The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-28
GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE DEMOCRACY
Representative Richardson Says
Party Has Not Had So Good
Chance in Many Years.
CONDITIONS PREsAGE VICTORY
Money Question No Longer Disor-
ganizing Factor, and All Sec
lions United on Funda-
mental Principles.
The Republic Bureau.

I'LL 81 anu FcilQsylVdul1 avg.
washington, Dec. H.-Perhaps there Il
no man in Congress in position to dis
cuss political questions from more i'm
partial point of view than Representative
James D. Richardson Of Tennessee, who
for years has been Democratic leader
In the House. Mr.. Richardson, who, as
the supreme commander Of the Southern
Jurisdiction of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rites Masons. is the most exalt-
ed Mason in America, will voluntarily re-
tire from Congress and from political life
at the end of his present term. He cher
ishes no political ambitions, he says, and
never expects to hold another political Of
flee. He is a Democrat and hopes for the
success Of the Democratic party, but per-
sona1 ambition need no longer be taken
| into account when he talks of matters
political.
II do not believe there has been a time
in the past dozen years." he said to-day.
when the Democratic party was in better
condition to enter on a campaign, or when
its prospects Of winning the presidency APP
peared brighter. A majority Of the white
people of the United States are Democrats
and want to see Democratic principles trf-
umph.
PARTY REUNITED.
Democrats are now where they were
before the split on the money question.
! There is no division Of belief on the cardi-
nal doctrines of the party. The money
| question is not an issue and will not be
| an issue In next years campaign. The
unprecedented and wholly unexpected pro-
| duction of gold has cured the ills from
which the country was suffering In 1885
and cured them In the way in which the
Democratic party said they only could be
| cured-by Increasing the supply Of pri-
| mary money.
''Our present prosperity resulting from
an increased volume of money, In my
opinion, is vindication of the Demo-
Doctrines upon which all Democrats
can stand are busnesslike economy in
| public expenditures opposition to the
| autocratic rule of the present dynasty of
the White House and honesty in our
| foreign relations The latter Is especially
! important. We should deal honestly with
other nations; that We may remain at
war brought on by strenuosity and jim
| goism in our foreign intercourse.
| 1T is one of the natural laws Of poll
| tics that defeats consolidate party.
| while continued successes disintegrate It.
! The party out Of power has neither the
| enforcement of public policies nor the
distribution Of patronage to breed dis s.
power has both. This Is the law that
brings about changes in control of the
Government at intervals, varying in ac-
| remained in continuous control of the
| American Government for relatively
great length of time and the Republican
party will not.
! of Democratic opportunity and. with the
right man as the nominee for President
on platform of sound Democratic prin-
| ciples, a majority of the American peo-
pie win again demonstrate their Democ-
racy.'