The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-08-25
A Dead Party.

A political party is supposed to DC
an organization of men formed and
maintained for the purpose Of uphold
ing certain political principles and the
accomplishment of political purposes in
accordance with those principles. Those
connected with it are supposed 10 be
III accord as to its principles and pui>
poses.
Every political party when it first
comes into ex stence answers to this
description. Every party begins by
adopting and publishing a political
creed and stating what it wishes TO
accomplish and inviting the political
people to accept its creed and join in
efforts to obtain its ends.
IL a new party triumphs and accom-
plishes its original purposes it may
move forward upon new ground, but
to deserve the support of those who
have contributed to its success it must
and usually will adhere to its original
principles, ard its new purposes must
and usually will be in harmony with
them.
So long as a party 2ursues this
course it will preserve its continuity,
its cohesion and its vitality. provided
those not in sympathy with its newly
declared purposes withdraw and seek
other affiliations more congenial.
AS party grows older many adhere
10 it for what it has been or from
force of habit or from the moral cow
ardice which fears the cry of rene
gade." or some other political equiv
alent Of the labor union epithet Of
''scab." raised by those who approve
of the new departure and seek TO
bully other people into its support.
In some cases the new departures
are of the most homogeneous kinds.
many of them at variance with t.
original principles of the party N
with all decent principles. and th=
party itself becomes a medley of the
most diScOrdant elements and quite
incapable of coherent action if in
trusted with power.
This is pre-eminently the case with
the Democratic party. Originally the
fundamental article Of its creed was
democracy representative govern
ment ''of the people, by the people and
for the people" Before the Civil War
Il had so far abandoned that article
that it in effect denied to people OF
the african race all right to share in
their own government, and it was left
for a Republican President 10 formu-
late the doctrine in the words just
quoted.
The party abandoned that article
which alone gave it vitality. at the die
tation Of its Southern leaders During
the Civil War its Northern leaders re-
fused to restore the creed and the
party because further discredited
After the war the Northern leaders
80 shaped their course as TO invite the
Southern whites to join the party OF
masse and their invitation was &C
cepted.
Even with the aid OF the solid South
1t failed to coed. and so its leaders
began biddi for the votes of all sorts
of cranks--ci rency crauks. Populistit
cranks and every other kind except
the comparatively respectable kind
which made war on whisky.
Thus the party lost all of its Demo
cratic principles and character ant
became all that was undemocratic. L
became hostile to government of th'
people by any but white people, ant
insisted that the white people Souti
should do more of the governing thar
the white people North. 1t fought tn
anti-slavery amendments. 1t sought t.
ruin the public credit and disgrace tn,
country by debasing the currenc,
and repudiating United States bonds
1t attracted TO itself the dis
reputable and lawless classes Of til,
cities and the strike bosses who wer'
ready to support any party whicl
would give them q free hand to Stu:
and murder ''scabs' and trample upol
The rights of the public and violentl,
assail the peace and wel[being of so
ciety.
The party ceased to be the Demo
cratic party in anything but name AM
became a loose aggregation Of all tn
bad elements Of society. having moth
ing IN common except lust Of the spoil
of Office and desire to break down
some at one place and some at an
other, the restraints OF law and o
rightful authority.
II has become party which Out
RACES the name OF Democracy by TAX
ing it in vain ard which is not desery
ing Of anything but overwhelming de
feat and utter destruction.
The Democratic party no longer eS
lists. The disreputable party which ha
stolen its name and is using 1t for bas
purposes must necessarily be abar
doned by every respectable citizen VIII
perceives its true character and is nc
deceived by a name and by memorie
of the excellent things to which II wa
once applied.-Chicag Chronicle.
Bryan, the Socialist.
William ]. Bryan says that II Pari
er is elected. imperialism and IN
race issue will be settled and the Den
ocratic party will have time to tax
IN economic problems Then he di
cusses some OF these problems as b
understands them and as he wants h
Democracy TO act on them
He favors state ownership OF raj
roads rather than government owne
ship. scheme so wildly impractic
os RI arouSe cI1SDiciO1 of Rrvan,c Si-