Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-02

dergoing a transition stage. The two
terms OF Cleveland were partly the re-
suit OF tariff agitation, and partly a
protest against Republican corruption.
The election of Mckinley was owing
10 no more Intelligent reason than there
had been hard times under Cleveland.
Bryan, the Democratic candidate,
was supported by the friends OF pater-
nalistic schemes which utterly conflict
ed with the doctrines Of Jefferson.
Free silver Is now known to have
been only q confusing and remarkable
incident Of the new development OF
American political parties as separated
by definite and logical principle.
The Democratic party VAS conceived
In the study OF the science of govern
ment by "A group OF great Nirginians-
men OF classical education and private
fortune. Later II wal dominated by
the idea Of a slave-owning chlyalry,
Its original impetus was confused and
| dispersed by the hatred that culminat-
| ed In the civil war, Shattered by the
consequences of a war-a conflict which
It's founders foresaw and strove TO fore
stall--the Democratic party has been
the victim of circumstances and "Op-
portunIsm." 'Opportunlsm' Is a good
European word for taking advantage
of anything that promises temporary
, success.
| OF late years the old timers and the
| "opportunists" have rent the party. II
| got somewhat mixed with a new party
| of unstable character (the Popullst, or
Peoples party, and the result OF de-
feat, d"issension and opposition to the
Republican party for oppOsitlon's sake,
has been To make the Democracy SIM
ply the anti. Republican party
Az a great Democrat remarked, Bit
terly. I'VE are all Republicans, now
adays, or anti Republicans
But that was under Mckinley, the
great Conciliator. His death brought
confusion,
CIyn service is an excellent illustra-
ton OF the futillty Of trying TO gauge
modern politics by the past. Today
civil service reform tthe antithesis of
"To the yictors belong the spoils'l ls
occepted by the people generally, NO
body "a afraid that clvil service VIII
build up an office holding ~aristocracy'
jefferson WAS concerned. AS much ms
about anything, with preventing an
office holding class He was an enemy
OF a%ristocratlc government, which was
one of the evils OF his day and age IN
England and Europe. Today It's not
aristrocratic government that Is feared,
for It has ceased to be a possibility In
America, but We are concerned about
the domination Of government by the
plutOcracy OF wealth,
Another vital and d%eep-rooted Issue.
about which politics rcyolyed, and from
which sprang many controversies, was
slavery. II Is plain that drawing paral-
lcls today with the words and policies
on men who We're actuated by their
feelings about slavery IL not n fair
comparison.
II Is attempted TO compare slavery
with the trusts, and to parallel Jeffer-
sons deep rooted opposition to slavery
with the modern Democratic position on
trusts, but the attempt IL far-fetched'
Jefferson foresaw the consequences OF a
country growing up half slave territory
and half n zone of free labor. lie saw
Il meant civil war, And II did.
slavery meant, OF course, a proud,
politically active and warlike slave
owing aristOcracy. The ISSUE was set
tied by a struggle Of section against
section. The trusts, on the contrary,
arc everywhere. They are not sectlon-
! al. The result Of slavery was civil war.