Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-02-15
DEMOCRATIC POLICY.

UuUtiCdfiS LOT Wdut vi a ueIIulIe
political programme. When
the Republicans shall have a
thoroughlydefined political pro-
gramme of their own concern
ing the Philippines. Cuba, re-
ciprocity and other more or less
important questions that are de-
filming themselves on the horizon
they will have less cause to
complain of the Democrats.
With the entire Administration
and with both Houses of Con-
gress in control of the Republi-
cans, the only useful function
of the opposition is to criticise
the acts of the majority and to
thus prevent. as much as lies i'm
the power of minority, evils,
excuses and eXtravagances of
legislation and government. 1t
would be rather rash. not to say
absurd, to attempt to reconcile
and bring into harmony at this
time vast body of Democratic
opinion as to the shifting ten
denotes of the Republican party.
Besides the Democrats, there is
a large independent element of
the country whose sentiments
must be consulted when a poll
teal programme is to be defined
for gaining control of the Gov
eminent and administering it
on Democratic principles.
Whether for good or for evil.
parties are not apt to lose much
time in setting up their pro-
grammes. The Democratic
party was pretty eager to take
new departure in declaring
for Free Silver in 1896, and we
all know what became of it. In
100 the Democrats were not in
much of a hurry about Free
Silver; but they got once more
on the same platform in spite of
themselves, and consequently
drove away a large body of Re
publicans who were DESTROYS of
joining them against the Ad-
ministration. Events are more
potent than parties, and there
is no longer any danger of a re-
option of that disastrous pro-
gramme.
OF the good effect of wait
ing policy an example is nov
before the country. Without
the least pressure on the part of
the Democrats the bottom has
fallen out of the reciprocity
programme of the Republicans.
sy'common consent the talk of
{ reciprocity save as to Cuba
has ceased. Foreign nations
now recognize that no treaties
of commercial reciprocity will
be negotiated by the party in
power. Plenipotentiary kason's
sole occupation has at last
completely gone. In this stu
alton the Democrats will have
no longer to fight a phantom of
reciprocity, but will be impelled
to again concentrates their polit-
ical energies in behalf of free
trade. With no buffer of reci-
procity between protection and
free trade, the issue is once
more fairly joined.
While the policy of a minori-
ty is naturally u negative one
until the time is ripe for defining
apositive programme. the Dem
ocrats in Congress have no no
ton of lending themselves to
the purposes of Republican
faction. The beet sugar com
bination can get no Democratic
votes toutside of the Louisiana
delegation to thwart the liber-
al policy of the Administration
toward Cuba. Such a course
would be not merely factious
but violative of Democratic
principles On the other hand.
the Democrats would quite
cheerfully cooperate with any
body of moderate Republicans
I'm an effort to repeal the steel
schedule of duties, or To reduce
the barbarous duties on wool
aud woollens. Such body of
Republicans is not likely To ma
terialize in the present Con-
gfess, and the work of tariff
reform will be RENTED with
other issues to the program of
the Democracy. Before the end
of this session of Congress the
Republicans will have no rea-
son TO complain of the want of a
Democratic policy Philadelphia
Record.
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