The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-07-25
An Address Before the New England
Democratic League. ..
URGES CONTROLLING PURPOSE
Speaker Declares That There Can
Be No Personal or Permanent
Alienation Between Those who
Are Truly Democratic.

| III view Oh the numerous harmony
dinners and the discord they have Gre
ated, it may not be out of place to
consider the basis of harmony. Har-
mony in government is the result of
fixed and Interchangeable rules. Jeffer-
son states two of these rules-namely,
| absolute acquiescence in the will of
the majority and frequent elections.
| The second aids the first by giving
| hope of a remedy from present ills,
| however grievous. If he were living
| today, his observation would probably
| suggest a third rule-namely, the as
certainment of the will of the major
| ity by methods so direct. so fair and
| so honest that the minority cannot
doubt that will has been actually ex-
| pressed.
Jefferson also laid down the rules
| by which, and by which alone, real
harmony can be secured within
a party. 1 say real harmony, for that
harmony cannot be considered worthy
of the name which, like the harmony
temporarily existing between the con
fidence man and his victim, is employ
ed for deception and injury.
There can always be harmony
among Democrats who have the pur-
pose that Jefferson had and are will
ing to employ the methods that JEFF
ferson employed. There can always
be harmony among Democrats who
believe in a government of the people
and are willing that all the depart
ments of the government shall be OPP
Grated by the people and for the ben
eft of the people. Differences of the
mind can be reconciled; differences of
purpose cannot. Between one who
is at heart an aristocrat and one who
is in reality Democrat there is a
great gulf fixed. And, it may be add
ed, among the aristocrats there will be
found the same division that exists
among the beasts of prey-some have
the courage of the lion and others the
cunning and treachery of the fox, but
they can hunt together if their OBJ
ject is spoil, whether it be avowed or
concealed.
Cannot Remain at Odds.
Between those really Democratic in
purpose there can be no personal or
permanent alienation, because, having
no Interior motives, they are open to
arguments and amenable to reason;
being honest in purpose. they have
confidence in the triumph of their
cause and are content to employ hon
est methods. They will neither con-
spire against others nor against each
other. If they make mistakes in judg-
ment, as all are liable to do, they are
not only willing, but anxious to cor
rect their mistakes.
ITO attempt to patch up an apparent
harmony between those who are not
in sympathy with Democratic purposes
is not only a waste of time, but would
prove disastrous. The men who de-
serted the party in 1896 may be di-
vided into two classes-those who left
because they understood the issue pre-
scented and those who left because they
did not understand the real nature of
the contest Until the former are com
pletely changed in their Sympathies
they cannot return to the party with
out injuring it. The latter will be
reconciled to the party when they
themselves become aware of the real
character of the life and death struggle
now being waged between plutocracy
and Democracy. l say plutocracy be-
cause the aristOcracy of today is one
of wealth rather than of birth, and it
includes not only those who have been
alienated from the common people by
the possession of great wealth, but
those who. although without wealth.
pander to il andWieasure all things by
Il money standard.
Must Have Controlling Purpose.
"The Democratic party must have a
controlling purpose, unchanged by vic
tory or defeat it must stand for that
purpose at all times and everywhere
unmoved by threats and disaster and
uninauenced by promise of temporary
gain. 1t must have a character, for
character is as essential in a party as
it is in an individual No one win trust
an unstable man or one so without
principle that his position upon any
moral question cannot be guessed in
advance. Neither will the people trust
a party that is willing to write into its
platform today anything to catch a
few votes or strike out of its platform
tomorrow anything that will ALLEVIATE a
few votes.
Not by surrender, not by compro-
mise. not by equivocation, not by am
biguity, not by vacillation is the victory
to be won. but by bold, constant, per
sistent steadfast defense of the inter
ests of the people at all times, under
all circumstances and on all questions.
To lose faith in the eXpediency of such
a course is to lose faith in the omnipo-
tence of truth. Upon this basis we
cannot only harmonic all who are
Democratic in sentiment and sympa-
thy, but we can draw to our party
those of the opposition who cherish
Democratic ideals, but have been mis-
led by Republican arguments
The occasion of Mr.. Bryan's speech
was the first banquet given by the re-
Gently organized New England Demo
cratic league. There We're several 9th
er notable speakers, including Senator
Carmack and Edward Nj. Shepard
start ON Irrigation.