The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-29

has indicated the intense interest felt
by our people.
WHAT SHALL BE THE PROGRAM
II there is any word in the Demo-
cratic vocabulary that ought to be
promptly banished II Is the word
sExpediency." II there is one crime
that ought to be completely and hnai-
ly stamped out 1t is political coward
ice. Democracy is something more
than a name or term. much as II mas
been criticised and derided by it's
enemies and opponents. If it had not
been endowed with vital principle
almost as invulnerable as Miltons
spirits (which cannot but by annin-
lation die," 1t must long since nave
persisted from among men,
Democracy as a general term is as
old as civilization. AS a specihc par
ty name it is younger than our gov
eminent, yet in its brief span OF Ire
brief as compared with the history
of parties in the older world--it hfs
passed through many and serious vicis-
STUDIES. any one of which would have
wrecked II forever but for the endur-
ing principles on which 1t was FOUND
ed and which have never wholly de-
parted from II. The American or
Know Nothing party Slapped its vitali-
ty solely some half century ago.
Then the Republican party followed
and emasculated the Northern wing
ha4 the States
various inroads have been made on IL
which at times threatened to leave 1t
only a memory.
And yet Democracy as political
| organization still lives and will con-
tinue to live as long as there exists
among the American people a love OF
human liberty and a pride in good
government. 1t has gone down IN
defeat many times. and some OF It's
failures have seemed irremediable, but
the party has always recovered from
its downfall and held its place ready
| for action. When it's plight haA
seemed most desperate and its chances
most hopeless it has renewed 's
strength and bid defiance to the foe
Rut can Democracy as a party sue
coed unless it rises above expedlencS
and political cowardice? Ought &c
succeed If its mind dwells on nothing
but the fesh-pots. and IL 1t mas ne
higher or nobler motive than to VIII
and hold the offices? These mer
have their price" said Walpoie' re
ferring to a class of men whom he de-
spised. Shall it be said OF the Dem
ocratic party that it has its price an'
that price a brief and uncertain con
troll of the Offices?
II will seem so II 1t abandons IL
nrinciples through cowardice and nom
mates candidates for expediency'
sake alone. Was it pFinciple--Demo
cratic principle-that controlled tn
marty in New York when 1t nomlnate'
a man who is the antithesis of SCUM
Democracy, and whose opposition rec
ord was being added to up to IN
very hour of his nomination by
Democratic convention? What coul
they hope for except to gather in tn
hotsam and jetsam of great Stat'
and to draw together all the politica
mavericks with the hope of retaining
and dividing out the many Fat ottlce
of New York city? Those who man
ipulated that convention were certain
. ly not so fatuous as to expect to WI
) the Governorship with Hearst. w
give them credit for more sense tina
that. whatever we may think OF thei
political principles. The bosses ha
an object in view and that object wa
not the UNFOLDING of Democracy G
; the redemption of great State.
Is it possible that this same doc
trine of expediency, and this sam
vice Of political cowardice is to ru
i the Democratic party in national al
fairs two years hence? Not in a ger
Grafton has this country stood
r greater need of political salvatio
d than it does now. The party in pow
D err is not worthy of the trust repos'
: In IL; it is not the party of good go
i eminent, and it is not the true frier
: of the American people. It's sins
: omission and commission have bee
5 MANY and grievous and another leaI
r of power would be calamity.
y What will Democracy do? Will
t go before the country with candida
It and platform selected for no bett
purpose than the hope of office ar
thus lose all, or will 1t lay aside e
ervthing but the desire and determii
= alton to uphold true Democratic prii
cinles and offer to the country cal
. didate and platform that will dra
e. TO it the best and strongest elemen
g of American citizenship and make
= fight that will in all respects deser'
+ the support of patriotic citizens. Tn
l. is the way we view the situation al
=. the future. Make the fight on exp
Be- diency alone and go down in unho
70 ored defeat, or make it on princip
- and fail, If fail we must. with t
. consciousness of duty well performe
-, BETTER defeat than dishonor. and di
- honor will follow the abandonment
q Democratic principles.
-S-a--e-------
LETTER FROM MR.. BOWIE.