The Irish standard., 1904-03-12
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
The Democratic party has made
many mistakes during the one hundred
years of its existence. Had it not
been for these the control of this gov.
ernment would have been entrusted
continuously to that party, for it does
not admit of doubt that the great
majority of the people of the country
are Democrats in the true sense OF
that name. But serious as have been
these mistakes it is nevertheless true
that the party has never yet presented
as it's candidates for the high office OF
president man who was not in every
sense a man of ability and high char
acter. The unsuccessful Democratic
candidates for the presidency We're de.
feated not because they We're un.
worthy but because of conditions ex.
listing at the time. Martin Van Buren,
after carrying the country in 1886 be.
came the first defeated Democratic
candidate in 1910. OF his ability and
character no question was ever raised.
Ihe next defeated Democratic candi-
date was Lewis Cass in 1S4S, and his
defeat was due to the fact that Martin
Van Buren, ran as Free Soil candi-
date and received votes enough to de-
feat Cass. Lewis Cass was one of the
greatest statesmen this country has
produced. His name deserves to come
next after that great triumvirate Web
ster, Clay and Calhoun, none of whom
ever reached the Presidency. Stephen
A. Douglas was defeated in 1860 be-
cause the Democratic party was split
in two. There never was day be-
,, tween the memorable Charleston con-
! vention of 1860 and the election that
year when Jefferson Davis, the leader
of the Southern Democrats in Con-
gress, could not have by single word
made Douglas election sure. No doubt
can exist about the commanding abil-
ity of the Little Giant" or about his
high character and pure patriotism
In 1864 the Democrats presented Gen.
eral Mcclellan as candidate against
Lincoln. The country was in the
midst Of the Civil War and eleven
Southern States did not vote, yet Nc
Clellan received within 100000 votes
of what Lincoln did. In 1868 Horatio
Seymour, the great New York gov
ernor, was nominated by the Demo-
Gratis against his will, and, although
he carried New York, was defeated
because some Of the Southern States
were still DISTINGUISHED. In 1872 the
Democrats Endorsed Horace Greedy,
whose character and ability were mat
ters of household knowledge through
out the land. In 1876 Samuel J. Til
den, the greatest constructive states
man since Jefferson, the deepest think
er in the annals of American politics
and the greatest Democrat since Jack
son, was nominated and elected, al
though he never took his seat, and
we must therefore number him among
the defeated. In 1880 w. S. Hancock,
the hero of Gettysburg, was the DEM
ocratic candidate and narrowly missed
election. These, together with Mr.
Bryan, constitute the list of defeated
Democratic candidates. That list will
bear the most searching scrutiny, and
Gal
ing candidates will not suffer either in
respect to ability or character In
Democracy's darkest days-the years
following the Wharf.-The old party of
the constitution never failed to put it's
best men forward. 1t never named an
advcnturer for President.
1t is not possible at this time that
the Democratic party will break the
| admirable list of candidates by NAM
ing a man who cannot be otherwise
regarded than as an adventurer.
Aaron Burr was a Democrat and an
able man; he nearly succeeded in be-
coming President before his true char
acter as an adventltrer was known, but
as soon rs he was found out the party
OF Jefferson disowned him. There is
an adventurer at this time who asks
for Democratic support. He differs
from Burr in that he does not possess
the great ability of that imposter. and
in the further fact that his claracte
both as a man and political charlatan,
| is well known from New York to San
Francisco. He is so we'll known that
it is not necessary to name him here.
Fortunately, there is no possibility that
lie will be nominated. There are only
two elements working for him, those
who are upon his political pay roll and
those who are the apostles of unrest
and discomfort. The first element will
subsiGe as soon as their names are
dropped from the pay roll. If the So
cialists are strong enough to defeat {,
Democratic candidate who is not to
their liking. then let us as Democrats
name candidate fit in ability and
character to be placed in the list of
the great men whom we have referred
to above. We are among those who
believe that it is within the power or