r'fflKwir, m
4
mont and discipline. In addition to that, to too
effective, the organization must bo compact and
cohesive; it must ho courageous and resolute; it
must ho animated by a robust spirit of devotion
to principle, and must exact unflinching fidelity
from those who speak in its councils and ask its
confidence. I say this, because, in my opinion, if
a party has nd fixed principles or policies; if it is
blown by. every varying wind; if it has no well
defined purpose to accomplish; if it has not tho
courage of its convictions, but shrinks from sacri
fice and cowers before every passing storm; if it
xnakes no stern demand of loyalty upon its adher
ents, if it has no law for its government nor spirit
ty enforce its discipline; then there is a party
which will soon degenerate into a mob vacuous,
impotent, wrangling, contemptibleheld under
tho thralldom of selfish men who will grasp at ev
ery expedient which may promise them place and
power.
"Such an organization as that will inevitably
disintegrate and go to pieces, as it should. No
party is worth preserving which is without deep
convictions, and which is not founded upon prin
ciples as upon a rock; and no party, however
worthy, can long stand which does not uphold
with -a strong hand the integrity of its organiza
tion. A bravo man is willing to fight for what ho
thinks is right. Ho may bo beaten more than
once, but ho will not on that account prove re
creant to principle or ceaso to defend his country.
A bravo man may bo beaten, but cannot be driv
en by dread of battle to surrender his manhood,
nor tempted by place to sell his principles. Tho
first thing, for a party to be is to bo right; after
that comes tho struggle to place the right in tho
RBcendant. Defeat, in Itself, does not prove a
principle to bo wrong, nor does tho transitory suc
cess of those who oppose a principle prove them
to be right. The right or the wrong of principles
aiid of policies cannot be determined by that
standard. That rests upon higher ground. I be
lieve the great party which Jefferson founded is
worth preserving. It is worth preserving as a
balancing or conservative force, if nothing more.
But I believe, also, that unless the people are
hopelessly lost to those great purposes and high
ideals which inspired the builders of tho nation,
that tho party will soon come forth again tri
umphant, and will succeed in building still higher
upon the old foundation, and upon correct prin
ciples the mightiest republic ever dedicated to
human freedom. If the party is right wo should
not give it up. If we should give it up, who then
would -fight for tho principles enunciated in tho
Declaration of Independence? Who then would
fight to preserve tho constitution unimpaired?
Who then would fight for those institutions of gov
ernment which tho fathers founded and committed
to our keeping? Are these worth fighting for?
And if you should give up the democratic party,
what would you put in its place? Would you be
willing to substitute a minor or modified edition
of the republican party, or substitute any organi
zation under any name or presence which did not
adhere with strict fidelity to tho principles and
policies of tho democratic party? No, wo should
not dream of giving up the party or the party or
ganization, nor dream of surrendering one jot or
tittlo of Ihe substantial party iaith. On the con
trary, standing as wo now do in the frowning pres
ence of the gravest danger to the republic, wo
should buckle on our armor with firmer hand and
stouter hoart than ever beforo to defend the in
stitutions of our country. If, then, the party is to
bo preserved and made potential, wo must sup
port and defend the party organization.
"Give no heed to a clamor that reorganiza
tion is necessary to success. I am not insensible
to the importance of success, for success is neces
sary to tho attainment of practical results, and I
beliovo in employing every possible legitimato
means to achieve success. But alwavn nw ,rt
consideration of success, should bo tho consider-
The Commoner.
atlon of principle. What is a man profited If ho
gain tho wholo world and lose his own soul,' said
tho apostle, and 'What shall a man give in ex
change for his soul.' And so I ask, what would it
profit the democratic party, save in the spoils of
cfQco, if it should win a victory by a sacrifice of
its principles?
"And what would you have in exchange . for
your party? Some victories aro even worse than
a defeat. If republican ideas are to be enforced
in tho government of the country they should be
enforced by the republican party.
"Would you have the democratic party put
aside its own principles and take up those of tho
republican party, or would you have a democratic
triumph to mean the triumph of democratic prin
ciples? "I deny that reorganization, so-called, is in
any Benso necessary to success or that it would
lead to success. What is meant by reorganization?
If it means anything it means that those former
democrats who deserted their party and sup
ported McKinloy and the republican party in 189G, '
1S98, and lflOO are to be not only received back into
full fellowship, but are to be put into the control
of tho party organization, given the leading places
In the party councils and be thus clothed with
power to direct the -course of party policy. If wo
should bo willing to do a thing like that for the
mere sake of what is called success, are we im
becile enough to believe that it would in fact
bring success? On the contrary, would not a' pol
icy of that kind provoke certain distrust, discord
and confusion? Would it not excite wide-spread
indifference, if not disgust, and thus result 'in
weakening instead of; Strengthening in dissen
sion instead of unity?
"Besides, would not a policy like that be the
very height of unwisdom by setting a premium
on party disloyalty? And Is it ever prudent or
safe to station at the posts of responsibility arid
danger those whose fidelity you have' reason to
question or whoso course and conduct does not
entitle them to your confidence? No, it is certain
you cannot in that way maintain the integrity of
your organization, nor can you win battles in that
way; and a battle won in that way would after all
bo but an empty triumph. It would be a victory
without substantial result; the fruits of it would
turn to ashes in our hands.
"But I do not wish to be in the least misun
derstood about this. I would not have you imagine
for a moment that I am opposed to tho return of
the prodigals. On the contrary, I am anxious to
have them Teturn. I would not proscribe them. I
would impose no harsh conditions upon them. As
Mr. Bryan said, I would even be willing to barbe
cue tho fatted calf when they come, but I would
not be willing to make them a deed to the farm;
and I would want them to help the old hands
raiso ono crop at least, before making them tho
overseers. I say I would impose no conditions for
their return, but I would not place them imme
diately on the picket line-nor give them command
of the camp. No man who comes In the right spirit
from the ranks of the opposition into the ranks of
tho democratic party would either expect or de
sire a preference of that kind over the old vete
rans who have never wavered. A man wno would
come in that spirit would come on mischief bent,
and should not be trusted. If he should come pro
claiming a purpose, or with a secret design, of
overturning the organization or the principles of
tho party lie would be disturber of tho peace, and
a source of weakness instead of strength. Ono
who comes in the right spirit, because ho feels
it to bo his duty to act with the democratic party,
will not signalize his advent by assailing tho or
ganization or the principles of tho party, nor seek
to dominate tho ono nor emasculate the other.
Ho will be content to take his place in the great
body of tho organization, prove his faith by his
works, and thus deserve the confidence of his
follows beforo he asks it I would not close tho
door to promotion against them. On the con
trary, I would open clear tho way to reward, and
, thus tempt them to greater effort and moro con
stant service. But men should win their spura
beforo thoy wear them, andvdeserve to lead beforo
they are clothed with authority. I hope you under
stand mo. I want everybody in the democratic
party we can honorably Induce to join it; I would
welcome all who come in good faith to serve tho
party and promote its purposes; but at tho samo
time I want to see the organization kept in tho
hands of those whose fidelity to party principles
cannot be questioned. I want to see the party
united, harmonious, virile, aggressive; but I want,
also, to seo it uphold its own integrity with un
shaken firmness. I feel and believe that the Mis
souri democracy at least is responsive to this sen
timent. There may be some who think otherwise,
and events, of a local character, may now and then
occur which may excite a fear, posibly a hope, in
those who look on from the outside, that tho party
lines are wavering in Missouri; and events now
and then occur indicating a purpose on the part-of
some who are on the inside to undermine and
overthrow the established organization. But I
have a supreme faith in the absolute integrity of
the Missouri democracy. For years Missouri has
stood like an immovable rock in the midst of tho
sea. When others wavered in the fight for a truo
Jeffersonian democracy and seemed to lose faith
in the permanence of our institutions, the voice of
the Missouri democracy, ringing out like a clarion
note, has recalled them' to the field of honor and
of duty. Standing, as did a great warrior of tho
civil war, like a- stone wall, Missouri has been, an
example'to others in all the fierce rage of party
conflict. And Missouri is as loyal and true. today
as ever, and will remain so. Standing here on
the free soil of this great central commonwealth,
the stalwart democracy of old Missouri will con
tinue to hold aloft with fearless frauds the .torch
of liberty and justice that itff light may shine high
above our plains and mountain tops, and will go on
in the future, as in the past, fighting battles and
winning real democratic victories for the demo
cratic party. My hope is that tho example we shall
sot for other states wilV.not be set in vain."
Long Ago.
Eugene: Field.
I once knew all the birds that came , ;
And nested in our apple trees; -For
every flower I had a name
My friends were woodchucks, toads and bees,
I knew what thrived in yonder glen,
What plants would soothe a stone-bruis'ed toe
Oh, I was very learned then,
But that was very long ago. '?&
V"f .'
I knew the spot upon the hill f V'
Where checkberries could be found; ; $
I knew the rushes near the mill , - ,&
Where pickerel lay that weighed a pound!.
I knew the wood tho very tree ,
Where lived the poaching, saucy crow, J"
And all the woods and crows knew me, -' ' ft
But that was very long ago. I'
And pining for the joys of youth
I tread the old familiar spot; ,
Only to learn this solemn truth:
I have forgotten am forgot.
Yet there's this youngster at my tfneo
Knows all the things I used to know;
To think I once was wise as he
But that was very long ago.
I know it's folly to complain ', .
Of whatsoe'er the Fates decree;""1 '
Yet were not wishes all in vain, -
I tell you what my wish should be:
I'd wish to be a boy again,
Back with tho friends I used to know;
For I was, 0! so happy then
But that was very long ago.