The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-24
4 TRUMPET CALL.

At . meeting of the Indiana Demo. cratic editors at French Lick Springs Ia few days ago. there was . large at. 1 tendance of editors and prominent Democratic leaders. The Indiana Demo crats are always on guard and never let an opportunity pass for pressing sound arguments upon the people. The | President of the association, Mr. A. B Crampton. editor of The Delphi Times. made quite a notable speech. MT Crampton was . Federal soldier ana part of his service was in Alabama He has never faltered in his democracy and his remarks at the meeting were so full of wisdom and patriotism that we gladly publish a portion of them for circulation here in Alabama. It Is really refreshing to have prominent Democrats in the West uttering sucn wholesome words:
 Our party was founded at a time when the rights and privileges of the people were menaced by selfish ana aristocratic class" said Mr. Crampton, This class was the interiors ot the English ideas of government which parted with as smal la snare of power Tn governmental affairs as possible, Absolute authority, absolute control over all departments Of government was their object
 Thomas Jefferson, far seeing the re- suits of such class domination in the political affairs of the country, resist ed the aristocratic class and out of that resistance was organized the Democratic party. It has. therefore. naturally. as essentially. become the party of the people. It has. through it's policies. best interpreted the spirit of the constitution; as. by its organiza- tion, 1t has best answered the higher demands of an unselfish patriotism. For upwards of eighty years it has kept its organization. neither depres- sed by defeat nor unduly eiated by vic tory. It has maintained its principles advocated its policies and survived its disasters and mistakes.
 The origin of the party was the result of the political and social con dition of that time. It's basic princi- ples were the reservation of the rights and privileges of the people; and to prevent the transrerence of all political power into the hands of the few. Its policies were formulated in convention and carried out by its leg islative representatives It's leaders were animated by spirit of unsel- fish patriotism and for nearly fifty years directed and controlled the po- Htical affairs of the nation. Men were selected for public office, for thelr known capacity and integrity. assuring to the country an honest and compe- tent government.
 Distracted and divided in 1860 the party passed out of power. During all the years that it has been party in opposition. it has retained the in- domitable spirit of its organization and kept its standard well forward on every political battlefield. It has met defeat, made mistakes and overcome disasters for the reason that 1t Is the only political organization that rep resents the vital spirit of the consti- tuition, and the genius of our poll teal institutions.
 '"To me, gentlemen, it has been matter of great regret that in the past few years under the influence of new conditions, something of departure has taken place by our party from those traditionary principles so long the governing influence in party coun- Gil. l recognize the fact that the ma terial development of the country, the enormous influence exerted by inso- lent and sordid wealth and the hollow shams disgusting its supremacy in ma tional affairs. has called for legisla- tive action and popular opposition; but I can not but regret that our party. in seeking to overthrow the Republican party. has departed from some of our time honored principles in the hope of winning the assistance of political units not in harmony with either the spirit or purpose of the Democratic party.
 Our late national platforms are pie bald affairs with political error and political truth so intermiugled that 1t is difficult to separate the one from the other. This has alienated from active participation in our coun- cils many able men who gave luster and credit to the Democratic cause. and honor to the people. The party, as a political unit, has been impaired and its efficiency as political organ ization nullified. Have we not been 8 little too eager for success, and in that eagerness. too ready to discover ian democracy?
 The Democratic party has mag nificent opportunity to take advantage of the aroused and indignant public sentiment of the country. Our work is before us. We have but to take 1t up and carry it to a triumphant Suc cess. Let us not nake the mistake that the fly onPthe axle of the cart made, when it thought it raised all the dust Let us be true to the tra- ditionary principles Of JeffeI sonian democracy and avoid new creeds, new dogmas, new illusions. Let the wis dom of the party be put above the wisdom of the individual and then. gentlemen. we will . our political banner, like sunburst, waving vic- tory to her faithful supporters, cheer ing and encouraging us for renewed efforts for the welfare of our beloved 
 A BAD MIX-UP.