Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-13

low, | have no doubt. But if / were
to be given one sentence in which to
answer the question, What are the
needs of democracy l would say
More Jackson and if l were allotted
two sentences in which to answer the
question, / would add, and more
Jackson banquets in Ottumwa.'
II feel that this is So large a subject
and that l am so young democrat
| not in vote but in years, that feel I'M
able to undertake framing an answer
to it, but from my standpoint, the
greatest need of democracy at the
present time is organization and more
workers. We need to take more in
terest in our party and we need to
work for its interests at all times and
in all places" Mr.. Reese concluded
his remarks with comic story, which
was entertaining and to the point.
Hon. j. j. Smith.
Ex-senator j. J. Smith spoke an the
value of Minority" He said:
1T is generally admitted that polit-
| ical parties are inseparable from re-
publican institutions. At least two
parties seem to be indispensable to
the security of a wise and prudent
course in the management of public
affairs. 1t follows, therefore, that
there must be a majority party and a
| minority party. But as the will of
the majority is the controlling power
we are apt to underestimate the value
of the minority; in fact it is generally
considered as having no value. The
| majority receives full credit for that
| which it does wisely, but the minority
little or no credit for the follies which
1T prevents and the abuses which ii
| exposes. l am inclined to look upon
the minority party as most valuable
| factor in the proper and successful
conduct of public affairs, not because
of any affirmative act for in this it is
| powerless, but in the negative infiu-.
ence which it exerts over the majority
while the majority is enacting
laws, conducting public interests
managing public business and expend-
ing the public money, the minority
stands as sentinel, watchful, vigil.
liant, and ever ready when occasion
demands, to sound an alarm and pre-.
vent an injury to the public welfare OF
the public rights.
In the legislative halls of the state
and the nation the minority has al.
ways eNerted strong influence in
preventing unjust and unwise legisla-
ton and in restraining improper and
extravagant expenditures of public
money. My friend, Senator McIntire
could better speak from personal ex
perience on this subject than | con.
"It was not my privilege when in
/ the legislature to be a member of eth
er majority or minority party. The
house of representatives of the Tween
ty-third general assembly, of which
was member, was equally divided
! politically and consequently for six
weeks remained in deadlock, neither
party being able to organize the house
until compromise was finally reach
ed. During this period the members
arrayed like two standing armies, rest
ed on their arms, so to speak, sicl
members were carried into the hal
and lay on cots SO that the opposite
side could obtain no advantage b,
their absence.
4 Upon entering the senate two year.
later | encountered another deadlock
and for two weeks that body remain
cd unorganlzed on account of an equa
division, when liberal republican
senator came to our side and enabled
us to effect an organization. Thus
standing, as did, in an equally divid
ed house and senate, | cannot give
from experience any of the practica
i benefits which flow from the minority
4 For forty-two years the democratic
party has been practically the great
minority party. In 1876, it is true, we
elected Samuel ]. Tilden, who was
counted out through fraud, and Ruth
erford B. Hayes permitted to fill tbs
office of president. In 1884 we elect
ed Grover Cleveland and a majority o.
the house of representatives but the
senate was republican by majority
OF one. -Four years later Cleveland
was defeated but elected in 1892 witt
a democratic majority in both houses
This was the first time in thirty
two years hat the democratic party
had control of all branches of The
government. This continued, howev
er, for only two years when democrat
ic majority was replaced by a repub
lican majority. With the exception
of this two years in forty-two years tn,
democratic party has either been tn,
minority party or in a position which
disabled it from the complete contro
of the policy of the government. Dur
ing its long period of repeated defeat.
: prediction has followed prediction
that the end of this historic and con
stitutional party was near at hand
But it has survived every defeat will
renewed strength and vigor, provint
: that place and power are not necessa
: ry to sustain sound political part.
!, which is founded upon enduring prin
ciples.
''The past quarter of a century ha
witnessed the rise and fall of man
political organizations. Their wrowt
in some instances was rapid but thei
decline was equally so, because the
were founded in error. No party ca
endure for any great length of tim
nor reach any large degre of GREATNESS
unless founded ON correct principles
The democratic party, although m
nority party for forty-two years, ha
been powerful exponent of wise pc
litical doctrine 1t has bravely stoo
! the test of repeated defeats because
has noble mission to accomplish. ]
has ever been the guardian of tn
constitution and the advocate of equs
rights to all and special privileges t
none, and SO long as constitutions
. government shall exist the Democrat