Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-16
NEW PRINCIPLES AND NEW
LEADERS NEEDED.

The Democratic State Committee
in a laudable attempt to rehabilitatt
the party fortunes in Delaware, is
sponsoring committees which hope
Il make membership in the Demo
cratic party something TO be desired
We are told that rules are TO be re-
vised. and that money is to be sought
with which 10 maintain a permanent
Leadauarters which may serve as a
rallying point for Democrats.
Every Evening has no connection,
directly or indirectly. with this COM
mittee. This paper is independently
Democratic. But insomuch as in the
past Every Evening has been the only
daily newspaper in this State TO fight
Democracy's battles. the leaders of the
party should not object to a few words
OF advice from a source which has no
interest in any OF the several party
factions. What is printed here is for
the benefit of the entire party, and no
particular clique of politicians.
The Democratic citizens Of Della
ware should not be discouraged be-
cause the Republicans are in power.
both IN the legislative and executive
branches OF government. The wheel
OF political fortune turns. and what
IS today may not be tomorrow. OF
course there are few desirable appoint
merits now held by Democrats, but
this does not mean that Democracy
has no duty to perform when its
representatives are not in office. A
republic without an opposition party
would degenerate into an oligarchy
welding autocratic powers. The
only preventive for such a condition
h strong but fair opposition from an
organized minority. The Democratic
party must act as such in Delaware.
A committee TO revise rules may
render good service: a committee TO
collect money with which 10 defray
legitimate expenses may be neces-
sary. But Delaware Democracy needs
more than mere rules revision and
passing Of the hat. II should undergo
rehabilitation which will make it the
leading progressive force in State
dominated by reactionary leaders in
all parties.
Democracy's Chance for Success.
Recapitulate in your mind the poll
cics. the principles. and the practices
OF the Democratic and Republican
forces in Delaware; you discover small
difference. Both stand for positive
ideas regarding government. but in
negative manner. There is little that
either advocates TO which a reflec-
tive citizen could object Likewise
neither party offers ideals Of citizen
ship which would normally gain the
allegiance Of independent voters.
Therein lies Democracy's chance for
success. The Republican party is re-
dictionary in thought, and feudal in |
operation. When the god of politi-1
cal things, cracks his whip the men I
holding the highest positions in the
State respond. Its leaders bow the
knee 10 the calf of gold unashamed. /
What can Democracy gain by also
remaining in the reactionary rut? If
Democracy will take a positive. Wig
orous stand on certain great issues,
II it becomes a progressive twentieth
century party, and not a reminder Of
medieval days. it will gain many ad-
herents now clinging to the Republi-
can ropes only from force of habit.
il may win enough to turn the scales
to victory.
Within the past six years thousa nds
Of workers have come TO Delaware
from other States. These are now
making their homes here. They are
citizens. The majority of them came
from communities where progressive
ideas Of government have been JUS
tilted. Many of them say that neither
political party in Delaware offers them
refuge. and that neither one staEds
for modern principles Of government. Ii
many remain away from
the polls on election day.
Must Express Modern Thought. 4,
In addition 10 these progressives.
there are the thousands of men who
served in army khaki and navy blue in
time yTsj,a~a .af,,,.,,,,1 ...f.t. 4