The Alaska daily empire., 1916-11-20
rHr vINDIcArIoN or DEMocRAcY
G.ouisville Courler.JournaD

For the reelection of Woodrow Wilson the Demo cratic party is rejoicing today as assuredy t mas every reason to rejoice It has broken precedent prejudice which it had not been able to overcome since the war; and which had denied it heretofore two successive terms in power When lntrusteu WItn the administration of the National Government t nau been more a party of opposition than as party of principle a bludgeon with which 10 punlsh the offending Republicans than trusted instru- ment to do what the Republicans had failed to do; and invariably had been turned out of office arter it had served that temporary purpose.
 l. is a different story today. Four years ago the Democrats came in not because the country had any more confidence in the Democratic party than lt had four years before but because the Republicans boss ridden and spoils-Sodden, Spht among theuselves e more independent and less hde-bOund among them re- boiling against the old order and under the lead of one inordinatey ambitious freebooter, making Democrat
 But that victory meant something than the substitution of set of oftceholders TOT anQther set The Democrats succeeded to the control or the executive and legislative functions Of the Government with far worthier programme than merely 10 draw official salaries until the next elections Ihey nau promised Co do great wOrK, WOrk WIlch lne Re- pubcans many times had promised in vain 10 do, a work which the country needed but which 1t did not believe the Democratic party could would do But the new Democratic President and the new Demo- cratic Congress lost time in setting about to make good their word. Together they went Co worK m earnest They stayed at work in earnest. Patiently, consistently they kept at it. accomplishing in the end what even the most sGngune Democrats themselves had thought impossible and making record or vital constructive and reformatory legislation unequaled Oy any preceding Administration of our government.
 On that record they went before the people, to whom they appealed for the vote of approval and con fidence that their due Their reunited opponents did all that ingenuity. desperation and money could do to prevent such vote the merits of the issue They did all that old and cunning hands at the game could do to becloud and displace the issue. Aided by com dtons promoted by the world war, unprecedented be- fore in our political history, they rounded up into their regular ranks such ragtagand-bobtai or soreheads. criticasters. calamityasters. timed business men, swash buckling sword swalowers and piebad hyphen- ates as before marshalled under one ban the buge call of buncombes bczoo and the rattng drum beats of empty pie pans.
 That against such opposition the Democrats nave triumphed means not only that they have made good but that the country recognizes that they have made good It means that the Democratic party is no longer regarded as merely stick with which to chasten the Republicans: that 1t is longer distrused and dis believed in it's pretentions Co principles and purposes of Its that 1t is measured at last by what 1t IS and what it does
 For this the Democratic party is to be felciaed But beyond that and better than that the country is to be felicated because in coming to deal fairly by the Democratic party it has done itself service which it could have done in no other way; 1t has saved itself from the misfortune Of confusion by the fanfare of the motley opposition and punglng into the dark at this critical period of the worlds history dismissing Administration whose adequacy, safely and aims have been demonstrated for totally un- tried inexperienced unknown in it's purposes and methods and presenting claims to public confidence except rabid denuncaton of those sought to replace
 Under Wilson the country knows what 1t has had; it knows what Co expect That it has not allowed itself Co be swayed by the camor of office seekers and the cOnvulsons of parsans into flying from the tried and the known to the unknown which was all that offered by Hughes means that the country is more to be congratulated on the outcome of the recent election than the Democratic party itself
 America better vindicated the right of self government than by Tuesdays verdict at the polls.