The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-22

a healthy condition and upon "a fight
 ing basis" Let us each and all contrib | ute his mite toward the accomplishment
 of this great end.
 What. then, is the matter with the na-
 tional democracy? Such a crushing de- feat inevitably raises this question in all <. our minds.
 ! Truth is the same today that it was | yesterday. But truth is infinitely adapt | able, and it Is the prompt and correct ap- | plcation of truth to ever-changing con ditions which requires the highest order of brains and practical ability. So par don me if I 'hark back to the funda- mentals for a moment. Jefferson, the master-statesman and political philoso- pher of our history, defined the line of cleavage between the two great parties, as follows:
 Men by their constitutions are natur- ally divided into two parties: CD Those who fear and distrust the people and wish to draw all powers from into the hands of the higher classes; CD those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence In them, cherish and con- sider them as the most wise depository of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist and in every one where they are free to think, speak and write, they win declare themselves.'
 
 classes and special interests-normally a minority party-made up of the enor- mously wealthy and powerful classes who profit by government favoritism The other is the party of the people-the or gan of the great and sane middle class of our citizenship-the most numerous body of our people-who represent neither the riches of government favoritism on the one hand nor the fine-spun theories of so- l cialism on the other-the party which | makes war upon neither rich nor poor IS such, and whose slogan Is "equal rights | to all and special privileges to none" This is normally the majority party It stands for the general public good In a 1 true sense it is conservative party standing as it does for the conservation of the favored classes. But as the other party is usually constantly enforcing | these encroachments, this party of the people is constantly forced to the ad- voeaey of radical and positive reforms Thus 1t was that Jefferson was the great est and sanest radical of his age. And i, thus it is that the party of the protected | classes standing as it usually does for the conservation of existing conditions | the maintenance of present abuses-is 1 usually dubbed the conservative" party, while the other party Is known as the radical" or liberals" Gall them by whatsoever name you please" said Jef- ferson they are the same parties still and pursue the same objects" We see at once on which side of the line the present "stand-pat" republican party has taken its stand Has the democratic party of recent years boldly and sincerely taken the stand on the other side of this line of cleavage for which it's fundamental prin- ciples naturally equip it?
 In England they have the conserva- tives and the radicals. Tn America we have the conservative republican party on the one hand. and on the other-I had almost said--chaos. where we ought to have a strong vigorous. liberal and pro- gressive democratic party. A party of opposition in a sense but essentially the party of progress and liberal reforms, usually denominated a radical party; rad ical in its sincerity of conviction and its boldness in fighting for those convictions. Such was the democratic party under it's founder, Jefferson Such it must be again under the leadership of some true tribune of the people, before 1t shall ever register another victory for popular government And unless the democratic party fu1i1ls this mission some other party will.
 With body of liberal principles un- equalled in their infinite adaptability, our party needs that beneficent "opportun- ism" which promptly applies these prin- ciples to new issues as they arise. which calls for the highest order of leadership
 The republicans have worsted us at this point in recent years. With close ranks they have marched over our halt | ing and confused lines into the citadels 1 of government frequently using amuni- 1 tion which rlghtfully should have been i appropriated by the democracy. ac wit ness the Panama canal and some of the l issues connected with the Spanish-Amer- ioan war.
 The superior organization of the re- 1 publican party is no. to be attributed 1 to severer party discipline. In fact. we | hear less discussion of party loyalty in !