Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-11-17
MO. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER z 1904.

weakness was so plain that the
most enthusiastic partisan could
not mistake it. 1t involves a prin-
ciple so vital that the Democratic
party must give it serious con-
sideration if it hopes to be more
successful four years hence.
The nomination of Judge Parker
represented the supremacy of the
so-called conservative" element
of the party. But conservative
is term that has been frequently
abused, and in, this instance il
stood for interests that have never
been able to appeal successfully to
the intelligence of the great body
Of the American people.
I This situation was peculiarly un-
fortunate in this campaign. The
march of events had made inn
perialism a dead issue with the
great majority Of the people. II
referred to what was no longer a
matter of policy, but of history
and both parties were practically
agreed that the Philippines were
yet at a status where immediate
independence would be rather 6
disaster than a blessing.
There was only one issue or
which the Democratic party could
hope to make a successful cam
paign. That was based on the
growing power and avarice of dis
honest trusts and the despotism o1
Wall street to which the trusts were
intimately related.
There was every reason to be.
lieve that Judge Parker's candid
acy honestly represented the prin-
ciples Of his party on this. vita.
question. But not so the person
alities of the men who were be-
hind his campaign. The people
looked beyond the candidate and
took notice of August Belmont
Sheehan, Mclaughlin and the
other acknowledged representa-
tives of the money power who
posed as the pilots Of the Demo-
cratic craft.
No wonder that these men were
unable to inspire enthusiasm on an
issue to which their own loyalty
was open to serious question.
If anything was lacking to make
easy the task Of the Republican
managers, it was supplied by the
tactics of the local Democratic
managers in New York just pre-
vious to the election. Their policy
savored too much of the peculiar
politics of Dave Hill and was en-
tirely lacking in the broad senti-
ment of party dignity that has
heretofore characterized Demo-
cratic campaigns.
The defeat Of yesterday was not
a repudiation of Democracy, but
of it's leaders. Led by the spec.
jious plea of conservatism" the
party placed its honor in the keep
4 ing of men who were unworthy o
the trust. 1t was campaign o
the east, in the east and for tht
east, and it utterly failed in it,
object.
1t is to the honor of the Demo
|crats of the west that they Tough
loyalty and honorably for the can
didate of the east. Under tn,
! leadership of a man who had beel
twice defeated by the very inter
ests that were now in the saddle
they battled gallantly for the part.
honor and the party candidate.
1t is still too early to forecast tn
line of battle of 1908, but it is SAT
to assume that the element that die
. tated the nomination of Judg
Parker, and, which by it's ow
triumph, made his election impos
sible, will not control the mex
national convention of the Demo
! cratic party. The scepter of powe
will pass from the sea coast to tn
great heart of the republic and tn
: Democracy will provide itself wit
) leaders whose allegiance to Dem
T ocratic principles owns no ments
! ! reservation in favor of any powe
which threatens the welfare Of th
people.-Kansas City World.
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