The Irish standard., 1904-12-17
LET DEMOCRATS BE DEMOCRATS.

LET DEMOCRATS BE DEMOCRATS.
We are told by correspondents in
Washington that there are indications
that the Democratic members Of con-
gress are about to line UP with the
president in his differences with GER
tain members Of his own party. The
reason given is that it will help to ac-
centuate divisions in the Republican
party. If this is the only reason that
can be given for such action on the
part of the Democrats, we hope that it
will not be taken. We have ba(
enough of the attempts on the part of
the Democratic party to take advan-
tage Of Republican differences. What
the Democratic masses want is for
their leaders to fight for Democratic
principles, and if such fights lead
them in the same paths with the Re
publican president, we'll and good.
Divisions among the Republicans will
never suffice to build up the Demo-
cratic party. If they are to come into
power again they must build up the
party on stronger foundations than
Republican divisions. They must
stand for their own convictions, and
in doing this it matters not whether
they stand with the president or with
his Republican opponents or against
both of them. We have had enough of
opportunism. What we want now is
little aggressive fighting in behalf
of Democratic principles. We have
had surfeit of expediency; we have
had enough of ready made platforms
and self-constituted leaders. What we
want now is Il gathering Of the Demo
cratic masses and leaders who will
listen to the voice of these masses,
and frame party policies in accordance
Herewith.
The principles of the old party of
Thomas Jefferson will survive in tlli
country as long as the country re-
mains a republic, and they will be
advocated by some party, no matter
| whether that party calls itself the
Democratic party or by some other
| name. If there are real Democra tic
leaders at Washington they will SCI
! to it that it shall be their first aim to
| uphold those principles rather than
study up schemes for the purpose OF
helping Republican split. The Dem
ocratic masses of this country are not
| interested in Republican splits. They
are, however, earnestly interested in
| Democratic principles and they are
more insistant now than ever before
that their leaders shall fight for these
principles day in and day out. Repub.
lican splits are to be desired if there
is Il real Democratic party to take ad.
vantage of these splits. But, if the
! Democratic party in it's organization
is to continue simply a party of OPP
portunism and eXpediency Republican
splits will not avail. 1t is time also
that personalities should cease to be
the basis of contention within the par
ty. After all is said and done, the
leadership of a party must ever be
subordinate to it's principles. With
all due respect to the great leaders of
the Democratic party, present and
past. the fact remains, however, that
the Importance of the party in Ameri-
can history is due to the principles
| which it has advocated. So, to-day we
seem to have Il surfeit of leadership.
an over-supply Of isms and fads an,
a wOeful lack of consistent and in
sistent advocacy of elementary DEM
ocratic principles. Unless an avail
ening takes place soon the present Or
ganization Of the Democratic party is
likely to die of dry rot. AS Demo-
Gratis. we ought to be very much less
interested in Republican splits and
misdoings than we are in the positive
acts of our own party. The Demo
cratic people are dreadfully sick of
this constant shiftly upon the sands
IF opportunism. They can't under
stand why Democratic leaders refuse
or neglect to fight for Democratic
principles. For the past ten years
there has been constant wrangling
among self-constituted leaders as to
what are Democratic principles. This
is a peculiar situation. Through all
the first century of the nations en-
istence the Democratic leaders had
little difficulty in determining what
were Democratic principles. 1t is
only since the advent of fads and
isms, the days of opportunism and ex-
pediency, that there has been any
doubt as to what are Democratic prin-
ciples. No student, American or for
eign, of the American constitution has
ever failed to recognize the historic
principles of the party. They are i'm
bedded in and made part Of the
BE-