The Irish standard., 1904-12-03


Mexican war; acquired California and
| the great southwest and stood for dis
| tinctively American principles during
the entire period. The split between
| the northern Democrats and those of
the south over the slavery question re-
suited in disrupting the strong party
which had for so long controlled the
affairs Of the country. Upon the war
and the prejudices resulting therefror
another strong party was built VI
which has controlled the government
! for most of the time since. During
the first sixty years the Democratic
party was the majority party, stand
ing for something, asking for some
thing and doing something. Since the
war the Democratic party has for the
most part contented itself with being
an opposition party, and this fact ac-
counts for many of the defeats. For
a short time during the eighties and
early nineties the Democratic party
gave promise of standing for definite,
positive policy. Tilden and Cleveland
preached economy Of administration
and reduction in taxation in such a
way that it meant something and both
these men succeeded in carrying the
country. There will always be at
least two parties. The people, how
ever, are able to consider only one
question at a time. The party, there
fore, which presents the question that
most interests the people will, for the
time being, be the majority party. But
the mere fact that one party is in
power does not mean that it is al
ways going to be in power or that
there is no necessity for another par
ty. Thoughtful men of both parties
recognize the fact that strong op-
position party is necessary in order
to secure good government in a coun-
try such as ours. England's political
history shows the same state of af-
fairs. At one time the Liberal party
and at another time the Conservatives
are in control. A few years ago the
Liberal party, which was such a
strong party under Gladstone, seemed
helplessly broken and impotent. 1t
seemed then rs though the Conserva-
tive party would hold power for many
decades. Now, however, all signs
point to Liberal victory in the COM
ing election.
Those who believe in Democratic
principles ought not to be discouraged
Ivy the recent defeat. Horace Gree
ley WAS defeated in 1872 more dis
aStrously than Parker in 1904, yet two
years afterwards, in 1874, the Demo
Gratis swept the country, electing an
overwhelming majority in the house
of representatives, from which time
on they had majority Of the lower
house of congress for the greater part
of twenty years, and in 1876 the par
ty which had carried only few states
for Greeley elected Samuel j. Tilden
president. On the other hand, in 1892,
Grover Cleveland was elected by such
an enormous vote, carrying many
northern states that had been thereto
fore considered reliably Republican,
that many people then prophesied the
death of the Republican party and the
birth of new one. Yet things had
so changed that in 1891 the Republi-
cans, who had less than one hundred
members in the lower house of con-
grcss, carried the election, giving
them fully two-thirds of the members
of congress and carrying for the first
time many southern states. Those
who are prophesying the death of the
Democratic party should study his
tory. Things political change in this
country With remarkable rnpidity. 1t
is more than likely that the great sue
cess of the Republican party will be
in part the cause of it's undoing.
What the Democratic party needs
more than Office, more than re-organi-
zation, more than votes. is to stand
for some positive aggressive policy.
Many Democrats are becoming tired
Of simply standing for opposition to
the Republican party. 1t is time for
leaders to quit manufacturing plat
forms to catch votes. They should
become acquainted with the people af-
ter the manner Of the founders of
the Democratic party, they should
learn what the people want and stand
for what they want. The Democratic
masses today are as ready to stand
for and support Democratic principles
and policies as were the Democratic
masses in the days of Jefferson and
Jackson, but they are sick and tired
of ready made platforms. We hope
those leaders whose time and energy
is chiefly given over to talking re-
organization Of the Democratic party
will cease their labors and let the peo-
pie rest, and when the time comes for
building another Democratic platform,
and nominating another Democratic
candidate, let the Democratic people
of the country do the building and the
nominating, and we venture to say
there will be more Democratic votes