Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-06-08
with his advice to the party that he
demOralized.

man thi .ketl, in his heart 50 is he"
If one sits down in a street car A"d over
hears a conversation between two men
he can very soon tell their sympathies,
and wi en- he knows their sympathi-s he
can guess the Mrgumen' tnev will use IN
support OF Their positions. The trouble
| with those who lead the reOrganizing
forces is that their sym pathies are wrong;
they look at every question from the
standpoint Of the capitalists. According
to their theory society is constructed from
the top--the capitalist is the great benne.
factor and the laborer ought to be an
attitude Of thankfulness for the opportu-
nifty to work. A mans sympathies con-
troll his position on every question which
he understands. A man may be misled,
and may ignorantly oppose those with
whom lie sympathizes, but he vii! not
knowingly do so.
While the editor of The Commoner
appreciates the generous advice given
him, his respect for the Republican COM
pels him to answer with the same frank
ness with which it has spoken. He is
not seeking leadership. Neither is he
concerned about his political position in
future years." no man is in position to do
his duty who is controlled by the ambi-
ton to be leader or who is always look.
ing out for his own political future. Leaf.
ership is not secured in that way neither
can one insure his political position in
future years by centering his thoughts
upon his own interests. Nominal lead.
ership in party is determined by the
action Of the conventio j, but leadership
in thought and in political action is en-.
tirely independent OF caucuses and con-
ventions. He leads who proposes the
wisest measures and defends them with
the strongest argument. No one can see
the truth who constantly gazes at him
SELF Those find truth who seek for it
who seek not casually or carelessly but
earnestly and constantly. The best evil
dence that one can give Of his faith in a
truth is to be willingly to suffer for it.
Christ gave utterance to principle Of
wide application when He said, "He
that findeth his life shall lose it, and he
who loses his life for my sake shall find
it." So it may be sad Of truth. He
whose only object is to save his own
political life will lose it, and will deserve
to lose it, but he who is willingly to lose
his life for the sake of cause or prin-
ciple, triumphs with the cause or prin-
ciple to which he adheres he grows with
it and enjoys the confidence OF those who
are welded to it. The advocates of the
Chicago and Kansas City platforms have
shown their willingness to suffer for theii
convictions. Why should they pretend
a confession of error when they believe
that they were right? Why pretend that
the issue is past, when it is still upon us,
and must remain? Why ignore for the
sake OF a few offices, il fierce conflict be-
twe cen money and manhood? Why delude
ourselves with the belief that real OF
even a nominal victory can be a sacrifice
of the peoples interest to the cold, ciue
and merciless dictation of monopolists
and magnates, in whom love Of money
has extinguished the feeling OF brother
hood.
: The Republican s reference to Jefferson
is an unfortunate one, for no man, moi
excepting jackson, was ever more con
sistent in his course or more tenaciousl,
held to fundamental principles. Jeffer
sons sympathies were with the people
, He was not only the defender of indivi
: dual liberty, religious liberty and self
: government, but he sounded the frs
note Of warning against monoplies
against banks of issue and against til,
: money power. lie was assailed by the
: aristocrats because he was democrat
was assaled 10y those who enjoyed specia
privileges because he believed in equa
right to all and special privileges to none
: and he himself said that he was denoun
, ced as maniac by the bankers becaus,
: lie opposed banks OF issue.
Gladstone may have changed parties
but HAT alone would not convict him O
changing his principles. The silver mel
who came to the democratic party in 1S9
insisted that they were maintaining thu
position that the republican party hat
maintained on the money question, an,
the anti-imperialsts who came to us il
1900 insisted that they were maintaining
the principles fot which the party ha,
stood.
$ Opportunism is a good or bad word
; according to its definition. Ii it means
, willingness on the part OF one to chang
/. his principles in order to compass indivi
Y dual success, it is most offensive word
. if it means that one employs new facts
q new incidents and new cohdti ms to Civ
e expression so his principles, it is an en-
tirely proper word. Every man an
e every party must utilize circumstance
3 and conditions to advance principles, blu
M MON or arfy CON iuStifv tho n ho ~ do,