The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-09
NO D1crAr1oNs FOR THE DEMOCRACY.

Since the Democratic party was organized. over a
hundred years ago, no man has been big enough to lay
down the law as TO who should be called Democrats
or who should be nominated for office.
Unless the reorganizers and disorganizers learn to
show more respect for the party and less for their
own vanity, their experience as political advisers may
end before 1904 in complete loss Of influence in Demo
cratic counsels.
The history Of the past four years shows plainly
how the Democratic party is constructed. Its origin
is in the people; its power is in the people; Its policy
at any time is the wish of the people. There are no
successful dictators among the individuals who aspire
to leadership. When they cease TO follow they cease
to Lead. They cannot read each other out Of the party
and cannot maintain a one-man or two-man test, in
vented to push rivals, imaginary or real, out Of the
road to the favor Of voters.
One Of the most foolish attempts Of a Democrat In
one State Is to undertake arbitrary command Of what
course OF action Democrats in another State shall
take. There has been not a little Of such fooishness
on the part of narrow-minded persons within the four
years during which the party has been gathering
strength for the contest against trustism and imperial
ism. 1t has been manufactured passion and has awed
nobody. The Democrats in the States have gone
ahead doing what Democrats ought to do. They have
fought their battles as conditions required. They
have attacked bad government on the lines locally laid
down by the circumstances.
They have redeemed Kentucky and Maryland so
braTely that Republicans have given up hope In both
States. In Missouri they have won back the large
cities. In Illinois they have made such gains that
they have ample reason for confidence over the out
come this fall. All these and other gains have been
made by Offering good government to the voters on
the issues developed by facts.
There will undoubtedly be this year the heaviest
Democratic gains seen for ten years. And no thanks
to the Jealous clamors of reorganzers and disorgan-
izers. The Democracy will simply do the duty Of the
hour. Wherever there Is a boodler, It win hit him.
Wherever the substance OF the people Is being wasted
by official spendthrifts, it win assault the intrench-
ments of the public enemy. On national issues it will
declare its allegiance to all the well-understood funda-
mental principles Of the party.
When these victorious elements Of the Democracy
come together for elaboration in the National Con-
ventiOn OF 1904, the platform and the nominees will
proceed from the cOunsels Of the State delegations and
not from the ukase of rival bosses.
Governor Stone recently addressed the Democratic
editors Of Indiana. He told them that the platform
could be conscientiously supported by any Democrat.
Yet a New Yorker must needs be a selfish and pre-
meditated brewer of strife for strifes sake IL he could
not accept the same platform. Nick Perrin, one Of the
old silver leaders Of Illinois, told The Republic last
week that the State platform was entirely satisfactory
70 him. Yet that platform could be Endorsed By every