The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-31
.CAFFEY ON PARTIES
FORMER M0NTGOMERIAN ABLY
 sUPPORTING BRYAN.
In His Speech To the Democratic Club of Princeton He Gives Reasons For His Faith in
 Democracy

Princeton, Oct 30-tB3eciai. )--col :. Francis G. Caffey, formerly of Mont gomery, but now Q member of a we'll known law firm of New York City. de- livered an able and impressive address to the Princeton Democratic Club to- night, advocating the election of Bryan and Kern,
 While Colonel Caffey's preliminary remarks were devoted to c discussion of the duty of every thoughtful man to choose his party, the main part of his address was a splendid argument de- voted to the advocacy of the principles of the Democratic Party.
 To two featurts of the Democratic faith Colonel caffey discussed fully and exhaustiye.y--the tarlff and the reten- tion by the States of their constitu- tionai rights. On these two points he argued, the Republican and the Demo- cratic Party differed most widely. The position of the Democratic Party ap- pealed to him. as that from which the weli-founded principles O. Democrat ic government could best be advocated and put into practice.
 Believing with the Democratic Par ty on these and other principles. to which the party had given allegiance for many years. he was and would re- main Q Democrat. To his young hearers, Colonel Caffey gave this advice:
 My first advice to you is to settle upon fixed. stable principles and choose your party accordingly.
 Some compromise. to be sure. Is nec- essary if you are to be party man. Even the Independents must compro- mise in selecting for whom they will vote. So long. however, as your party Is in accord with your essential prln- ciples, or even more nearly tn accord with them than your opponents, vote for it, Disregard non essentials In poll itics---as you must do in every depart ment of your experience--apd by your active participation in your own party seek to conform its conduct to your po- iitical ideals. lou need neves expect to be in complete agreement with all the current policies of either party. Where shall you draw the liner When shall you refuse to support your own party? Only an enlightened conscience can guide you as to that. But choose your party and give 1t your aid. 'In being a party man you should in all good nature concede to your oppon- ents the right to differ with you; and remember that your own party is the better for healthy opposition. In pol- itics. as in business, active compett- tion is the surest incentive to exect- i've accomplishment.
 "The duty of participation fin politics is equally incumbent on all citizens; but the responsibility for intelligent action Is more incumbent on college men. While always realizing that you are members of a democracy, and that no one is entitled to class himself above another member. yet. young gem tlemen, you have a peculiar responsi- bIlity because you have been favored with peculiarly good opportunities to enable you to choose wisely. Have faith in your countrymen and feel free to join either party. Neither party possesses all the virtues nor compre- hends within it's membership ali the vIrtuous. If one party has less than the other, your services to that party may be the greater if Its principles accord with your views.
 'You have ideals. You may fear that these will be shattsred when you leave these college walls and get into the turmoil of the world outside. beg you to stand by these Ideals, and want to assure you, # my vobserYat ton has taught me aright. that practical ex- perienee in life will confirm your polIt- icai ideals. If you participate active ly in politics and keep inc essentials clearly in mind, these ideals will be strengthened. There is perhaps no class of men you will meet whose promises will be more scrupulously kept than politicians"