The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-25
A FRIGHTENED DEMOCRACY

A FRIGHTENED DEMOCRACY
By gradual stages George a7red Will
liams of massachusetts has been quail.
flying himself for his latest political
Affiliations. He is now a pronounced
socialist and claims that aftet tn"
many years spent in darkness he has
finally been rewarded by being per-
mitted to see the light.
What Mr.. Williams was originally
no one seems to know, as he was new
er prominent, save, perhaps, in his
own state, until the crown of thorns
and cross of gold of the distinguished
gentleman from Nebraska lured him
to the front and thereafter he was
heard of more or less in connection
with the free silver fetch. He be-
came the Massachusetts leader of the
cult of 16 to l and retained that posi-
ton until the old time democrats took
the reins in hand once more and he
and the others who had been follow
ing the Moses from the g~rasshopper
body of the house. This thoroughly
disgruntled him. He could not swal-
low the golden pill and as the line of
demarcation between the creed of
Bryan and that advocated by the long
haired men who want some one else
do the work and they reap the benefit
is not in easy of distinction, he be-
came one of the latter and is now
apparently happy. The party with
which Mr.. Williams now trains cut
quite a figure in the election recently
held in his state and as he has faith
in its continued growth he thinks
that he may yet achieve the ambition
of his life and hold an Office.
Commenting on the growth of SO
cialism in the country, the Bozeman
old fashioned democratic brand, man
ifests symptoms of alarm as regards
the outlook for democracy, and it
finds itself wondering what effect it
may have in the next presidential
election. 1t declares it to be a GER
tainty that if socialism continues to
grow in the next two years as it has
grown in the last two years it will
be the controlling factor in the next
result. "By this we mean,' says
the Chronicle, chat it will insure the
triumph of the republican party be,
yond a peradventure.'
This is a confession hardly to be ex
pected from a newspaper sc thorough
ly sincere in it's democracy as the
Chronicle. 1t implies a wavering of
who have in the past been relying
upon that good paper for their inspir-
alton in furtherance of the cause to
which they have dedicated themselves.
They are told in a round about way
that there is no longer anything III
the principles of the democratic Jar.
ty calculated to keep those within
the fold steadfast or to draw new
members. It is a virtual admission
that democracy has no longer any
thing to offer in the way of a political
organization to those who would
change the existing conditions and
that its members are seeking solace
and comfort in socialism. But it adj
mits more: 1t is an admission of
strength On the part o. the rnpubli-
cans that can only come by the main
tenance of correct principles and the
advocacy of matters and policies that
of the nation. This is made very evil
dent ny the Acknowledgements that So
cialism is drawing largely on the
ranks Of democracy for its recruits
and incidentally, it is to BE- supposed
also that not a few of the dissatisfied
democrats are going over to the other
enemy-the republican party.
Regarded as it may, the confess
sion of the Chronicle is indicative of
the feeling of insecurity that pos
sesses many other good members of
the democratic party beside the pa
per making it and clearly shows
whittier matters politically are drift
ing.