Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-14

The dictionaries define a democrat
as one who adheres to government by
the people. But that is only nominal
deflnition-one which explains only the
meaning of the term defined without
Indicating anything more of the ma
ture Of the thing signified by 1t than
Is implied by the term itself to every
body who understands Its meaning. 1t
Is equivalent to saying that a demo-
crat is democrat
What is needed at this time is, not
nominal but real, definition Of the
word-one which will explain the ma
ture of the thing defined by reference
to Its origin and history in connection
with American politics. Such defini-
tfon would necessarily relate back to
the principles set forth by Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison in 1898
and 1903, when those men founded the
Democratic party of the United States
those principles being embodied in
certain resolutions, and in report
made by James Madison to the vir-
ginia legislature, insisting upon strict
construction of the language Of the
Federal Constitution respecting the
powers granted to the General Govern
ment and those reserved to the States
A Democrat, then, is strict con-
structtonist.- That is his chief charac-
terlstic. He believes in the doctrine of
State rights, or local self-government-
that is, Home Rule-as opposed to CEN
tralization and Imperialism. He be-
lieves in equality before the law, and
therefore opposes the creation of vest
ed rights or prerogatives and private
monopolles by legislation. He believes
In taxation for revenue only, and there
fore opposes any and all taxes that
foster monopoly, as our tariff laws do
at this time. He believes In the right
Of trial by jury, as that right is guard
ed by the Constitution, and is therefore
opposed to government by injunction.
He believes in majority rule in every
particular locality, but that majority
of the people in the whole country have
the right to rule the minority only so
long rs 1t rules In conformity with the
compact expressed In the Constitution,
whereby it is agreed that majority
Of the representatives of the people In
one branch of Congress, and major
lty Of Senators representing sovereign
States in the other branch, shall make
general laws, subject to qualified veto
by the President, and to numerous re-
strictions imposed by the terms Of the
constitutional compact.
A Democrat also associates himself
with the political party which, from
Its birth in 1898, has always stood
pledged to carry out its policies in ac-
cordance with these general principles.
He opposes those who seek to evade
or nullify constitutional provisions by
stretching and twisting such provisions
In applying them to current legislation
or current judicial proceedings. He Is
plainly distlnguishable from an Ochlo-
crat, on the one hand, and from an i'm
perialist, on the other. For ochlocracy
is a form of government in which the
multitude rule directly whereas, in n
democracy like ours, they govern
through their representatives. And Inn
perlalism-even such as the Imperial
democracy of Athens-denies to its
subjects the right of representation in
Its legislative body and taxes them
without their consent; whereas our
democracy, both in its origin and in its