The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1913-05-30
DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL.

ne resigned the gOVern0rShfp to enter
upon his duties as president, he re-
marked that New Jersey was not far
from Washington, and that he would
return if the "old gang" attempted to
regain control of the machinery of the
state. The "old gang" went to work
as soon as he departed from Trenton,
and 1t succeeded in preventing the
adoption of some of the reforms which
the party had promised. True to his
word, he went back, and he has been
giving the country an illustration of
his fighting qualities. He does not
mince matters when he talks. He I'M
derstands the polite language used in
diplomacy, but he also understands
the more direct language employed in
a political fight. He has left no doubt
of his intention to live up to the re-
sponsibilities of citizenship in New
Jersey as well as up to the require
ments of the national Office to which
his country has elevated him.
He also understands that the Demo
cratic party is on trial and that it can
not hope for long lease of power un-
less it makes good Here are his
words
But | want to say a few words
about the Democratic party. l want
everybody to realize that l have not
been taken in by the results of the last
national election. The country did
not go Democratic in November 1t
was impossible to go Republican, be-
cause it could not tell which kind of
Republican to 60 The only hopeful
and united instrument through which
it could accomplish its purpose was
the Democratic party. There are GER
tain things which we want done, the
country said, not certain persons ele-
waited.
There were certain things which
we wanted demonstrated, such as that
the government of the United States
can not be controlled by private inter
ests. Now, the Democratic party is
going to have try at making these
things successful and if it does not
succeed we are not going to have an
'other try"
He is wise in keeping the facts be-
fore the public. Conditions became so
bad that the Republican party, upon
full consultation, decided that it was
not competent to remedy them. The
leaders could not agree. Most of the
Republicans admitted that something
ought to be done, but half of them
thought that the remedy proposed was
worse than the disease, so, by mutual
consent, they agreed to turn the job
over to the Democrats. They went
through the form of fighting each
other-the two factions debut they
must have known that the division
made it impossible for either side to
win They thus confessed that what
ever reformation was necessary must
be left for the Democrats to devise
and bring about.
With clear understanding of his
task, President Wilson has undertaken
the work, and that he is succeeding
admirably, most of the Republicans
even will admit One sure proof of
the acceptibility of his efforts is found
in the fact that the Republican fac
lions are not able to act together to
obstruct his plans. But the promise
of success is the greater because the
president understands that the Demo
cratic party is on trial, and that the
same memorable law that drove the
Republican party from power when
its subserviency to Wall street be-
came fully understood will operate
for the overthrow of the Democratic
party if that party permits special
privilege and private interests to dull
it's sensibilities and defeat its high
purposes. 1t is fortunate for the
party and for the country as well,
that the nations president has such a
clear appreciation of the work to
which he has been called.-Bryan's
Commoner