Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1894 — STAND FAST BY DEMOCRACY [ARTICLE]

STAND FAST BY DEMOCRACY

It is well to reflect that all the laws which have le- up to the present conditions of unrest and dissatisfaction have been placed on the statute books during the thirty years of Republican rule. The Republican party held power so long only because it was cunning enough to divide the majority of The people which has always been against it. It is responsible for the impoit tion under contracts with protected industri.s of great hoides of the lowest grades of European labor, aud from these additions ‘o our population come the ones who were guilty of rioting and destruction of property going on in and around Chicago. The laboring class, if it would deal feankly with itself, m ust admit that to a large extent it is res| onsible for the long continued supremacy of the Republican party in power. Whatever labor deplores in the existing social order it must not fora get that ty dividing its vote it has made these evils possible. And yet labor serins to have torgotten, for it is dow preparing to hold to the fata! policy its dividing votes by encouraging the fovmatior of a third party. Nothing could be more discouraging to the real friends of a reo g&nization of society in humane principles than tea attempt to correct the great wrongs ag dnst the masses by di viding their strength at th i polls. There is no difference on practical questions between the Democrats of the Weßt and the Fopulists. The Democracy of Indiana especially has shown by legislation friendly to the plain people and by the repeal of laws o, pressive of labor placed on the statute books by Republic an Legislatures that it is not only sincere but aggressive in its support of all humane measures. And it is pai ty divisions in Indiana with which Indiana voters alone areconcerned. The Courier knows the Democracy us this State pretty thoroughly. They are too intelligent and courageous in their conviction to submit to the dicWs tion of professional politicians.— They are in earnest in the determination that there shall be tariff and currency reform'and the overthrow of corporate powers. There i? not the least doubt about this and as no political party has ever yet been able to create an entirely new social order at once so it is the wildest of dreams for the PopaI sts to hope for the accomplishment except by degrees of their elaborate and in many respects wholly impracticable ideal of government- Their purpose to take a hand 111 tb<- coming campaign as u separate and distinct party is doubtless prompted by sincere and I I nest motives bu the inevitable resu't of their movement will be !o assist the Re üblioans baok into imver. Th iy will learn then the madness of their present move., inent for the restoration of the lleimblican party to the ?.>ntrol of the federal government in all its branches means the control of the ballot box by federal laws and the establishment of a standing army t. furnish bayonets at every poll in tbe United States. General Schofield has a ren.lv declared thaf I s:anding arm is a necessity, and he has the number at 400,000, whioh he says is the least force that can I e successfully handled to police the entire country. Do we understand that the Populists desire such a result as this? Does any one of them imagine that the reform which they aud the Deinorratio paHy in common contend for will ever be accomplish-d if a standing a? my becomes a fixed fact? Is organized labor so enamored of federal interference that it is ready I I vote in a way that is absolutely pertain fio mqke federal ii ;ce a permanent b nture in the future? If so, if cap get wfiat 11 wants by young with the Populist part) and so make sgre of a return to p w-r of a party responsible f 1)” everv law on the statute books j directed” against labor, aud there are no other liwson the federal statute books except those which 1 enable a few people to steal themselves rich. Whatever others may do let no Democrat f Iter or desert the ranks ot ‘.he party, that h ts always stood for liberty, for equality ai d fra teruitv. Al! appeals for Dent 's c its to desert thej old flag fuov ha'-e followed through ; ( ,’f disaster and defeat are prompted by the emissaries cf plutocracy, w hose policy is, as it always has been since Monev has been acounted of m re consequence than YDn, to “divide and conquer.” There is absolutely no hope for

the triumph of reforms demanded by The People iti the interests of The People that c. n be effected uuder present conditions except through the agency of the Democratic paitv. There have been disappoin ments grii vious anti sore among Democrats over the failure of the party to give the relief it promised in its national platform. But every Deocrat knows tkat these .horMomiugs are not due to any lack of sincerity or loyalty to democratic principles on the part of the democratic members of the house and all but a few democratic senators. few have betray ed the paity. They belong to the plutocratic clas a . Their place is in the Republican ranks where thov will ultimately bn fouud. But they have had a balance of power and have wielded it t r *he soD beuefit of their pocket-books. Are we to abandon the great cause of The People and bf liberty because of traitors in our midst? Suppose Washington had given up in despnir when Benedict Arnold was disclosed. YY'liat would history have said of him less cuntemp! uous than it has said of Arnold? The c nsequences of a cowardly surrender on the part of YVr.shiugton would have been as disastrous to a free government as the triumph of Arnold s treusou.

The democratic party must stand fast. Heroes who have stood shoulder to shoulder in the thickest of the battle must not falter new. If there are timid souls who fear the shock of the coning conflict ,et them step to the rear and clear the way for braver and truer men. If ther.- are any who wo’d weakly desert the torn and tattmed hut glorious flag of democracy let them go now. If there is only a corporal’s guard left let it be knoWh that they ire true men behind whose steady line the friends »f equal laws hdcl equal justice for all may raf ol in their Dues.—Evansville Courier.