The Irish standard., 1905-05-20
DEMOCRATS HUNT LEADERS.

Williams will be a candidate to sue
ceed Senator Money of Mississippi at
the expiration of the latter's term in
the Senate has given rise to the query
Who shall be the Democratic leader
in the House? 1t appears at the pres
ent time that Congressman James M
Griggs of Georgia is the most likely
candidate. There are very few Demo
Gratis in the next Congress from north
of Mason's and Dixon's Line, and it
seems altogether probable that the
leader will be southern man. Con
gresham Griggs is perhaps, all things
considered, the most capable man for
the position. He will, however, have
hard time to maintain the high
standard of intelligent leadership
pointed out by John Sharpe Williams.
1t may strike most people as little
queer that any Democrat of standing
should at the preset time aspire to
prominence in the party. In most
quarters the Democratic party is con-
sidered SO dead that there is no hope
for any leader of the present genera
tion. All such views are not we'll
taken. 1t is true that the Democratic
party has just suffered the most dis
astrous defeat since 1872. The whole
Democratic party in the north has
practically been wiped out of exist
ence, and even the solid south has
been invaded; yet the same thing was
true in 1872, and to an even greater
extent, but it took only two years for
the party to recover. In 1874 the DEM
Ocrats elected a large majority of the
Lower House of Congress, and in 1876
the party had so far recovered from
the Civil war and the dissentions of
1872 that Samuel j. Tilden received
an actual majority of all the votes
cast in the country. 1t is possible
that history may repeat itself and that
in 1906 the Democrats may capture
the Lower House in Congress and in
1908 elect the President of the United
States. Such changes in public opin-
ion are by no means infrequent in this
country. Even in England political
majorities change within a remark
ably short time. Three years ago it
looked as though the Conservative
party would remain in power for fifty
years. Today it is foregone conclu-
sion that the next general election
will return a majority of Liberals, and
all this change of opinion has been
brought about without any great pub
lie catastrophe. There has been no
war and no panic. The change in pub.
lie opinion in England has been
brought about entirely by local ques-
tions.
1t is important that the Democratic
party be we'll officered. If the Liberal
party in England today were united
Balfour could not retain power TWEEN.
ty-four hours. The factional fights be.
tween Lord Rosebery and Sir Henry
mpbell-Bannerman and their fol
lowers is what is delaying the down
fall of Balfour today. The time is
coming in this country when the peo
pie will demand change in policies
and leaders. Will the Democratic
party be so organized as to take ad
vantage of the opportunity that Is
sure to come? Should the opportun
ity come tomorrow we are constrain
ed to the belief that there is no Dem
ocratic party capable of taking hold o1
public affairs. 1t is so thoroughly dis
organized that no policies could be
put forward and enforced that would
attaract the undivided support of the
party. The moulding influence o
time will, no doubt, prepare the part!
again for power. We are of those
who believe that the opportunity will
come sooner than the party is ready
It is, therefore, of the utmost import
ance to the party and to the countr!
who shall be at the head of the Demo
| cratic minority in Congress. Wis,
leadership means the strengthenin,
| of the party. Indifferent leadership
means continued factionalism. Con
| tinued factionalism In the Democrat,
party means continued power to tn,
Republican party long after that part.
has been discredited. Even now il
every part Of the country there ar
certain signs of a. revulsion of fee
ing. oa The popularity e! o. 'Theodor'