The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-26
TIE POLITICAL OUTLOOK
As Viewed in Washington by Hen
rY Watterson.
Correspondence

Correspondence of the Courier
Journal.
III.
THE DEMOCRATIC ISSUE AND
OPPORTUNITY.
It is easier for a Democrat to see
and describe the Republican dilemma
than for Democrats to take advantage
of it.
One must know Washington very we'll
to comprehend how hard at ali times
it is for the public men of either party
0 get together. Several obstacles
need to be overcome; certain jeal-
ousy, eyermore or less existent, be-
tween House and Senate; certain
reluctance to make personal conces-
sions, sometimes involving sacrifices; !;
q certain lack Of the essential ele-
ments of she initiative-to say nothing
about individual rivalries and other
frictions-make the party caucus at
the very best an exceedingly ugly beast
to bride and saddle, to mount and to
ride.
In the case of a party in opposition
80 divided as TO opinions, and, as
consequence of reverses incident to
factionism. so wanting in discioline-
tactical movement is bound to be
weighted By every manner of handi-
cap.
There are all sorts and conditions Of
Congressman, as Of other mortals.
Washington is at best a kind OF whis-
pering gallery The politicians are, as
it we're, shut up in walled town.
They get news from the world outside
By balloon chiefly, or by carrier
pigeon M. Marconi will come along
presently with his wireless telegraph
and make it all right. Every states
man can then be his own organ, hav-
ing subcurrent into each mock and
corner of his State or district, with
fresh supply of inspiration day in and
day ont, instead of relying on the old
cold-storage system of dry bones and
dead languages, likely to rattle and
sure to grow rank for the want of
light and air.
It's not too much to say that Dem
oerats are abnormally shy of afirma
tions that do not run along conyen-
tional ruts. Moderate counsels are
apt to be suspected of timidity, where
not accused OF disloyalty. One would
fancy that we have had SO much ad
versity sa result of self-confdent ex-
tremism that bombast would rate at
a discount. And so it does among
thoughtful Democrats. But there is
always superstition in favor OF ultra
partyism. Then there is the vanity
of s,elf-assertion. To some minds it
is delightful to prance round in paint
and feathers-to dance the war dance
and it is SO easy. Yet, has this sort
of Democratic party leader aourished
the lions skin, until, if it be not
worn out, it is yet so full of rents that
we may not be able to make it whole
again by piecing it out with the foz's.
There is Mr. Fox German. And
again, there is Mr. Fox Hill. But as
sure as either offers to furnish the
needful patching some ore speaks up
and exelaims against his foxship;
declares him no fox at all, but only
gray wolf of Republican in disguise.
We need not impugn the history OF
critics of this description to doubt
their wisdom. Their idea of party
warfare is to meet every Republican
assertion with an indiscriminate denial
or a vehement denunciation. They
would make the distance between the
two parties so great as to place them
out Of sight and range, and even at
that rate, they would seem to prefer
for their weapons bows and arrows to
powder and ball Meanwhile, it is as
true now. as ever it was tdat political
battles are gained chiefly on one or
two simple issues, plainly stated and
visible to the naked eye, driving home
TO the actual business and bsooms Of
men. nor ever departing very far from
the highways of public affairs, govern
ment itself being largely an affair OF
compromises.
In this category I take no account
of the man who would wreck his party
to plaeate the noisy elements OF his
own constituency, nor the man who
would rather smell foul than not to
smell AZ all. Ours is still Govern
ment of pnblic opinion, thank God;
and in the long run these things cor
rect themselves. It is merely provok-
49, Dopooor,t;o ,,o rtv bac