New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-08
"sAFE AND SAVE, DEMOCRACY.

According to the dcta of some Of our
esteemed contemporaries. we are 10 have once
more safe and sane" opposition. The Demo
cratic party, they contend, has purged itself OF
its errors and folles. 1t has cast off the Dor
rowed raiment of Populism 1t has made an
open confession Of its sins and is now ready TO
bring forth works meet for repentance. Ac
cOrding 10 some optmists, its reformation has
actually gone far enough to fit ii for once more
assuming the responsibilities OF government
There is 10 exact agreement as to the complete
ness Of the rehabilitation already effected. 1.-THE
New-York Times" seems to think that Demo
cratic sanity and responsibility can be re-estab-
lished by an abandonment, open or tacit, OF free
silver coinage heresy. THE Evening Post" IS
more pessimlstic and more eIacting. It wants
that recantation TO be lin clear voice, IN other
days in the case Of the partys greenback
"heresies or its heresies regarding the amend
"ments to the Constitution" But Democratic
Eeresies regarding the amendments TO the Con-
stltutiOn are in as full and active growth
as they ever were. With its we'll known views
on the South's attitude toward the negro, per-
haps 1.-THE Post" probably considers a fresh re-
cantation of those heresies, too, prerequisite
TO any final discharge in lunacy proceedings.
Yet the conclusion is generally jumped at that
on one count or another, the Democratic party
has been so discharged. 1t is 10 live a sober and
virtuous life hereafter, and TO practise no poll
cies not warranted harmless and "conserva-
tive" victory for its candidates and prin-
ciples will mean nothing and hurt nobody, be-
cause its programme is to be trimmed down so
as TO offend no ones susceptbities and fn1ure
no ones interests. AS Representative John
Sharp Williams said at st. Louis, the Demo
cratic party is going to truckle hereafter to "ac
complished facts" 1t is not going TO run
amuck." 1t will accept the gold standard be-
cause it can find no excuse for not accepting IT,
1t may decide TO reduce tariff rates, but 1t
will not make the mistake committed by the
trainers Of the Wilson German tariff of reduc-
ing them below the margin Of safety. It's tariff
will provide sufficient revenue for the support
of the government and "a safe working margin
for contingencies which cannot be foreseen."
The Democratic party Will restore the Amert-
can merchant marine. Yet Il will not resort to
bounties or TO additional taxation to accomplish
this revival 1t will stradde the question Of
Imperialism and militarism by favoring an en-
largement OF the navy and reduction of the
army. 1t will denounce the Presidents policy
IN acquiring title in Panama, but will applaud
the digging Of n canal under that title. 1t will
proclaim its purpose TO restrain and curb the
trusts, but its respect for State rights and
Jeffersonian tradition will not allow It to lay q
correcting finger on any combination thought
full enough to shelter its operations under a
charter granted by q sovereign State Like
Bottom, the new opposition will roar, but il
will roar on all questions discreetly, "as gently
as any sucking dove"
This sort Of opposition may be safe and
sane; but is it really desirable or useful? The
business Of an opposition is to oppose-and TO
oppose with vigor, candor and thoroughness 1t
should take issue with the party in power at
every vital point, and spare no energy in press
Ing home its criticisms. 1t cannot oppose con-
servatism by being itself conservative The
Democratic party can never defeat its great
rival by practising a feeble imitation of Repub-
licanism. AS founded by jefferson and de-
velOped by Jackson, the Democratic organfza-
ton was frankly and boldly radical. It's normal
aims, impulses and functions are those Of a
radical party; and when It ceases to be radical
ii ceases to be truly Democratic In becoming
''safe and sane" the opposition is in danger Of
becoming mummified and impotent Con
sentative Democracy" is a misnomer, paradox
We cannot share the idea that in abandoning
radicalism for so-called conservatism" the on
position enhances its usefulness or broadans
its influence. We cannot prefer an opposition
OF straw TO an opposition of blood and bone
even though that blood and bone be fe< on the
meat and drink of a mistaken, though honest.
ladicalism.