New-York tribune., 1908-06-17
DOESN'T KNOW IT'S ALIVE.
Says THE New York American, apropos o.
the Hon. David g. Hills declaration that there
is no Democratic marty:

Says THE New York American" apropos OF
the Hon. David B. Hills declaration that there
is no Democratic party:
The Democratic party is a corporation
owned by n handful of men not one OF WfloH La
ever faithfully read the Declaration OF tnne-
nendence not one of whom covets the justice
, that free government ruled by men ana iiol
puppets necessarily insists upon, lmps,s. "
mands The party of Jackson, OF Illnen, oe e
Thurman, of Palmer. of George. Oh Macy os s
Ben Hill, of Toombs Of Voorhees, OF tray oI
Harris of Morrison, and of Vest ana eaIoe an -
now merely a tradition. Its ashes are eoi"' f
weirdly come the echoes from its grave
Isn't it inviting reprisals for the organ OF
the only Incorporated party to twit the Democ-
racy with being a corporation! .
But even if the Democratic party Is dead 1t
continues to behave very much as IL IL "eie
alive. 1t keeps up the motions just as IL /,
were still animate and enjoyed the hppio'"i
of Mr. Hill and MIR. Hearst 1t holds coh'eh
tons AT least two men are seeking It's holh-
ination for the Presidency. and the papers 'ahe
enough interest in its proceedings TO recoiu tne
progress of the contests and the capture OF the
delegates 1t is bravely Indifferent to the echoes
that come wclrdIy from its grave. 1t mas read
its obituarv every four years since the war
If the Democratic party is dead, it doesn kho"
# is dead and that we take it, is Il very
pIuckv and commendable spirit In q corpse.
On the contrary. Mr.. Hearsts new party IL
il is alive does not know it is alive. we nave
watched over it anxiousiy for signs OF ANNA
tion. but our patient vigils have been uhre'
war.ied Occasionally there is huttef oil tne
eyelds and muscular twitch, but these synp
toms we begin TO suspect are not ihose vi me-
but of the operations of galvanlsm. Inc SUN
mcr wakes apace and where is the news of a
red hot contest for the Presidential hofhha'ioh
in the Independence party? Where are local
| choosing
and instructing them for favorite sons! "ho
is seeking the nomination? Where are the
tables in the newspapers showing VINO leads Ill
the race? Who are the contestnG deieSales
The Socialist Prohibitionist and other minor
partjes witch have no reyersionary interest
in dead mems shoes and lack that cheeriui
confidence in the breviy of life characteristic
of the heir cxpectant, which delight not III lhe
mortuary statistics of great parties gone betore
and are not moved to extravagant expectations
bv weird echoes from the grave" and other
symbols Of mortality. going about their Dusi-
ness and fulfilling their functions in an orderly
way b,1t where is this new party? NO man
has heard its name for a month. Has 1t gone
to Europe to rest and recruit itself before en-
terjng upon an arduous campaign:
How can a great movement begin amid such
signs of inanimation? Are the men who are
founding the party of the future, the one 10
which mankind will turn with a sigh of relief
from the present moribund huiks that nave
outIived their meaning and their usefulness 1he
one that will stand for real and vital lssues-aie
the men who are doing this great work so III
different to if that there is no striving among
them to lead in it? Where is the shouting, the
nassion. the excitement. the struggle. the gos-
sin that goes with political activity elsewhere
It is time the new party found out that II Is
aliNn