The Van Buren press., 1904-11-19
Democracy Is not Dead.


Many disappointed leaders on
the Democratic side are talking OF
REORGANIZATION and of issues upon
which the Democrats may win
next time. There is no lack OF
issues. If the Democracy and the
democratic eaders are democratic; ;
if. as Democrats, they deserve
success and earn popular conn
denee and fortitude. success VIII
reward them. A Democrat falsely
led by some sham Democratlc
leaders has Just had a severe ana
useful lesson. 1t was discovered
that candidates, honest but I'M
known, presented TO the country
by Wall Street hackers, known
and distrusted, cannot successfully
oppose energetic, united Republi.
can action, supporting a man OF
character. forceful, popular and
decided in views. The country has
learned that bogus Wall Street
Democracy cannot defeat genuine
RepubIicanism. But it has not
learned that real Democracy can
not defeat Republicanism.
Let the Democrats ask them
selves honestly: "What is best for
the whole countryW Whatever is
best for all the people is best for
Democracy. Recently the Demo
cratic leaders-gettlng possession
of q convention which was not
allowed to represent the country
started out by saying; "What can
be done 10 reinstate discredlted
Democrats How can men that be.
trayed their party twice become
suddenly accepted national lead
ers9 How is it possible for a little
branch ofplutocracy, ,falsly labelled
sDemocratic'to to get power through
the name of Democracy instead
of in the usual way, through Re-
publicanism" These questions
were asked by the Wall Street
interests that succeeded In con.
trolling the Democratic campaign
this year. The questions have
been answered emphatically by the
people. 1t was an answer to the
Wall Street spectators that
wanted TO be Democratic leaders.
1t was not a vote of lack of conf.
dence in real Democracy. Demo
cracy has not been defeated. The
Democratic party has just been
paying for ambitious, inordinate
thirst for power among disloyal
Democrats that should long since
have been driven from the party.
Disloyal Democrats and Republi'
cans who are prematurely celebrat-
ing the death of Democracy may
make up their minds that Jack
sons party is not dead. The party
TO which he gave all his great
energy and all of his faithful affec.
ton is still alve, still powerful fer
good. even in defeat forcing some
constraint, some control upon the
party of money and Of privilege.
No intelligent man sees in this
tidal wave for Roosevelt the doom
ofthe Democratic party. The good
Democrat must rejoice when he
realizes that, though his party
cannot and will not be made the
tool ofselhsh ambition, il responds
as nobly aud CALAMITY as ever to a
really Democratic appeal.
Take the victory of Douglas,
elected goyernorin Massachusetts,
a state normally Republican,
Douglas won over the top Of the
so.called tidal wave, and won con.
troll of the state from the Republi.
cans because he had n Democratic
message to deliver He is q rich
man, a great employer But he
stood for the rights of those that
are not rich. He denounced and
deHed the trusts that rob the ma.
ton behind the tariff, He repre-.
sented men, not q Wall Street
clique, and he carried Massachu'
selts. Does that look as though
Democracy were dead' And Pea
body in Colorado. What happened
TO hint He had the Republican
party back Of him. Every trust
and every man that hates to pay
fair wages was back of him, Every
man that believe IN government
by class, IN the ipferiority Of the
workingman, was back Of him.
Peabody represented predatory,
reckless wealth, He had put
money above the law and above
men. He made the militia Of the
state q tool for crushing the rights
of the citizens What happened
to this Republican, He was beaten
by the Democrat who opposed
him. The Roosevelt wave was not
high enough to carry this man
above the reach Of the peoples
contempt, II could not lfft him
mp above their reach, Peabody Of
Colorado knows that Democratic
fecllog IN this country IL not dead,
Aud Folk Of Missouri, johnson Of
Minnesota. Do they prove the
vitality Of the Democratic ideu' II
has forever pufged Itself of the
sham Democats,tbe traitor Demo.