The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-06
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 6, 1901
DEMOCRACY.

We referred the other day to an inter
view which the Charlotte Observer pr:Ht-
cd with Ex-Governor Jarvis. of North
Carolina on the proper course TO be pnr-
sued by the Democratic party. INC same
paper now prints On interview with cap
tain S. a. -Ashe Of Raleigh, one OF the
Oldest and most accomplished editors IN
the state, in which he says that sherc IS
always q tendency for party cut OF
power to play the role of opposition, ana
that as the Democratic party has gene
rally been out OF power since the war 1t
has been in opposition so long and so
continuously that it has been put III the
attitude OF being opposed to all measures
which the country has regarded as I'M
portant in its progress and development
while l believe Republican policies and
measures have been hurtful,' he goes or,
land have retarded the progress C: our
industries, and that Democratic policies
would have been much more behefclal,
yet the Democratic patty has come to De
regarded as urpatriotc, has not SYM
pathized with progress, has been 4 PAL ty
of neSG:ion, rather than q virile, active
Aggressive Organization seeking TO pro
mote the grea. industrial interests of the
country
There is some truth in this and yet it
must be said in behalf Of the Democratic
party that i. has played a most import
ant part in the history Of the nation and
done a great public service by being an
opposition party by opposing itself to
the Republican party, which has always
been the party of the classes 1t were
idle to deny that the country has pros
pered under Republican rule. The Re
publican party is a close corporation
having fixed policy. and when it has
been in power the business interests Of
The country generally knew what to eX-
pect Therefore the country has been
more or less free from agitation under
Republican rule and this country is SO
rich that its interests can accommodate
themselves to conditions if only condi-
lions will remain constant for a reasona-
BILE time.
But there is no knowing to what
lengths the Republican party would have
gone in class legislation and centralized
government if it had not been vigorously
and urageously opposed by the g>eat
Democracy of the country representing
the masses. While the Democratic party
has, as Captain Ashe says, usually been
out of power since the, war, it has been a
formidable opposition and an opposition
I,oc no
Republican party more or less on its
good behavior and has had a restraining
influence which canont be computed And
so we have time and again urged that the
Democratic party is doing a great work
even when out Of power if only it walk
in its integrity and stand by its prin-
ciples which have been from the begin
ming, and by warning the Republicans
that there are bounds beyond which they
dare not so.
People will stand a great deal for the
sake OF prosperity, and when the Repub-
lican orators go upon the stump and
point to the prosperity which has been
under their rule and warn The people
against making a change, which may
bring disaster, It is a powerful argument
and it has had and will have weight with
the voters. But prosperity is not every
thing. nor will the people stand every
thing FOR the sake Of prosperity. When
the Republicans hecom. arrogant and
srample upon the rights Of the people
and show signs OF converting this Re
public into a monarchy, the majority OF
the voters in this country will invariably
ally themselves with the Democratic or
ganization and put the Republicans ont
of power regardless OF consequences to
business. We are business people, 4
nation OF traders, as the tSpaniards call
ed US. but we also patriotic people
and we love justice and liberty and our
God-givcn rights and privileges better
than we love money. The Democratic
party is the great conserving influence
in this nation, and it has saved the Re
public and preserved the rights of The
people by this opposition 10 which Cap
tain Ashe refers. These remarks seem
@ us timely in view of the fact that the
Republicans are III control of Congress.
which is now IN session. There is work
for the minority party to do.