Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-24

a political party is supposed to 0c
an organization OF men formed and
maintained for the purpose Of uphold
ing certain political principles and the
accomplishment Of political Purposes in
accordance with those principles Those
connected with 1t are supposed to be
in accord as to its principles and pug-
poses.
Every political party when it FIRST
comes into existence answers to this
description Every party begins BY
adopting and publishing d .ittcal
creed ard stating what it wishes to
accomplish and inviting the political
people 10 accept its creed and join in
efforts to obtain its ends.
If new party trlumphs and accom-
plishes its original purposes it may
move forward upon new ground, hut
to deserve the support of those who
have contributed to its success it must
and usually will adhere TO its original
principles. and It's new purposes musr
and usually will be in harmony with
them.
SO long rs party pursues this
course it will preserve its continuity,
its cohesion and its vitality. provided
those not in sympathy with its newly
declared purposes withdraw and seek
other affiliations more congenial.
AS party grows older many adhere
to it for what 1t has been or from
force of habit or from the moral cow
ardice which fears the cry of rene
gade," or some other political equiv
alent OF the labor union cpithe Of
''scab," raised by those who app. we
of the new departure and seek to
bully other people into its support,
In some eases the new departures
are of the most incongruous kinds,
many of them at variance with the
original principles of the party and
with all decent principles, and the
party itself becomes a medley C. the
most discordant elements and quite
incapable Of coherent action if in
trusted with power.
This is pre-eminently the ease with
the Democratic party. Originally the
Fundamental article OF its creed was
democ.a,E "a representative govern
ment 'of the people, by the people and
for the people" Before the Civil War
it had so far Abandoned that article
that 1t in effect tented to people Of
the African race I'll right to share in
their own government, and it was left
for u Republican President TO formu-
late the doctrine in the words just
quoted.
The party abandoned that article.
which alone gave it vitality, at the die
tat!on of its Southern leaders. During
the Civil War its Northern leaders re-
fused to restore the creed and the
party because further discreditad
After the war the Northern leaders
so shaped their course as TO invite the
Southern whites to join the party on
masse and their Invitation was ac-
cep.ed.
Even with the aid of the solo South
1t failed TO succeed. ard so its leaders
began bidding for tie votes Of all sorts
of cranks-curenc cranks, Populls:ic
crnnks and every other kind except
the comparatively respectable kind
which made war on whisky.
Thus the para; lost all of It's Demo
cratic principles and character and
became al! FIAT was unGemocratic. It
became hostile TO government of the
people by any but white people. and
insisted that the white people South
should do more of the governing than
the white people North, II fought the
anti-slavery amendments 1t sought to
ruin the public credit ana disgrace the
country by debasing the currency
and regulating United States bonds.
1t attracted to itself the dds
reputable and lawless classes Of the
cities and the strike bosses who were
ready to support any party which
would give them a free hand TO slug
and murder "scabs" and trample upon
the rights of the public and violently
aesan he peace and weil-being of So
cietg
TIE party ceased TO be the Demo
cratic party IN anything but name and
became loose aggregation of all the
bad clements of society. having moth
ing In common except lust of the SPOTS
of Office and a desire TO break down,
some at one place and some at an
other. the restraints OF law and Of
rightful authority.
It has become party which out
RACES the name Of Democracy by TAX
ing it in vain and which is not dcsery-
ing of anything but overwhelming de-
feat and utter destruction.
Tie Democratic party no longer ex-
lists. The disrcputablc party which has
stolen its name and is using IT for base
purposes must necessarily he abau-
doned by every respectable citizen who
perceiyes ito true character and is not
deceived by a name and by memories
of the excellent things to which 1t was
once applied. Chicago Chronicle.
Bryan, the Socialist.
William J. Bryun says that II Park
er Is elected, imperialism and tue
rGce issue will be settled and tie Dem
o.ratic party Will have time 10 take