The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-05
ESSENTIALS OF DEMOCRACY.

There has always been more Of CEN
trallzed purpose In the republican than
In the democratic party. The former
more readily responds 10 discipline
than the latter. Tho republican Ia
more willing TO leave the determination
OF issues, to his leaders. the democrat
more insistent on deciding them for
himself. This trait Of democrats lie
inherent In the very term itself. This
| difference between the two parties Is
fundamental. Notwithstanding the fact
that public men sometimes forget or
| ignore Il. Az n corollary OF this dif-
ference, compact organization among
democrats is more difficult. than among
| republicans.
History. we believe bears us out In
the observations above recorded. An
drew jackson. one OF tho country's
| typical ''strong men," was the hrst ex-
ponent Of party organization, as such
organizations are now known. He
ruled for q while with mastery
hand, but the reaction came and over
nholmed his successor, Mr.. Van Buren,.
MIR. Cleveand's logged determination
TO exert personal control had a similar
disastrous result upon his party. His
Interpretation Of party leadership was
very similar TO that OF President Will
son. Each considered himself tho au-
| thorixed and commissioned spokesman
OF his party rather than its servant.
There was this difference noted. In
| the sequel TO the leadership of Clove-
| land and Wilson: In the case OF the
former. the party refused TO indorse
the contention OF the president II had
elected. II reorganlzed itself on tnde-
pendent lines. In the latter case. the
party decided 20 stand with Its putative
leader II encountered defeat In both
instances, but made much more
credltnble showing in the FIRST. That
republicans are much more tractabe
than democrats ls shown by the better
success OF Presidents Lincoln and
Roosevelt In throttling opposition in
their own party than attended the cf-
forts Of Cleveland and Wilson.
Popular government, which 10 only
another term for democracy, II cum
bersome az best. II does not function
10 rRpidly--or perhaps no eiiiciently--aa
more centralized or condensed or
Eanization Our constitutional fabric.
however, accords with this elaboration
OF method. Ambitious men, In their
anxiety 20 achieve results, are neces-
Hariiy more or less impatient OF re.
strains, They seek more direct means
OF accomplishment II ID this con-
ception Of party leadership which has
found It's most emphatic exemplhcation
In Presidents Cleveland. Roosevelt and
Wilson.
II has been said that the best anti
dote for democracy Ia more democracy.
n the people commit an error. let Il
be pointed out to them, They may
be trusted 10 correct II. This Is con-
fessedly a slow process but there Ia
sometimes danger In going too fast. II
" evident that our institutions do not
contemplate concentration OF authora
ity, II was the intention OF the fathers
so 60 distribute powers ~ TO prevent
ABSORPTION by any one department, The
president may inform congress OF the
state OF the union and make recon-
mendntione, but may not remove Anal
responsibility from the latter.
The democratic party must continue
10 be the party OF progress. or II must
die. But II must keep nearer TO con
stituiional ideals. II must become more
democratic. Its inal DEGREES must rep-
resent the consensus OF nonular opinion
instead Of the policies OF the accredited
leader No man. however wise or great,
Chu always nF tfuh4tu 10 interpret tnt
win Of the people, As James @, Blaine
once remarked the appeal lies 10 them
With the conception restored that pub
lie officials are servants instead OF lead
ers OF the people, progress may be
slower but II win be more Eteadfnat.
There win he fewer abrupt reverses.
The democratic party II normally the
party OF the people, Let II take couu
ael OF them, Lot II make peace with
itself Let Il cultivate liberation rather
than prescription The humhlest citizen
has right 20 be heard In It's delibern-
tons, No man so exempllhea democ-
racy IN It's essence as 10 be authorized
10 determine the democracy Of others
or any others, Such attemptr should
not be permitted--and will always be
resisted. Unless democracy reoognlxcs
the voice OF the people In its own
household affairs and IN tho country
generally, II has no right 10 the name,
When Il does this, the people will ind
work for II 90 do.