The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-06-26

honor. Those Of us less prominent in
the party-the rank and flle-are long
ing to be led through old democratic
ways to old democratic victories. We
were never more ready to do enthusi-
astic battle than now, If we can only be
alshalled outside the shadow OF pre-
destined defeat. Is it too much to ask
our leaders to avoid paths that are
known to lead to disaster? Is it too
much to ask that proven errors be aban-
doned and that we are delivered from
body of death, and relieved from the
burden of issues which have been kill
ed by the DEGREES of the American peo-
pie? Ought we not to be fed upon
something better than the husks of de-
feat? If these questions are met in an
honest, manly fashion, 1 believe it will
be productive of the best kind of dem.
ocratic harmony.
DEALING WITH THE NEW ISSUES.
SIN dealing with new issues we of the
democratic faith are extremely FORUM
ate in the simplicity of democratic
standards and the ease with which new
questions can be measured by those
standards. A party based upon care
for the interests of all the people as
their aggregate condition demands,
with no unjust favoritism for any par
ticular class; party devoted to the
plan of popular government as our fa-
thers ordained it and for the purposes
which they sought to establish; party
whose conservatism opposes dangerous
and un-American experiments aud yet
puts no barrier in the way of genuine
and safe progress, ought to be able to
deal with new questions in a manner
quite consistent with democratic doc
trine, and stimulating to democratic
impulses and instincts.
"Let us not forget, however, that it
is not in the search of new and gaudy
issues, nor in the Interpretation of
strange visions that a strong and
healthy democracy displays its splen-
did power. Another party may thrive
on the ever-shifting treatment of the
ever-shifting moods of popular restless
ness, or by an insincere play upon un-
reasoning prejudice and selfish antici-
patton, but the democratic party never.
Democracy has already in store the
doctrines for which it fights its success
full battles and it will have them as long
as the people are kept from their own,
and just as long as their rights and in
terests are sacrificed, by favoritism in
government care, by inequality in gov
ernment burdens, by the encourage
ment of huge industrial aggregationa
that throttle individual enterprises, by
the reckless waste of public money,
and by the greatest of all injuries as il
underlies nearly all others, a system OF
tariff taxation whose robbing exactions
are far beyond the needs of economical
and legitimate government expendi.
tunes, which purchases support by ap
peals to sordidness and greed and
which cotinually corrupts the publil
conscience.
"What but infatuation with the Wis
age of defeat can explain the subordi
nation of these things by democrat
when they prepare for battle?
"If We are to have
A REHABILITATION
and realignment of our party in th
sense suggested, it is important that
be doue openly and with no mystery o
double meaning. Our people are TO
much on the alert to accept political de
liverances they do not understand; an
! the enthusiasm of The democratic ran
and file does not thrive Oh mystery.
"The democratic harmony of whic
we hear so much, can not be effectivel
constructed by mathematical rule nc
by formal agreement on the part {
those who have been divided, that ther
! shall be harmony. 1t grows up nat,
, rally when true democratic principle
: are plainly announced, when democra
: ic purposes are honestly declared, ant
) when as result OF these, confident
, and enthusiasm stir the democrat
J blood. 1t was such harmony as thi
I growing out of such conditions whiC
) with the battle cry of Tilden and r
D form gave us the democratic victory
1876 against odds great enough to di
= courage any but harmonious demo
D racy, and against an opposing for
; brazen and desperate enough to tai
! from us by downright robbery what Il
: voters of the land gave to us.
> 81 believe the times point to anoth
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY
, as near at hand, but l believe we shi
, reap the fruits of it only by followil
= the line of conduct have indicated.
: any event have comforting a.
. abiding faith in the ;ndestructibility
; the party which has SO many tim
: shown its right to live and its pow
= for good, and AIN sure the reserve
> patriotic democratic wisdom will
: - =.B Awgn