Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-26

The New York American. III an edi-
torial pointing the way To- the future
success OF the Democratic party, says
in part:
No real Democrat is discouraged by
Tuesdays tremendous Republican vic
tory. The reasons for il are thorough
iy cOmprehended 10y all men who I'M
deep political currents.
Those who cry. either in exultation
Or despair, that the Democratic party
Is smashed destroyed ''obliterat-
ed" do not know what Democracy
means.
Nothing can kill the Democratic par
ty except itself and it can commit sui
eide only by persistence in being I'M
democratic.
The landslide for Roosevelt or away
put twas certainly of gigantic pro-
portions. But look over the ground it
traversed, and you Will see much that
gives profound encouragement to the
true Democrat.
Consider the number of states which,
though giving majorities for the Re-
publican presidential ticket, ncverthe-
less elected Democratic governors.
The whole country knows why Folk
could not be vanquished. He stood so
definitely. so conspicuously. for some
thing that Missouri would have been
shamed in the eyes of civilized men by
his rejection. The something that he
stood for was common honesty. y
Democratic district attorney. he made
war 1pon Democratic boodlers and the
corporate millionaires with whom they
did business
The election of Douglas in Mrssa
chusetts- usually as safely Republican
as Texas is safely DemOcratic-rises i'm
its broad significance above all the
rest
How came this political miracle to,be
worked I'm Massachusetts?
Organized labor did IL.
In all the mill towns Douglas won
by big majorities.
The labor vote elected Douglas.
What is the Democratic party without
the labor vote? What reason has the
Democratic party To exist if it does not
give cause to the men who toll to be
with il:
The Roosevelt avalanche does not in
the least alter the fact that the great.
the overwhelming. majority of the
American people are DemocratG-the
fact that they believe in equal rights
and are against special privilege
Give them the opportunity tn vote for
Democratic principles-make the issue
plain between favors for the few and
fair play for the maryland they will
vote for the right and in their own in
terest
And the people are quite able to dis
criminate. Their adherence TO Demo
cratic candidates in many states who
stood for something while the RoOse-
welt tide was rushing proves that
clearly.
These Democratic successes. il must
be kept in mind. Were achieved under
the most adverse circumstances. They
could hardly have been worse. To re-
sist a political tidal wave calls for in
telligence and steadfastness.
Douglas. Folk and the other Demo-
cratic governors have their unmistaka-
bic lesson for the Democratic party
as to what its national course must be
IL IL is to escape the recurrence of szlch
defeats as that which overlook il on
the Sth.
The party has only to be Democratic
in order to win.
There is needed simply a national
platform containing the fundamentals
OF Democracy-Jefferso principles
applied TO the conditions OF today
and the excluding OF extraneous things.
Of things that are not vital. no matter
how dear they may he ais hobbies To
any leader or element And on this
platform there should he placed candl-
dates who are known TO be representa-
tive of the principles declared.
The trusts are in the saddle. They
are confident that four years more of
government by predatory wealth for
wealth have been secured.
and secured by popular mandate. Ii {