Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-10

x driyeling of late about the Democratic
party as if it were dead and done for,
or were to be at most a mere block of OBJ
structiveness in the new Congress. But no
party ever died from outward defeat SO long
as it remained inwardly true to a reasonable
faith and none ever ceased to be useful so
long as it played we'll the part of Intelligent
and honorable opposition.
peculiarly important part that will be
in American politics after March the fourth
next, important not only to the Democratic
party, but to the Republican party as we'll,
and most important of all to the country.
The part of ''intelligent and honorable OPP
position, we say, not the snarling and snap
ping of mere partisanship. We have had all
too much of that silly churlishness, particu-
larly during the last few years. Many Re-
publican opponents of the Wilson adm1n1stra-
ton have given themselves over either to
childish kicking and screaming or to senile
petulance. They have behaved if no good
thing could come out of Democracy, as if
any and every suggestion from the support
ers or the party of Woodrow Wilson should
be fore-judged and condemned. Indeed, Re-
publican tactics in Congress since the close
of the war have been stupidity and oft
times so maliciously partizan that they
would have brought down the country IS
crushing rebuke in the last election, had not
the popular mind been blindly bent upon
change regardless of reason or right.
But there is better, higher role for
the party of opposition than that into which
the followers of Mr.. Lodge and his like al
lowed themselves to shuttle. Opposition can
be reasonable and progressive, just as crit
ieism can be constructive and helpful.
Without such criticism and such opposition,
human endeavors are in danger of losing
vitality and worth One reason why self
government at it's crudest is better than
autocracy at it's best is that under self-gov-
eminent there is free play for public opin-
ion, favorable and unfavorable so that the
political order is the more readily purged Of
error and i'll and can be kept adjusted to
changing needs.
In the period which we are to enter on
March the fourth, it will be the duty of the
Democratic minority in Congress to fulfil
this highly important function. If it opposes
intelligently and criticizes constructively it
will be serving its own best interests, for by
no other means could it so effectually keep
It's wits sharpened and it's moral high It
will be serving also the best interests of
government by keeping the Republican or
ganfzation upon its mettle and constraining
1t to lively sense Of responsibility. Thus
will the Democratic party, overwhelmingly
beaten at the polls though it was, continue
vital and serviceable, and turn it's role of
opposition to richly constructive ends
1t will not be surprising if there are eff
rorts IN the new Congress to undo or i'm
pair some OF the great liberal legislation
OF the last eight years. and to restore un-
just privileges, along with unwholesome in
fluences, which were expelled in that time
OF rectifying and cleansing. To oppose all
such destructive and retrogressive tenden-
cies, to fight them with will of flint as inya
sions of American right and betraya1s of
American trust will be a seasonable mis-
sion of the Democratic minority
Just as certainly, on the other hand, the
party which is surrendering control should
0rerate in all truly constructive and we'll
advised movements of the new administra-
ton. To oppose measures simply because
they are of Republican origin would be, not
thoughtful opposition, but contemplate pet
tifogging and would ALLEVIATE that indepen-
dent-minded element of Americans from
whom Democracy's ranks ever have been
and ever must be recruited