The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-23

Sid In catering to the chosen fcw.
At its best human nature Is weak.
The cares of the world and the deceit
fulness of riches ofttlmes stife gcner.
GUS Impulses. Great crises are neces-
sary to awaken many men to their
sense OF duty. 1t was because
thought a crisis to be at hand that
four years ago ! made the statement
that 80 per cent Of the people. Of Indi.
ana were Democrats at heart even
though they did not know It. ! now
enlarge that statement and declare
that 80 per cent Of the entire country
believe In the historic Democracy Of
Thomas Jefferson. This campaign Is
going to rid the Democratic party Of
every man who does not believe In Its
principles and Is going to add to the
party's ranks. hope. every man who
does believe In them.
Men have allowed their personal In.
terests, ambitions and prejudices to
sway their polit!cn! conduct. and con-
sequently this great body Of American
citizens, thinking alike and feeling
alike at heart. has never been united
under one banner to fight for the COM
mon rights Of common humankind.
The strength Of those determined to
give every man his chance In life, un-
hampcred and unaidcd by legislative
enactment, and to strike down every
species of special privilege inuring to
the benefit of few; Of those like
minded In their view that government
Ia q necessity and not a luxury and
chat business should have Its large op-
portunity for success, but that this
government was made for men. not
corporations; for principles, not inter-
ests, and Of those with sufficient cour-
age and fortItude to drive the money
changers from the temple of our ma
tional life, has been impoverished by
desertions due to personal interests,
ambitions and prejudices.
limo For Patriotism.
This campaign calls upon some for
Justice. upon others for charity, upon
all for patriotism. II does not call for
the bandying of epithets nor for an
appeal to the personal. We may safe
Iy leave to that senie dementla which
has seized the so called Republican
party the personalities Of this cam
paign. Its unfitness to rule the repub-
lie Is disclosed by Its inability to keep
Its temper. II was cohesive so far as
It's leadership was concerned while 1t
was engaged In looting the public. but
even its leaders are now disOrganized
while quarreling over the loot. As for
the party's bosses. the improper infiu.
cnces In American political life are
about equally divided between them.
Everywhere Boss Barnes Ii crossing
swords with Boss Flinn. and their
charges and countercharges disclose
greatness only when we apply Elmer
sons statement. Consistency IL the
hobgobiin Of little minds"
J How comes It that we have reached
such condition Of affairs In American
life that the marty In power Is rent In
twain. that boss Is charging boss with
knavery, crOOkedness and dishonesty
and that each faction Is claiming an
exclusive patent upon honesty and
patriotism while avowing thnt the sue
cess OF the other would spell irrepars'
BILE ruin for the republic? And, more
| particularly. how comes this to pass
under a Republican system Of govern
ment consisting OF coordinate branches
to which were ceded by the people
none Of their inaiienable rights. but
only such powers as were thought to bt
needful to redress the wrongs. pre-
serve the rights and keep unshncklef
the moral. Intellectual and physica
forces of mankind2
Though a majority of the people
have been voting the Republican ticke
and have been assuming thereby tina
the majority would rule, the disgrace
fui but purifying scenes which Lave
been enacted recently In Republican
conventions disclose that large mum
Der Of those who have been voting th'
Republican ticket are Democrats a
heart These scenes disclose furthel
TINT we have been mistaken In some o
our conclusions touching government
In America We have yielded a quie
uSSeHt W tHc bIol'oSiuoh 'H"t "'"J"'
ity IN all powerful and Tint minorit!
hns no rights which majority Il
bound to respect But now we know
that the theory OF the historic Demo
cratic party that II IL the right OF
ajority 10 rule. but only within con
,tItntionai limitations and without tn
vsurpn tion Of u single lnaliennble righ
o. a single individual-is correct,
Majority q Minority.
II is only when majorities thus rul'
that governmental machines NOV
without friction. The ri~ht OF a ma
jority to thus rule must always b
conceded. wonder. however. II !
has dawncd upon the sober secon'
thought Of this people that II IL posi-
bile for n majority to be n minorit!
aud that II Is equally possible for |
minority to be majority. At tirs
blush It would seem that the Otiicial
elected by the plurality OF votes lie
come the representatives OF the major
ity and that as such they rule. But
am not In error when | declare that