The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-15
SATURDAY, APRIL is, 1905
SOUND DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE

The Jefferson day banquet of the
great affair; great in the occasion, in
the attendance and in the views ex-
pressed by the speakers. No man who
believes in Democratic principles can
fail to be filled with a real anxiety
concerning the present and the future
of the party. If it Is abandoned to
the radical socialistic element, 1t is
lost. Equally unfortunate would it
be to patter along in thea mistaken
paths of the last few years, command
ing no enthusiasm from either radical
or conservative, losing votes from both
wings and failing to secure the en-
thusiastic cooperation of the younger
generation, without whose support no
party can long maintain itself.
Three points brought out by the
speakers seem to us to be of supreme
Importance. The first, contained in the
speech of Judge Parker, we have al
ready paraphraSed. He addressed him
self to the need of a real party. with
real issues, real supporters and real
and generally recognized principles
That the Democratic party is weak in
this respect by reason of past dissen
sions is a palpable fact. 1t is time to
forget this and send them to the rear.
The country cannot be regained or the
allegiance of its voters secured by the
mere iteration of ancient platitudes.
we need strong and more cohesive
organization, and Judge Parker and
MIR. Bryan are at one in holding that it
must begin at the bottom The work
r cannot be done by individuals or COM
mittees or any form of organization
although these may help. 1t must be
inspired by the rank and file of Demo-
cratic voters, working for the fortunes
of their party.
The second point, presented by May
or Mcclellan of New York, is an ex
ceedingly happy statement of the oues
ton forced prominently upon the
country by recent series of articles
in e Globe. Mayor Mcclellan
protests against opportunism. He saws.
ana says truly, that no party can
thrive or succeed merely by taking adj
vantage of the mistakes of its emo
mics. 1t must stand for something.
and If IOlISt co do Will, oil a. o,,. i,
a strong conviction. Those of us who
most decry unreasoning partisanship
are most alarmed by the utter decay of
party loyalty. There is scarcely a vote
taken in congress or in any state leg
dslature now wherein the party line is
strictly drawn. Democrats as a mi
nority' feeling themselves unable to
achieve practical results, consider too
much local or present interests: and
either laud Republican policies or fol-
low Republican leadings on the roll
call, as If it made no difference wheth-
er they remained under the party ban
ner or not. This is an evil and a dan
Nhi Piopof loH tnat IL cannot
be safely ignored. No more oppor-
tunlsm, if Democracy is to survive.
The third point seems to us the
most vitalfzing of all, because IT nre-
sents the issue upon which Democracy
might well appeal to the people of tbis
country and fill them with such en-.
thusiasm and determination as they
nave not known before for forty years.
Judge Van Wyck declared that the
need of the hour is the putting down of
corruption in public life and the rele-
CATION of the pride taker and the bribe
giVer to that inferno Of disgrace where