
bered that Mayor Ashbridge was but
a cog in the wheel of Pennsylvania Re-
publican politics, and that the legls-
lation which he assisted in making eff
fective came from the inner circles OF
the ruling Republican party, bearing
the sign manual of the Governor of
the State. Thus the wholesale squan-
Ndering of public interests is a pecu-
liarly Republican act for which that
party must be held responsible. In all
the efforts of The Press to denounce
and circumvent the rifling of public
values 1t has not been able, and will
not be able, to clear the Republican
party from responsibility. 1t is in this
stage that The Times calls upon the
Democrats Of Pennsylvania to take adj
vantage of the situation. In order to
show what the party can do IL 1t only
will, The Times says:
There can be no question about the
presence of a live Democratic spirit IN
this State. Recur to the figures for a
moment. 1t gave Tilden 800, 15S votes.
1t gave Hancock-a Pennsylvania
1902. 1t gave Grover Cleveland,
running against native of Pennsyl.
vania, 1902 1856; 1t raised this four years
later to 446,G63, and again four years
later 1t Increased 1t to 452, 264. This
was high-water mark. With free silver
in 1896 Bryan received only 427 ,125
and last year there was another dror
to 424, 1872.
But taking the figures at their lowest
we find an army.of Democrats In Penn
sylvania who outnumber those Of every
State except New York, Illinois and
Ohio. Pennsylvania cast over 15,00t
more Democratic votes last year thar
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Louis
lana, Mississippi, South Carolina
Georgia and Nebraska put together
Nor is this all. Considering that there
was no special inducement to get out
! the Democratic vote in this Statc ant
taking into consideration the large
number of Democrats who could no.
accept the Chicago platform, 1t is evi
dent that there are in Pennsylvania
more than 10000 Democrats, and thai
In numerical strength Pennsylvania II
the third Democratic State in the M
ton, New York being first and Hi
nois second, although there is some
question as to whether or not Pennsyl
vania on a full count could not show {
total that would equal-and possibly
exceed-that of Illinois.
Every word here spoken points tt
the fact that the Democratic party o.
the State of Pennsylvania has such nj
opportunity to rehabilitate itself as ha,
not been presented to 1t for fifty years
1t has won in State elections twic,
within the last twenty years upon is
sues much weaker than those which i
can command to-day. When we add t,
this large Democratic army the ten
of thousands Of patriotic citizens who
voting the Republican ticket for tradl
tional reasons, are now anxious to re
deem their State, we can see what III
opportunity is presented. OF course
this calls for an up-to-date policy, on
freighted with the hopes of the pres
ent day and looking to the welfare o
the future.
The Democratic party must Gems
from being mere objector in nationa
councils and become the agent of til
constructive force of the people of til
union. Taking such a stand, regarding
the past as in history and the futur
MS yet to be made, the Democratic par
ty has an opportunity for Leadership
which it should not throw away. Il
bringing about such n condition as thi
the traditional Democratic States ca
do but little. They have already bee
doing their best. The responsibility
for forward action rests with the Den
ocrats of such States as Pennsylvania
who have 1t in their power by takin
the right side in State politics, to gal
local control and thus have an inflr
ence upon the decisions of the nationa
party. With such numbers MS til
Democrats constitute in Pennsylvanl,
it requires only independent action an
the patriotic regard for the highest IL
terests of the State to win the suppoi
of those Republicans who seek releas
from the machine which has s
wrecked their public institutions. Th
Times declares that "Pcnnsylvani
Democrats do not believe in vagarlel
The masses are still true to the oil
principles that have endured since til
nation began"
1 This being the case, we can readll
join with The Times in hoping thu
with the Pennsylvania Democracy r,
| vitalized and strengthened. there coul
be no doubt as to the policy of the sell
respecting Republicans who have com
to the point where they must choos
between sacrificing thieving minorit
of their own organization and savin
the honor and material welfare of the
State" The Democrats of the countr
will watch with hope and interest til
position taken by their brethren
Pennsylvania, who hive thus nm Of
portunity of setting up the standard I
honesty and patriotism to replace thu
of plumber and pelf.-Atlanta Constlt,
ton.
Trusts and Tariff.
Notwithstanding the discussion the
has been Of Representative Babcock
i prnnoSiffOn tn nlIt tr,,ct ,,rod,,nfr nm ri