The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-06-18
The TOuChStOne Of Democracy.

4 - thNAohtts " hocfNA Az hiog o's
These meddlers and marplots are Of
two kihds-republieans who begin to
fear that Roosevelt is a reincarnation
oiBrysn, and pseudo-democrats who
believe, or affect to believe, that wis.
dom will die with their idol.
We need hardly say that the choice
will not lie with these officious pa,
triots who, by their own account, en-.
acted the role of Brutus in the cleo
lions OF 1896 and 1900. 1t is the
merest dream to imagine that sack
cloth and ashes will be the garb OF the
six millions who voted for the
Nebraskan in both those memorable
contests. Rather is it to be suppos-
ed that this great electorate will
think and act for itself. II history
has any lesson on such points, we
must infer that the republican party
will become more republican, and
that the democratic party will be-
come more democratic, us the years
roll on.
AS matter OF fact, the differences
between the rival organizations are
congenital, and pierce to the very
marrow OF their being A ianatical
lover of the Hub once declared that
Boston is not a place, but state of
mind. 1t may likewise be affirmed
that republicanism and democracy
are not mere badges to be worn or
discarded at pleasure, but are habits
OF thought which draw thinkers in
opposite directions, just as the CEN
tripetal and centrifugal forces draw
materialt things toward or away from
the earth's center. This view OF the
case is exceedingly well put by Mr..
Bryan in a letter which he has re
Gently addressed to the New York In
dependent: "The difference upon the
money question, among those who
understoodit, was not so much diff
ference OF opinion as a difference OF
sympathies, and that difference ex
lists to day as it did then" This is
but another way of saying that
leopard is to be recognized by his I'M
changeable spots.
1t is indeed perfectly true that the
silver question, terribly importantin
itself, was but one item of a long
program; for the characterization of
the white metal, stripped Of all
technicalities, simply stood Tor the
capitalists eternal hunger after the
unearned increment. So, too, advo-
Gates OF prohibitive tariff seek an
unfair advantage, and lovers of gov.
eminent by Injunction would prosti
tute public powers to private ends.
Between these believers in utterly op-
posite creeds there can be neither
compromise nor reconciliation The
great gulf is fixed in human nature
and will endure to the last syllable of
recorded time. The struggle oi1904
will turn upon the old issues, though
they be modified as to outward form.
For our own part, we care little
about the personality OF the demo-
cratic nominee, provided only that
he represents the principles for which
the party must fight, il it is to have
the slightest claim to the suffrages
OF the American people. At the coun-
cil-board OF the first president there
sat two masteriul men who embodi
ed ideas which are coeval with the
race itself. Hamilton's name is
synonymous with privileges and cen
tralization administration, while DE-
fArson's renown rests upon his de
Tense of the many against the few.
lfthose pre-eminent statesmen should
return to the land of the living, they
would find no difficulty in aligning
themselves on the controversies OF
this generation.
The trimmer may perform useful
function in periods of dead calm
when the ship OF state is in the dol
drums and therefore n eds no reso-
lutte helmsman. 1t is not so when
the huge craft is in the straits, men-
aced by breakers and storm-clouds.
In that event, there is supreme need
for a navigator whose vision is keen,
whose nerves are OF steel and whose
knowledge OF the chart is without a
haw M frosh watar sailor In IN no