Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-20
",NEvITABle" AND ~Meos-
chi ED

| 4 speaker at a banquet recently CIV
en- by one Ct the democratic societies
in New York assumed the role OF ad'
| wiser and outlined pain by which he
thought "A democratic victory could be
| secured. His plans for the party to
uuit opposing the inevitable and at
| tempting the impossible" This is
quite a striking phrase and it is about
as definite as the CIPHER dispatches
which pas constantly nrtween those
| democrats who wan to make tn"
democratic party competitor with
the republican party for the support
CT the pluhcratic element. or courS"
the democratic party ought not to OPP
pose tn" "ineTitablr.' but what Is IN
evi;ablr? Shall We call thing newt
abb, merely because the republicans
stand for 1t? Is imperialism newt
able The republicans have won
three elections in which the demo,
Gratis opposed imperialism. Are tn"
trusts inevitable? The republicans
have won four elections in which the
democratic party opposed the trusts.
Is high tariff inevitabl"?' The re
publican party has wcn half dozen
victories when the democratic party
asked for tariff reform. The demo
"rat who attempts to give advic"
ought to b" NOR" specific; he ou2ht
to panty state what he regards as
inevitable for democrats might differ
Oh this vcrp important question.
II Is true. also that the democratic
party ought net to attempt the i'm.
possible" But what is impossible?
~.
the election e senators by the people.
Is this impossible? The part has in
three campaigns advocated an income
tax Is that impossible? 1t has IN
sisted upon the elimination of tn"
principles of private monopoly. Is
that impossible? 1t has cOEtended for
4 reform Of the tariff in the interest
Of the consumer. Is that impossible?
Is has drmanded labor legislation in
he interest OF the WaG" carnors Is
that impoSSible' I'm the last campaign
II demanded the publication. before |
III" cl"cucn. of campaign Contrhu-
lions. Is that an impossibility? 1t de-
man led the security OF bank deposits?
Is that impossible? Those who talk |
about reorEanizing the democratic ,
party ought to de the rank and file /,
If the marty the honor TO outline tn" |
basis Of REORGANIZATION and the plat |
form upon which the rc0rganlZing is |
10 take place.
Possibly the character OF the reor
-arization desired is indicated by the !
Dlan proposed namely. that a com
mittcr-to the national committee"
bat 4 s"lf appointed committee. or If !
lot Srlf-appOinted. appointed by those ,
who assume the authority to appoint ,
shall outline a cCursc for the future. !
This is an arisiCcratic way OF re. J
"orm.ng tn" democratic party. The !
"eoreanizers will learn what they |
ought to know already. namely. that |
the democratic party is party or
yaniZe,i from the voters ur, mont frcm |
few leaders down. The democratic |
voters have the right to frame the |
platform and to select the issues. A !
iefcat can not rob the voters Of the |
rarty of the right tC control the !
,arty's course. If the party is defeat |
I'd when the majority controls the |
,arty s policy. can it hope for victory |
ny turning the control over to a min
,r.t,, II defeat fellows when the !!
Marty makes an honest fight for prin-
'iples plainly stated. can it nope to |
win victory by making n dishonest |
fight on an ambiguous platform. and !
pledged te nnothing in particular?
Those who think republican policies |
nevita6l are not safe advisers of tn" |
democratic party; those who think |
democratic reform Impossible can
scarcely expect large or enthusIas- |
.ic following in the democratic party. |
TIL" CCmmoner.