Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-14
The Future of the Democracy

Independence party that the national
Democracy was making its last fight,
that it would be overwhelmingly de-
feated, and that, out of it's disintegra-
ton, would come such a strengthening
of the Independence party as would
constitute it in 1912 the leading COM
petitor Of the Republican forces. 1t
is very evident that the result of the
a very demoralized condition, and il is
entirely possible that foul years from
now 1t may be satisfied to make its bid
for power by a coalition with the In
dependence party that will rob it of its
name and its identity. 1t is very evil
dent that so long as Mr.. Bryan re-
mains the boss of the Democracy it
can never look for success in a ma
tlonal election and there are no indi-
cations that ne has abdicated his lead
ership Or that his party as a whole
desires him to do so. Already thu
South is FESTIVE at his long domination
of the national Democracy, and were it
to join hands with the independence
party as the leaders of that organiza-
| ton effect to believe will be the case,
| the days of the Democracy as a sep
| arate political organization would be
| at an end. Certainly it must be evil
| dent 10 all observers of political events
that the Democracy can only hope for
! ascendancy in national affairs by be-
| ing able in some way to convert at
least 100000 voters who this year
| gave their support to Taft, who sup
ported Mr.. Mckinley in his two cam
paigns and who four years ago de-
| clared themselves at the polls for
Theodore Roosevelt. This change in
political sentiment ard in political
alignment can never be made by the
| Democratic party with its present
policies and under its present leader
ship, and it seems exceedingly doubt
full, if it persists in keeping along
present. lines and maintaining present
conditions, if it can much longer main
tain its existence In this country as a
separate political organization. Ger
tainly the future of Democracy was
never darker than it is today. 1t has
always been the policy of this party
after long periods of political defeat to
endeavor to retrieve its shattered for
tunes by coalitions with any other
political organizations which promised
additions of strength. 1t fused years
age with the Grcenback party in this
State, and in the 7O's swallowed its
convictions and it's party pride to such
5 an extent as to select for it's national
candidate Horace Greeley who had
been all his life opposed to the princi-
pies of the Democracy and who had
I been one of it's bitterest and most per
sistent enemies. And yet, so des-
: perate was the Democracy at that time
= that it made this man its standard
= bearer in the vain hope of securing
through him, strength enough from
3 the Republican forces to enable it tC
5 succeed in the election. The result was
f one of the most sweeping and most
I humiiating defeats in it's entire his
tory All through the West, in years
5 back, Democratic coalition witt
3 Populistic forces has been common
, and the fact must not be overlooked
= that Bryan himself, the present i'm
perial boss of the national Democracy
first came into public life and notice
;, as member of the Populist party
I and later succeeded in grating Tho
). principles of that party upon the ma,
e tional Democracy. Unquestionably
i Democratic leaders at this time vii
{ scout the possibility of their party be
c ing absorbed by the independence
$ party four years from now, but tn,
S rank and file Of the Democracy is thor
= oughly discouraged, and four year:
f hence may be willing to enter into any
|. combination, even if it involves tn.
sacrifice of the party name. which viii
/, hold out any promise Of success at the
x polls
|