Lower coast gazette., 1913-10-04
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1913.
Destructive Democracy.

fact in practically all of the southern states,
nr;de themselves on their Democracy without
ever imagining that any one man or set OF men
co,ld so distort the Democratic idea as to con-
wort # into an autocracy. The Democratic IDEA
in government is to grant to every Individual
every privilege consistent with successful or
qanized government. The early New England
ers in their town meetings let every man say
his saw. and reached their conclusions by a
majority vote. Thus there was developed a
keen interest in public affairs and the love OF
country and patriotism were found among all
the people. =
The Democracy of those days was generally
rather conservative. Jeffersonian Democracy
was always conservative. When Andrew Jack
son became president his strong will and strong
preiudices led him into some extreme measures
that were said to threaten general disaster 10
the whole country. His career as president OF
the United States wound up with the year 1854
and the greatest panic then known OF IN the
history of the country. This did not prevent
the election of Martin Van Buren,, a New YORK
Democrat, as his successor in 1886, the country
during his administration suffering from the
famous 1897 panic. Harrison dying within a
month after his Inauguration in lo4l. John
TYLER elected as a States rights" Wing was
practically a Democrat and under his presidency
the republic of Texas came into the federal
union. This YVES constructive work. anne X.
Polk elected in 1874, a Democrat, led on to the
Mexican war which confirmed our title to Texas,
~ oJ,.,on1 Nv, Movioo opd poyo nc q l9rUp
part Of Northern Mexico and California. This
was some more constructive democracy, only
surpassed in it's splendor by Jefferson's original
Louisiana purchase in 1903, which was opposed
by the Federalists, saying the constitution
granted no such power. This purchase was con-
~structive democracy.
From 1862 to 1860 the Democratic admins
trations Of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan
gave no evidences OF constructive power and the
great panic Of 1857 gave Buchanan a bad start
and resulted in the loss of control OF the courl-
try by the Democratic party by the success OF
the so-called Republican party, and by its cleo
lion of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency.
Then came the civil war and all of its horrid
memories and the relegation of the Democratic
party to the rear. For sc years, from 1856 to
1912, the Democrats lost control Of the govern
ment.
Several times a Democratic house was Sc
cured and one president, Grover Cleveland,
served two terms. The senate was not secured
until 1912 and during all this half century the
Democratic party stood helpless.
The Republicans displayed their ability first
in carrying on their side of the civil war to a
successful issue. in financing It, and paying the
bulk Of the public debt, in establishing what
has turned out to be a good banking system.
and in controlling the country during a period
in which it became the most prosperous nation
on the face Of the earth.
Now comes the contrast. The Democratic
party comes into full power in 1912 after
years of panic beginning in 1907 as the climax
of the ~piratical careers of Hartman, Morgan
and such, and brought into power because the
people desired relief from the autocratic, mon
o~polistic control OF the great Wall Street cap
i~talists. They chose Woodrow Wilson, a well
educated man, a college president, chosen by
the people of New Jersey to be governor OF
ludC Sttllc, d lid vi SlCdt HGCidly oJAAty dHo
made him the president of the United States,
elected him as a Democrat.
With the Democratic party in power for the
first time in more than half a century what has
it done or what is it trying to do? Congress il
called into extra session and it is announced tina,
free sugar is one Of the chief objects desired
For six long months that has been struggled
over and an agreement only recently reached OF
that one item. Louisiana, one Of the staunches
Democratic states is severely stricken. These
men don't seem to know the needs of their owl
country. They don't seem to know its econom
ic history: they don't know Of the blight tina
fell on the land from 1886 to 1860 because o
similar legislation.
How has the Democratic party manifeste'
its power in the year 1913 with all the lights o
past experience written out before us? First
must be admitted that the split in the Repub
lican party brought to US our success as Demo
Gratis. Woodrow Wilson was not elected by
majority of all the electors, but still he wa
laua1|v o1octod Tho worry osconco nf nonoo