Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-16
CAMPAIGN OF 1904
AFFORDS GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO DEMOCRACY.
People Demand q Return to Fundamental
Principles. Voting Population Nearly
Equally Divided. and the Time Is Passed
When Evil Measures can be Carried by Ap
peals to Party Prejudice.

The campaign of 1904 opens to the
national democracy, rich in promise and
opportunity. There is strong feeling
prevailing the patriotic masses OF this
country that the time is at hand for a
closer return to the fundamental princi-
pies of popular free government, as
enunciated by the fathers of the republic
and adhered to by an unbroken line Of
presidents from Washington to Lincoln.
No more fitting inscription can be
chosen for our banners at this time than
that''gem"in our state constitution, found
in the last section OF the Declaration OF
Rights, towit: "a frequent recurrence
to fundamental principles is essential to
the security Of individual rights and the
perpetuity of free government"
This is to be democratic year! Why?
Because for number OF years past the
voting population of this country has
been nearly equally divided between the
two dominant parties, and republican sue.
cess has not brought satisfaction to a
large proportion of those who have sup.
ported the ticket; who are neither office
holders nor concerned in the party spoils,
but who are patriotic first and whose
every impulse is for an honest, economi-
cal administration Of affairs-directed
along lines Of peace rather that conquest
-old.fashioned Amercanism rather
than European jingoism-"equal rights
to all and special privileges TO none" !;
those whose last ray of hope of accom-
plishing these through the republican
party has vanished and who must per
force OF circumstances unite with us if we
will only take a firm, conservative and
prudent stand for these very things, that
not only they but great majority of the
people in this country deem essential.
Hence this is not time to sacrifice the
opportunity to accomplish essentials bv
differing over non.essentials in our plat
forms-minor issues-or the desire to
prefer one individual OF our party to an
other. This is not a year for individuals.
Their rewards, il such is their due, can
we'll be deferred for time when so much
is not at stake. individuals should not
be considered beyond an endeavor to se-
lect as candidate a choice that appeals,
so far as his national acquaintance may
extend, to the conservative, constitution
abiding, justice loving elements OF our
American citizenship. 1t is true we have
those in our party who have distinguish
ed and even endeared themselves to a
large number of our fellow citizens by
their advanced opinions, courageously
expressed by word, act ard deed, on the
monetary, ethical and sociological ques-
tions of the day, and whom we should
delight to honor, vet for one or another
reason their candidacy would not at this
time inspire such confidence or command
such support as to make successful the
cause under their leadership. Hence
the present situation calls for prudent,
judicious action by every part of our
great party, wherever assembled.
Men are not the issue in this campaign
1t is not for heroes but principles we
should stand at this time. We want no
one person for candidate so much as
we want to declare our determination to
check the racing course of our constitu.
tional government to destruction by the
strongest possible appeal to the citizen
ship Of our country in patriotic, states
manlike, plainly spoken platform. After
our representatives have done this, then
let them name a candidate and pledge
him to strict compliance Herewith,
and such nominee must be one whose
personal character will be synonymous
with faithfulness.-Th Olympia Tax.
payer.