The Tucson citizen., 1902-04-04
THE DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.

The Washington correspondent of /
the Los Angeles Express. smiles in /
very superior way at the hopes and /
expectations of the Democratic lead /
ers to command a majority in the next
House of Representatives. The Express
correspondent says that the Demo-
Gratis have been looking for an issue
on which to make the fight and have
reen unable to find il. He also inti-
mates that the people are satisfied
with present conditions and evince no
disposition to make change.
II it be true that the American peo-
pie are determined to seek prosperity |
by plunder then there Is no prospect |
for the Democracy. The Republican |
party is the most effective agent for |
me enforcement of such a policy. AS
the Democrats can never hope to be as
effective plunderers as the Republi- !
cans, they had better decline competi-
ton with them. if not because Demo-
cratic morals are better, then because
Democratic capacity in that direction
is inferior.
Republicans are imperialists that Is
TO say, spoilers, by instinct and by
conviction. as well as by interest and
long continued practice. They can
bring to the performance Of predatory
enterprises an experience which
Democrats do not possess and an
enthusiasm which Democrats cannot
hope to rival Democrats. even if
they renounced the principles OF
justice, could bring to enterprises of
plumber only unframed hands and re-.
luctant minds. The truth of this is self
eviden,. Repubncans always manage
to preserve the respect OF the very
people whom they have despoiled.
while Democrats. whenever they have
attempted to possess themselves Of the
property of others even In moderate
degree have provoked indignation and
ottentimes incurred punishment.
Have we not seen Republicans who
have organized government to enrich
themselves hOnored as champions
OF protection, while an Individual
Democrat named Croker. who de-
clared that he was in politics for his
pocket all the time has been over
whelmed by public Indignation and
driven into exile? Have we not seen
Tweed convicted and imprisoned for
doing on comparatively small scale
for himself anu a circle of friends
what Hanna publicly proposes to do
on larger scale for wider circle of
associates, while a party applauds and
a National Administration helps and
approves?
There IS no need for the Democrats
to seek an issue. 1t is here, conspicuous
and unmistakable. 1t can neither be
changed nor modified. compromised
or avoided. 1t is not new, it has exist
ed in some form or other since the be-
ginning OF the government Imperial
ism, with its inseperable object.
plunder, was the issue when the
Democrats won control of the House
Oh Representatives in 1874, nine years
after the close of the great Civil W ar.
The same predatory purposes domi-
mated the Republican party then that
dominates 1t now, but the people were
able to eXpel it from power then as
they are now.
To facilitate its plunder Of the
Treasury the Republican party has
forced the House OF Representatives
to surrender all its powers into the
hands Of the Senate If the
representative feature Of our govern
ment is to be preserved, the Republic
can party, which threatened it, must
be destroyed. II the ship subsidy blil
be enacted, who can be denied the
use of public treasure? If it is justi-
able to pay a man for engaging In a
losing business surely it is still more
justiflable to pay him for starting in
a profitable business. Ii it is proper to
pay man for building ships, why is
1t not equally proper to pay him for
supporting and engaging in farming
or in mining? II 1t be proper to pay
man for working, which is obeying
the primary law OF nature, why should
he not be paid for obeying the more
exaeting law of the land? Why should
not some patriot arise in the future to
say that 1t is cheaper to pay men for
maintaining the peace than to pay
policemen for enforcing It?
Why, in fine, 10 an excuse neces
aary for the pillage of the people?