The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-10
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL,
ISSUED Thursday. One Dollar a Year.
REBUILDING A PARTY.

REBUILDING A PARTY.
The interest which is being taken in
the rebuilding of the Democratic party
is apparently genuine and widespread.
It is being discussed intelligently by
men Of all parties and enthusiastically
by those who have never recovered
from their belief in the principles Of
government taught by Thomas Jeffer-
son. An additional interest too, is be-
ing added now to the agitation on ac-
count Of the more or less general adj
mission that the nation has moved
far enough away from the war to per-
NIT of the South using its solidarity
to control the Democratic convention
and compel a return to issues which
were pitched out of the window in
1896
So far as the interest is concerned
which may be accepted as not exactly
partisan in it's character it rests on
the profound conviction of intelligent
men that the country is surest of
safe and sane administration when the
party in power is opposed by well
disciplined and shrewdly led minority
Here in the State of Connecticut we
have had startling illustrations of the
loss incurred in cocksure political
majority. In the days when the nation
al parties regarded Connecticut as neu-
trail ground until the votes were count
ed the State situation represented the
highest political efficiency Government
was found at it's best, the use of the
public treasury was tempered with
fine sense of economy and capable
men found comfort and encouragement
In public life, A serious agitation Of
issues Of government was followed by
performance in the halls of legislation.
The people, by reason of their lively
interest in and concern for their gov
eminent, we're brought near to their
governors. Then the principle of the
referendum found it's freest play, for
men and voters were inspired to take
a part in the political responsibilities
of the campaign. No party, no matter
how secure it's hold upon the offices,
would have dared to play fast and loose
with pledges as the party in power
In the State of Connecticut has done
during the past six months.
1t is the advantage to be gained in
more closely organized political sit
uation that has moved men to hope for
the rebuilding of the Democratic party,
even though not all of them intend to
vote it's ticket They realize what must
be done to crafty their desires and
they are beginning to understand that
unless the South takes the lead in the
regenerating process recent history will
repeat itself with the same disastrous
results. 1t is a difficult thing to sud-
denly lay aside the precedents of thir-
ty years recognition and it is
not strange that Southern men should
hesitate to face old fashioned pre-
JUDGES, but the considerations which
controlled the past generation will not
control the present if the movement
is undertaken boldly and skillfully 1t
is not to be accepted as final fact
that the immense popularity of Mr..
Bryan with the masses stands in the
way of this movement being success
full. 1t is conceivable that his sense
of gratitude would alone encourage
him to serve his party at this period
in its history in a manner to make it
more than ever appreciative of his
abilities. A personally charming man
who has continued to exercise that
fascination over his friends and fol-
lowers that has made President
Roosevelt the talk of the world, he
still lacks the popular confidence
which would make him a successful
candidate for the presidency. Nor
have his ideas and political principles
which were consistently adhered to in
1896 though wrong stood the test of
his own leadership. He has given
way to newer ideas and principles I'M
til it would be difficult to say for just
what he stands to-day. He is OBJ
viously as much at sea at this minute
as the party he has twice led, and it
is still more difficult to see how he can
now substitute plan and a policy
which will satisfy the longing of the
old Democrats to return to the aban-
doned faith because of all faiths it is
the one which possesses the vital
spark, and the one which made the
party one to be reckoned with.
1t is this confused situation which
aves the solid South the opportunity