The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-04-20
OPINIONS OF TWO LEADERS
Parker and Bryan Explain Different Views of
Jeffersonian Democracy

| commanded, and the number OF Cover
| hors and State legislatures under our
| contrel is surprisingly small.
we may, however, recall that this Ia
not the first time that the party has
Deeh In what seemed to be a hopeless
minority. 1t was SO from 1860 TO 1867
| "hen great wrong which has been
lar-reaching in its effects upon morals
ana justice, left it in a minority for
| ahother efght years. But when it's con-
| uitioii was least encouraging, it was
| stiil the sape consistent advocate of
patriotic and manly policies as when
| it was in the full plentitude of power
during the first sixty years of the last
| century. Rallying about its natural
| leaders-as courageous and patriotic
| as any known to our political history
IL was then, as always, it's virtue to be
national party. These leaders kept
themselves in touch with every oues-
tlon OF current interesC in every ham
let of the Union. Nothing American
Vas alien to them.
POWER OF THE PARTY AS A
MINORITY.
During the Civil War more than 500
the firing lines of the two great ar
mics which faced each other, all believ-
ing themselves right. On the morrow
of Appomattox, they, the victors and
| the vanquished had scattered to their
| respective homes. all bent upon pro-
| noting peace, all understanding each
other m their trials, all facing the
| same great problems. In the foulest of
all days in our national life-thOse of
so-called reconstruction-these soldiers
| largely recruited from other peaceful
| patriotic men in the North, were founI
voting together.
During this period there came to the
front in our national councils the great
historic figures of Thurman, Hendricks,
Bayard, Seymour, Hancock, Mcclellan
and Tilden. In the face of prejudices
and opposition, which might well have
daunted the bravest these men were
able to combat and to overcome that
sectional policy which at one time al
most dominated the whole country
When, in spite of aggressions, fairly
divided between the misuse Of military
power, and deliberate, studied corrup-
tion Of the suffrage, these men had
, been successful, they were reinforced
by Lamar, George, Hampton, Hill.
Vance. Morgan, Vest and many other
strong and patriotic men from the
South
Added to these leaders, who, in the
field of national politics, so nobly unit
ed to combat human passion at It's
worst estate, were hundreds of thous-
ands of sturdy men in the North who,
| as Governors, members of State Leg
islatures, committeeman of every
I'll 0A q
struggle of free government down into
the smallest political divisions OF the
country. Everything was won except
the presidency, in spite Of which DEM
ocracy was able from 1868 to 1885 to
| keep at bay the enemies Of good will.
NO ROOM FOR sECTIONALIsM
So. too, there is altogether too much
talk about an Eastern, Western,
Southern. or some other Democracy,
when the essence of the party is its
national character and the entire ab-
sence of sectional features. The con-
| troll of the party machine in one city
or another, in this or that State, or
even in the country, is not matter
either important or interesting to the
great body of Democrats.
| THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION
NEEDED.
I would not for a moment convey
an impression that organization is not
important. 1t is even more-it is vital,
if we are to give effect to the principle
and policies which buttress our party
faith. But, however necessary and VI
tai, it may be useless-a mere empty
bauble-if it is viewed as the end rath-
er than the means. We are confronted
by forces which, when not purely per-
sonal, are almost wholly mechanical.
They are represented by party. we'll
managed, indeed, in that two-thlrds
of the Union to which it restricts its
activities. 1t has everything that pat
ronage can suggest or imply. In re-
turn for favors received it sells to the
highest bidder or freely gives the