The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-06-10
Inc Mitchell Capital
THURSDAY. JUNE 10. 1908.
DEMOCRATS As MINORITY.

The democratic party is gettin!
away from it's moorings and wander
ing aimlessly around without muci
hope of getting into the %ascendanc.
again. This has beer brought abou
through coalition in political matter!
in the past six or eight years, where
the bars have been let down ant
some benefit from generous republi,
a party men. This recognition
seems to have taken the heart out Of
the democrats to maintain their
party connection with its long-stand.
ing principles, which, however, have
had little opportunity for action in
recent years. The leaders are losing
sight of their great principle of free
trade and in the tariff revision south
ern democrats have been Just as
anxious for protection for articles OF
production in the south as any north
ern man has been. Free trade with
the southern democrats is all right
SO long as it does not affect what they
produce in the south, but when the
evidence out that it is to be
injured by the remoVal of a duty,
then it is hat the southern demo
their northern brethren. The New
York World has an interesting artic-
lie on the perpetuity of the democra-
tic party relating to the minority flu
ture of the party, in which it says:
Independence of party if not in
difference to party is eXemplifled al
most daily at Washington in a man
ner hat is calculated to give the
free lance in politics muci satisfact-
ion. A Republican President having
two Democrats in his Cabinet APP
points a Democrat to the federal
bench in North Carolina, and in the
Senate eleven Republicans vote
against their party for lower tariff
taxes and two Democrats array them
selves with the orthdox Republicans.
A few days ago in the House there
was a disruption of party alignments
that was even more impressive.
eff these events could be attribut-
ed to a growing disposition to pur-
sue the right regardless of party they
would be highly agreeable, but it is
probable that they result chiefly from
the inability of the Democratic party
to improve a great opportunity to
serve the country in opposition. A
Democratic party honestly fighting
Republicanism would have no repre-
sentatives in the Cabinet of a Repub-
lican President. A Democratic party
resisting plutocracy and privilege in
government would so solidify the
ranks of Republicans that no Repub-
lican members of congress would
venture to dissent from his associates.
A Democratic party North and South
standing boldly for its own principles
would not contribute any Federal Of
dce-holders to a Republican admins
tration.
THE inevitable rivalry and friction
which a true Democratic opposition
would produce could not fail to
strengthen pariy lines on both sides.
The larger passions might be magni-
fed, but it would be at the expense
of the smaller. Personal %seltshness
would give way to considerations of
greater magnitude and probably of
higher ethical value. Local issues and
individual ambitions would be swal-
lowed up in wider movements for the
general good.
ut will not make much difference
in the long run how many Democrats
receive Office at the hands of an ami
able Republican President or how
many democratic communities are fed
on the crumbs that fall from the tab
lie of a condescending %plutocracy. A
party in pretended opposition which
is content with this sort of thing will
remain a minority forever"