The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-06-02
The Democratic Party is
the Party of the People.

y
For some time The Journal has
been troubled in mind over the mental
condition of its young friend, the edi-
tor of the Jasper News. The peculiar
way in which he looked at one of our
editorial paragraphs has accentuated
our fear. The whole thing will be
evident from the following:
Our glorious statesmen at Tallahas
zee refuse to reform the primary cleo
lion laws and they thus give a blow
In the face to Florida and her chill
dren. Well, the mills OF God are still
in operation and continue to grind
exceeding small. "-Pensacola Journal.
If the primary system is one of the
mills" referred to it is fact that it
has ground democracy exceeding
small" II has reduced the once
powerful democratic party of this
state 90 a conglomeration of demo-
Gratis, republicans, populists and So
eialists, comparable to nothing on
earth except boarding house hash. It
is high time for the democrats TO
call a mass meeting, adopt a plat
form cut loose from the primary Sys-
tenn and once more stand for some
thing more than an unseemly scram-
Bile for Office.
We dislike to interfere with the
foregone conclusions of a youthful
and enthusiastic editor such as the
one who propounds the policies and
directs the energies of the News, but
If democracy means anything at all
Ii means the pronunciamentO of the
people And, as democrats, we should
be truly thankful if all classes and
conditions of white men enter our
primaries and give opinion as to the
men they wish to represent them.
We should be glad even if they be
ope-tine republicans, populists and
socialists; for even the boarding
house hash" is savory, healthsul and
satisfying food when we know there
are no rats in its composition.
The primary election is the call of
the people That is what democracy
stands for and always will stand for.
1t does not ask a man who enrolls
under its banner whether he be honest
or a traitor; it leaves him to deter
mine the fact himself, and he must
5e a craven. indeed, who would as
sumo the obligation belonging to so
grave a position and theu prove him
sell disloyal. We must confess We
have yet enough belief in men to
aout the charge that they would prove
reDegades to duty of such a sacred
character.
The democratic idea was always
and ever will be one to welcome all
sorts and conditions of men to join
the forces of humanity that work for
q better realization of the profound
truth contained in the declaration of
independence-the declaration that
men are born equal; and if they fail
IN the run of life to overtake that
truth. they have failed to grasp their
opportunity.
In the selection of those to repre-
sent them and perform the political
duties required for the proper exercise
Of government, there surely can be
no better method than that of an cleo
ton through which the people will
speak directly. 1t is safer, certainly,
than to trust a choice to a limited
convention. History has shown that
ii is easier for the designing to reach
and influence a small number than to
reach and influence a large aggrega-
ton. The senate of Rome stabbed
Caesar, one of the most patriotic and
benevolent politicians and generals of
the ancient world, not the devoted
people whose offered crown he re-
pulsed thrice. And it is unnecessary
to call the attention of our dear young
brother of the News to the desolation
which followed the murder OF Rome's
most righteous leader; for even small
boys in knickerbockers know all about
IT,
The Staying of the honest men Of
the world, from Abel to Cnrist and
up 90 the present day OF the Chris
tan era, has been of conventional
origin, not popular, and had the
murders of history. both reputational
and physical, been left to the people.
Gay EaniA RaKar have hAen CAM