The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-03-13
THE TEST OF DEMOCRACY.

xvara nossibIe. he would be more &C
cepta Ole 10 the monopolies than any
republlcan that could be named
What mookery to talk about harmon
ixng with him or those who worship
at his shrine.
M matter what question is con-
sidered. whether tariff. money, trusts.
in,nerialisu or the labor question. the
sa me PRINCIPLES must be applied ana
fine democratic party must meet them
Ali and ON all Of them deal fairly ana
honestly with the people.
Even ON the low plane OF expediency
snccess cannot be won by aping re-
publican policies and methods. With
= marty as with an Individual, charac-
FER is all important, and what the
Democratic party needs today more
than recruits is to get rid of those so
called democrats who use the demo
cratic name as cloak while they carry
ont undemocratic designs. They repei
honest seekers after good government
because their record is such that their
very presence in the party casts sus-
picion upon the purity or the party J
motives. The democratic party must
stand for democratic ideals and 1T must
an, democratic principles TO all ques
tions regardless of the prospect OF tne
temporary victory or the danger Oh
temporary defeat.
II must invite the confidence OF
those who want good government ana
are willing to have the government
administered for tue beneht or the
whole people. Instead OF trying 60
make the democratic party so much
like the republican party that we
snail get a few republicans by mistake,
LET as make it so different from the
republican party that we shall get
MANY republicans by design-repuD-
licans who turn from the mammon-
serving leaders of that party and seek
a party that puts the man before tne
dollar. When we gain such recruits
the party will be strengthened both III
lumber and in purpose. The repub-
tican party cannot long conceal lts
deoeneracy. The commercialism that
now dominates will so degrade it that
there will be a revolt. The protection
lists in the party Will not allow any re-
! vision Of the tariff, the hnanciers are
becomiup more and more exacting,
the trust magnates insolent by refusing
TO hermit any effective legislation, ano
Philippine syndicates continue to de-
mand that their pecuniary ventures
shall be made profitable at the expense
of the American people. This cannot
last always. Republican conscience
and republican Judgment must hnaiiy
protest, and to what party can repuDn
cans turn for relief3 Let us make
the democratic party their hope ana
their reliance. Let us prove its right
to their support by giving assurance
that it has the courage to ngnt any
the strength to resist temptation. Lei
ms make the word democracy STAND Iol
positive and aggressive principles.
Let it apply to citizens who are unter
ritied and lncorruptlble. Let IL Dc Sc
holy a name that none will assume II
who lack sympathy with the struggIlhs
masses or who are unwilling TO trus,
the people with the management "
their own affairs The democratle
banner may be an inspiration anu al
aid to those who are not in full mar
mony with all the party's purposes,
but that banner cannot be placed III
the hands of men about whose democ
racy there ls any question AS
| a church so in q party, the organiAa-
| tion must be in the control OF tnose
who are strongest in the faith ana
whose lives are a living creed.
If our party will but maintain lts
integrity and convince the country OF
| its steadfastness of purpose, the nag OF
the party will yet be placed beside the
flag of the Union and the words de
mocracy'' and republic will be re-
cognlzed throughout the world as rep
resenting liberty, self government ana
justice.