Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-17
Democratic Principles.

out in Michigan, the other day, the
following creed of 10 articles was
drawn up and solemnly subscribed to
as embodying the historical prin-
ciples" of the party. The fact that the
articles are 10 in number is not with
out significance in view of the recent
misfortunes of the Democracy. Here
is the list:
IA revision of the tariff.
2-No special privileges-no boun-
ties.
"a curbing of the trusts and
greedy corporations.
4-Home rule in the broadcast sense.
ELECTION of United States senator
by the people.
6-The initiative and the referendum.
Public ownership and control of
semi public utilities.
S-Trial in all cases by jury. ::
against government by injunc-
ton.
10-No territory by conquest.
11-Equal rights to all under our
flag.
12-No colonial government.
13-No imperial tendencies.
To those who have held, as the re-
suit of studying Democratic history,
that the party has been one of Mega
ton, opposition and fault finding,
rather than one of positive and perma
nent principles, it will come as great
surprise to learn that such a list can
be formulated. 1t will be noted by the
most casual observer that the list is re-
markable for what it omits rather than
for what it contains. Where is free
silver which was the great principle"
| for which it battled in two national
campaigns? And if it comes to an
enumeration of the Democratic prin-
ciples which are really historic, why
should slavery and states rights be
| left out? And in view of the purchase
| of Louisiana by Jefferson and the lat
er Democratic declaration in favor of
| the acquisition of Cuba, why is not
expansion included in this historical
| catalogue?
AS to the 10 articles in this list, any
body who knows the political history
of the United States knows that ar
| ticles 5, 6, Z, 9, 10, IL and IL are not
found in the record of Democracy eth
err as principles or in practice. Articles
5, 6, and 9 are taken bodily from the
Populist creed, and only became Dem
ocratic principles when the Democracy
swallowed Populism or when Popu-
lism swallowed Democracy-opinion
differ as to which really happened. II
was pretty nervy business to insert ar
ticle 3 in the list, in view of the Demo-
cratic congressional record on trust
| legislation and in view of present Re-
| publican activity on this line. Article
S is a general principle of the law and
is in no sense the property of Demo
cracy. Article 10 was evidently insert
ed with blind trust that the reader
would forget the early record of Dem
ocracy. AS to article II, it is notorious
that every Democratic president for
half a century denied the principle of
equal rights under our flag.
Article IL takes no note of the fact
that since Alaska was acquired, third
of a century ago, colonial government
to all intents and purposes has been
maintained there without a word of
protest from the Democracy, and that
in the District of Columbia itself such
form Of government has existed for a
century, to as great degree, at least.
| as it does now in the Philippines or
Porto Rico. Article 13 is simply gen.
eral principle of Republican govern
| ment to which every party since the
| formation of the Union has subscribed,
| and none more sincerely and consist
| emily than the Republican party of to-
day. The men who struggle to draw
up a list of Democratic principles
should read up more on history and
make an attempt to shake off the fatal
hypnotism of Popuism. To read this
list is to laugh.
The New Missouri Senator.
During his nrnminence in national