The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-08-25

curse OF the Democratic Party during
the last decade. In 1892 Democracy
won an overwhelming victory upon the
tariff issue. So complete was its suc-
cess that the Republican Party was al
most swept off the map. Less than
one hundred Representatives in Con-
gress We're left to it. This victory of
the Democracy, following closely upon
it's victory of 1890, when the people
repudiated the Mckinley tariff, led
many to believe that re-allignment Of
parties was necessary and that the
Republican Party must pass out Of
existence. In 1894, however, the Re-
publican Party won an overwhelming
victory upon the tariff issue. Changed
conditions led the country into taking
an opposite stand from what it had
taken in 1892. A single Democratic
defeat led that party to change its is
sue. In 1896 Democrats abandoned the
tariff and took up the silver issue. In
1900 they practically abandoned the
silver issue and took up Imperialism
and in 1904 they abandoned all issues
and had Il sort OF free field where each
individual leader advocated his own
peculiar doctrine. 1t is not strange
that in view of such shifting, defeat
has been the result of Democratic eff
fort. The Democracy has not merited
any other reward. The time is now
at hand when the people of the coun-
try are undoubtedly ready to again re-
verse themselves upon the tariff. If
the Democratic Party has been con-
sistant upon anything it is upon the
tariff. but it seems to lack the cOur
age to insist upon time-honored DEM
Ocratic principles. 4 strong, active
party that would now advocate reduc-
ton of tariff, and give the people
some assurance that if power was
given to it there would be reduction
would almost surely succeed. The
Nation Democracy, instead of taking
up this issue and pressing it to success,
is coquetting with untried and imprac-
ticable theories such as federal owner
ship of railroads and municipal owns
erslip of public service utilities. The
Democracy seems to be in such a
weakened condition that it catches
every passing disease and it RECEIVERS
from one only in time to be attacked
by another. Just now Mr.. Gompers
and his Federation of Labor are EN-
gagged in Il scheme to blackmail the
political parties into acceding to his
demands. Political leaders of both
refuse to subscribe to class legislation
proposed by the Federation of Labor.
An effort will be made to again make
the Democratic Party IL class party in
stead Of a great national party that
would represent all classes who be-
lieve in Il Democratic theory of gov
eminent.
While Mr.. Gompers and his party
is engaged in the attempt to sandbag
the Democracy into endorsing their
theories Mr.. Hearst and his followers
are also engaged in a noisy attempt
to force what was once great national
party into accepting municipal owner
ship as the panacea for all ills. Ii the
Democratic Party continues to act as
1t has in the last ten years; if it can
be frightened into abandoning Demo-
cratic principle for socialistic theories
it will continue to reap the reward
that it merits-defeat.
The history of political parties
teaches us that consistency is neces-
sary. When the great Liberal Party
in England was swept out of power
upon the downfall of Gladstone it did
not abandon its principles even though
Il large number of it's leaders went over
tn the opposing party. The Liberal
organization still continued to advo-
cate the principles and policies that
NIlauStoue Illu uuNOcdteu. IL met re-
peated defeats, but it still remained
true and recently it won the greatest
victory that amy party has won in Eng
land since 1892. The victory was won
without abandoning a single issue and
without retraring Il single step. The
time is ripe in this country for Il DEM
ocratic victory. The Republican Party
would surely lose the next Congress if
there We're any party i'm this country
With Il sufficient organization to which
the people could safely give the re-
sponshiity of legislation. The Demo-
cratic Party is not in need of new is
sues. but it does need political re-
vival through which Democratic voters
can once more learn what are true
Democratic principles.
RELIGIOUS FAklRS.
ON no subject are people 50 gullible
as on religion. From time to time in