Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-11-24
Electoral Popular
This is progress in the wrong direc.

ton, from a Democratic stdhupolht.
/ II means that unless something hap
pens In the near future to change the
trend the Democratic party will fade
away, as its old rivals, the Federal
and Wing parties, did.
/ What can happen? Many things,
OF course, that will bolster up the
waning courage OF the minority. The
Democrats always hope that the party
/ in power will make mistakes that can
/ be turned to advantage. Sometimes
this has occurred. but under the wise
control of such presidents as Mckinley
and Roosevelt. and their sage coun-
selloIs, this straw will not sufii e to
save drowning party. Times may
change Tor the worse, in which ease
the Democratic party can be depended
upon to turn up as the self-constituied
champion OF the people, with an eye
on the offices. The Democracy is
great at fishing in troubled waters.
So long as things go on as the} are,
with everybody happy and the country
prosperous, there is little chance Of
the shattered Democracy breaking in.
1t will take keener and more local
issues than those of the Philippines
and the Panama canal TO bewitch the
people and lead them to entrust the
country again to the party whose
record in control is still fresh in mind,
The Democratic party cannot live on
always as mere party of negation
and opposition. No party can. The
Democracy this year especially has so
shuflled about and presents so shame
ful an appearance in defeat AS to move
derision, instead OF pity. Apparently.
having lost faith in its radical leaders,
it turned to its conservatives, with no
other thought in mind than hope that
more success might come in conse-
quence. 1t has tried both taeks, aud
It's last state is worse than its first.
Conservative leadership has brought
more disastrous defeat than the pre-
eepts of Organism.
And right in this connection comes
the crux of the matter. Ii is not So
much that the Democracy covers in
defeat; that it waits on for something
other than its own deeds to change
the current in its favor; or that it
stands disnonored by its own record
that its future seems so dark Tue
gravest danger to Democracy is not
the Republican party, but itself.
The Democracy OF The present com
prises several component parts. First,
is the Southern Democracy-justly
entitled to this rank from the tact that
it is mistaken in its Bourbonism. But
for it the party could not hope to sur
viye. The Southern party provides
the battleline, and victory hinges
alone on the ability OF the Northern
Democrats to reinforce it with lev
states wrested there from the Republi-
cans. The Southern Democracy is
inert. Its only real principles are self
preservation at home, for the sake Of
maintaining the traditions OF the South
and preventing the remote danger OF
negro control, and desire tor suprema-
cy at Washington. Anchored at home,
it has little regard for broad princi-
pies, and iastens its chariot TO that
moving spirit OF the Northern Democ-
raey which seems tor the moment to
promise the best prospect of national
success. IL is for Organism when
Organism leads; for Parkerism when
that sentiment comes TO the front.
Dominant in power, il tails to dom.-
nate, because it is not bred up to the
capacity of leadership. The South is
the last hope of the Democracy. IL
will cling to that standard as long as
the party has a definite place, but can
be depended upon TO abandon it and
attach itself to a more militant opposi-
ton party, should such appear.
Second, in the North are the So
called conservatives. who controlled
this year. They date back to the time
when issues were different than now,
and make themselves ridiculous in
trying to restore the era when the
Democratic party stood for something
positive yet not socialistic. That was
twenty years ago. Those issues are
settled, and the people simply look on
and smile while these valiant politl-
clans try to turn back the wheels.
Many Of them are able, honest men,
who, As matters now stand, belong in I
the Republican party rather than the /
Democratic. They are not numerous. !