Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-03
What Do They Stand For?

What does the Demoo ratio party
stand for, anyway. in the present cam
| naign? This is a question to which IN"
| country would really like an answer
The St. Louis platform made it appear
| that the party was really going before
| the country as favoring some things
| and opposing others. That idea was at
| once upset by Judge Parkers speech u
acceptance, and the confusion has Deeii
worse COMPOUNDED by the attempt oil
Democratic editors and orators since
that time Strengthening out the tahgie'
| OF course, primarily. the great motive
Of the Democratic party is opposition
and negation, and it devotes its-1 VIII
nersistency and zeal to the nobie tisf
of opposing each constructive work OF
tho I,cpublican party ami finding fauit
| with the results when that work IS ac-
complished. 1t abuses the party Ill
| mower. ana seeks to make the pe"pi'
| forget the blunders it made ana INC
| crimes IL cOlflnlltltu Nii'ii ''
led into the folly Of giving it charge 81
| national affairs.
2ut anart from this great work OF
finding fault. abusing the president ihi
kicking up dust, what ooes VI
Democracy actually stand for: Is IL III
favor Of tariff reform? The st. Louis
platform denounccs protection as
robbery" and some of the party
leading lights. John sharpe NillEtms
and champ Clark, are free traders. oii
the other hand. ore o. It's greatest
leaders. German, is for protection ana
,c far os the view of the candidates
can be discovered, Parker believes IN
tariff for revenue only. while Davis is
for protection, since he has vast prop
ertv interests which are profitable only
on account Of the tariff. AS far as the
tariff goes no man on earth, least of all
. Democratic leader himself can tell
what Find Of 4 tariff hill they would
y1ss. What do they stand for in
finance? AT St Louis they lodged this
great issue entirely. and their candi-
date, who twice voted for free silver,
has said no more upon this subject
than to announce what everybody
knows. namely. that the gold standard
has been established by the Republican
I!rty. Whether or not Parker is
gold man now, it is certain that he was
free silvcrite only four years ago, and
that he would have voted for a free
silverita had they nominated such a
man this wear. Where does the Demo-
| Cracy stand on the trust question? In
| their platform they have called loudly
| tor new laws. and a few weeks later
| their candidate declared that no new
laws are needed. while everybody
knows that the nomination of Parker
| was brought about by men represent
| ing the greatest trusts i'll the country.
ard that the eX"cutiv" committee of
| the national committee is made up
l " HbllN vi anu u
magnatrs. Where do they stand on
the Philippine problem: Their plat
| form calls for immediate scuttling
from the islands. while their candidate
INDUCES in egninatical remarks upon
the subject which the Democratic
newspapers have ever since been try
ing to make meaning out of.
Neither on any of these nor on any
| of the other issues now before the
party any positive views. or any con-
| structive policy to recommend. 1t is
wavering, uncertain and divided. and
in these matters and all others there
| would be uncertainty. laundering and
| confusion if they were given control of
national affairs. In such a condition
| the Democratic party begs the support
of the American voters i'm the cam
| paign-the party which admits that it
has been wrong for the past eight
| years. and that if il had the power il
would not undo the great things which
| the Republican party has accomplished.
OF course. such Il party deserves an
overwhelming defeat at the polls, and
| it is a cause for national congratulate
| ton that it is likely to receive such a
defeat. Upon September II, it will BE-
the privilege of the voters of Maine to
do their part in administering This de-
| feat and in giving the administration
| of Theodore Roosevelt the splendid en-
| dorsement it deserves
I'VE have beer wrong eight years,
and you have been right; therefore We
ought to be placed in power is the
gist of the Democratic argument. Yet