The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-14
SEEK SOMETHING
BESIDES OFFICE
Continued From First Page

stronghold of Democracy In the north, IT
Is by no means the only one There are
other places where. though the number
OF our supporters has been decimated
there are still true and loyal Democrats
only waiting for enlightened party action
and wise leadership TO carry them to sue
cess.
Something Besides Office
There Is no more pernicious theory than
that which proclaims that securing public
office by election is the sole ambition of
Democracy Officeholding is not the only
function of the Democratic party. Too
much OF that theory and too much lead
ership based upon that theory IS an
swerable for the position In which we
find ourselves today An impression that
an Unsuitable lust for office has been our
one excuse for existence. and that that
desire has led to the adoption of ignoble
means for its accomplishment. has been
largely responsible for the defeats of the
past.
II the Democracy is intrusted with pow
er to administer the government according
TO our political beliefs. Wen and good;
but this is the lesser of the purposes for
which the party exists. We have lost
sight of the primal purpose of Democracy.
or subordinated tito lesser one. This
primal purpose is absolutely unSelfiSh and
patriotic II IS to instil into the heart OF
every American the love of the principles
which Thomas jefferson wrote into the
declaration of independence; 1t is to con-
vince every citizen of this country that
those principles are as true today as they
a
man TO strive to preserve them-the real.
the true, the living rules by which our
national life shall be governed forever.
We are confronted with dangers. from
without and within. Loyalty to our coun-
try may require US to accept policies
which. whether wise or ill-advised. have
placed US in a position from which we
cannot recede, position fraught with
danger. leading possibly to international
complications. with an inevitable extern
sion or curtailment Of territory. as the
doubtless. that some part OF every page
of the future history OF our country shall
be written in human blood.
II during the last few years we had had
the power to impress our fellow citizens
with the wisdom and the sincerity OF our
hostility TO the aggression of corporate
greed, We might have averted conditions
which have produced marvellous economic
changes, changes which perplex the
statesman TO see clearly what resulting
evils may be eradicated or what evils, il
now permanent, may be diminished. This
situation Is none the less difficult because
the charlatan and the demagogue proclaim
that falacious and unjust schemes VIII
magically cure all ills.
Nor Is the effort for a solution made
easier by those who teach distrust In
republican institutions. What we have
been unable to prevent let us make our
selves worthy to undo.
Names the First Step
AS the first step in the direction of
commanding the PUBIC commence so aS
to succeed in this patriotic york, let US
prove to the people that We are more
anxious to teach and to practice sound
political doctrine than We are to frame our
platforms so as to catch the passing vote.
We must insist that conventions and
candidates shall more closely conform to
Jeffersonian standards Let Democratic
conventions nominate such men (as our
forefathers), not from motives OF expe-
diency in the hope of success but from
love OF principle, even with the certainty
OF defeat. II viii not be long before the
people of the United States will thrill
with admiration for such candidates and
such a party. and a new generation will
catch the still living spirit that stirred the
Democrats of olden days
Let us stand true TO the right, even
though our opponents seem 10 profit by
ignoring 1t. Let those who will play tc
the war spirit. or the peace spirit 10 the
spirit OF unjust profit. and OF unrighteous
trade. or to any other ephemeral issue
Let US appeal 10 the spirit OF justice which
endureth forever. Opportunism has nc
place in the Democratic party.
Let Us cease worshiping strange gods