Courier Democrat., 1904-12-08
Confident That Four More Years
of Power Have Been Secured.
DENocRAT1o STATE VICTORIES.
they Give E.co.raseaeat to the
Advocates of True Democracy.
Prove That the American People

No real Democrat is discouraged by
Tuesdays tremendous Republican vic
tory. The reasons for it are thorough
" comprehended by all men who un-
derstand the country's needs and its
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, aud it can commit sui.
eide only by persistence in being un-
democratic.
The landslide for Roosevelt or away
from Parker-however you choose to
put it-was 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. A
Democratic district attorney, he made
war upon Democratic boodlers and the
corporate millionaires with whom they
did business"
The election of Douglas in Massa-
chusetts-usually as safely Republican
as Texas is safely Democratic-rises In
its broad significance above all the
rest.
How came this political miracle to be
worked in Massachusetts?
Organized labor did 1t.
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 II it does not
give cause to the men who toll to be
with 1t?
The Roosevelt avalanche does not in
the least alter the fact that the great,
the overwhelming, majority of the
American people are Democratic-the
fact that they believe in equal rights
and are against special privilege.
Give them the opportunity to vote for
Democratic principles-make the issue
plain between favors for the few and
fair play for the lnany-and 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, 1t must
be kept in mind, were achieved under
the most adverse circumstances. They
could hardly have been worse. To re-
sist political tidal wave calls for in
telligence and steadfastness.
Douglas, Folk and the other Demo-
cratic governors have their unmistaka-
BILE lesson for the Democratic party
as to what Its national course must be
IL It is to escape the recurrence of such
defeats as that which overlook it on
the 9Th.
The party has only to be Democratic
in order to win.
There is needed simply national
platform containing the fundamentals
Of Democracy-Jeffersol.ian 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 be Us hobbies to
any leader or element. And on this
platform there should be placed candi-
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
predatory wealth have been secured.
and secured by popular mandate. In
their Judgment the people are fools,
easily managed fools.
They are mistaken.
The people know what they want.
That is demonstrated by the election
Of Douglas. Of Folk and Of the other
Democratic governors we see In the
track Of the Republican flood.
In order to win the Democratic party
must be Democratic.
Donations to Party Funds.
Now still further extension Of the
principle of publicity in the interest Of