Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-21
Trlumphant Democracy.

There is patriotism, as well as altru-
ism, in the wish expressed by William
J. Bryan at the Piasa Chautauqua, that
President Roosevelt would bite still
bigger mouthfuls out Of the Democratic
platform.
The Republican party has sustained
itself in power during the greater part
Of the last ten years by the nourlshing
diet Of Democratic policies. If it had
not resorted to that inexhaustible
source of life and strength 1t would
have stumbled and fallen in the very
first election after the passage Of the
outrageous Dingley tariff law. But
before the next election came on the
Republicans took up the Democratic
policy of freeing Cuba, and diverted
attention from the Republican con-
-spiracy to lntrench monopoly to pa
triotic war.
Opportunity was thus given the Re
publicans to modify their traditional
but losing policy of treating the South
as If 1t was not really an integral part
of the United States. President Nc
Kinley greatly strengthened his party
by adopting the Democratic view that
the South is as. much entitled to con-
sideration as any other part of the
country.
President Roosevelt, one of the
shrewdest politicians in the country,
has gone further on this line even than
President Mckinley did. By his court
ing Of Southern support, his frequent
visits to the South and by acquiring q
country home there he has acted upon
Democratic inspiration and put to sleer
for the moment aneissue which for
thirty years consplcuously divided par
ties. But his sinister threat of oblit-
Grating State lines is never out OF
sight.
President Roosevelt's personal popu-
larity as Chief Executive Is due wholly
to those policies in which he has been
guided by the Jeffersonlan principle OF
equal rights to all, special privileges to
none. Following Republican precedents
he would to-day be sprawling in quag
mIre of innocuous desuetude. By press
ing measures long demanded by Dem
ocrats he has become vital force in
the politics Of the time.
But Mr.. Bryan's desire to rebuild the
government Of this country In accord
ance with the plans of Thomas Jeffer-
son can never be gratified by means OF
such an agent US President Roosevelt.
The Presidents Democracy is sporadic.
1t Is not bred into the bone and blood
Of him. 1t is resorted to only when
necessary to carry him through course
on which he has resolved.
No man can be intrusted with the
firm establishment Of the Democratic
principles necessary to the safety OF
this country who would carry out even
Democratic policies by I'M Democratic
means. And 1t is just at this point that
the President shows the cloven foot OF
the most un-Democratic principles ever
uttered in this country.
Like the old Barn Burners Of the
Van Buren, Democracy in New York
he would destroy the well-adjusted fab
ric Of our government In order to rio
1t of nulsances and abuses that can be
done away with by less heroic rene
dies.
The Democratic party makes &C.
acknowledgements to President Roosevelt
for doing some Of Its work. But De,
mocracy can never be Triumphant In
this country, as it was under Jeffer.
son, until it is led to victory by real
Democrat.-St. Louis Republic.