The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-12
THURSDAY, NOV. IL, 1908.
THE MAJORITY SHOULD RULE.


The position of the Democrats in
congress with reference to the admin
istration's Panama policy illustrates
the present fault and danger of the
party. There is an honest difference
of opinion among its members. Some
of them believe that the so-called revo-
luton at Panama is really a repetition
of the Hawaiian affair; that the revo-
lutionists were privately instigated by
agents of the United States working
for the Panama canal ,company's inter
ests, but having the countenance and
support of the president and his adj
visers; and thats this government has
really been guilty of the crime of So
Letting and assisting the secession of
a part of the territory of friendly re-
public upon this continent. These
gentlemen are anxious to keep up an
attack upon the administration on the
lines of what they regard as a grievous
crime against our own policies and
our neighbours rights.
There are other Democrats who as
sincerely believe that no such course
should be adopted. They regard this
opposition as coming principally from
friends of the Nicaragua route, and in
spired by hope that it may now come
off victorious They say that the peo-
pie want the canal; that they are
practically unanimous about it; that
the best technical ability has decided
for the Panama route, and that this is
now available as it never was before
and never can be again through an
offered treaty with the republic of
Panama. They declare it to be a cues
ton of patriotism and decline to join
in any campaign of criticism.
Without taking Sides but merely
stating, as we have done, the opposino
views on this question, each of which
may be held in all honesty, we wish
to emphasize the Importance, even in
party of the fixed establishment of the
rule of the majority, and of a cheerful
acquiescence therein by the minority.
The Democratic party should vote and
act as unit in all matters coming be-
fore it at Washington. It should have
an honest and definite policy. That
policy should be decided upon in eau
Gus, after a free expression of opinion.
by a majority vote. The men whose
opinions are set aside should waive
them for the time and unite heartily
with the majority, in order that there
may be an effective Democratic oppo-
sition and real Democratic policy
1t is the absence of this agreement
that has made Democracy so long fu-
tile and impotent We have been beat
en- by our own discussions, and made a
minority by our own votes. Republic
ans have been wiser than we in this
particular They are more utterly at
variance today in matters of policy
than Democrats, but they get together
whenever it comes to a vote. They
fight out their differences among them
selves, and then present solid front
to the enemy. 1t is the only way Our
very institutions depend upon the prin-
ciple of majority rule. Not only the
triumph Of every political party, but
its actual existence as a vital force.
capable Of accomplishing anything,
depends on the submission of the mi
nority after fair trial of strength.
Otherwise, there is no such thing as a
party, but a mere aggregation of fac
tons, which can be brought together
only occasionally and with great diff
Guilty; and there is no policy, but mere