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follows as to bo called- to any position which ho Is
'qualified to fill.
Tho porlod between 1892 and 1896 was a
chaotic ono, and during this porlod moro now men
woro brought into political prominence than in
any similar period since tho war. In both tho
democratic and republican parties but more espe
cially in tho democratic party now men. forged
to tho front becauso they understood tho issues
presented and had tho courage to take up tho
fight, when older and moro experienced men aban
doned tho pcoplo's side. Business men who had
never boforo spolcon In public found -that -they
could speak effectively; young men. who had had
no practice on tho stump quickly put to rout
votoran campaigners who woro once leaders
whon thoy had followers. Whilo all tho -people
ought to Btudy public questions for themselves and
ought to bo prepared to discuss them, a largo pro
portion of tho people are inclined to leave the dis
cussion to others, and aro disposed to support
thoso who can best present what seems to them
to be tho sido of justico and fairness, and many
young men throughout tho land can date their
success in politics from tho day that they chose
the sido of the people, and risked tho enmity of the
great railroads, tho great banks and tho great
newspapdrs.
Wo aro about to enter upon another fight
quite similar to that which took place just be
fore the Chicago convention. Then tho rank and
file of the party repudiated the administration and
took tho party organization out of tho hands of
thoso who had betrayed tho democracy into the
hands of plutocracy. In tho campaign of 189G
there was great enthusiasm and, considering the
opposition to bo met, tho party came near to
victory. A small change in a few close states
would havo changed tho result. Between 1896 and
1900 a number of those who had deserted camo
"back, while others protended toco'nto back'. "When
.imperialism was made the paramount issue, and
tho monoy question was forced Info tho back
ground, prominence was given to men who had
been conspicuous for their apostacy in 1896, and
notwithstanding tho strength of the new issue of
Imperialism, the party, judged by the total re
sult, did not do as well as it did in 189G. While
this result was due in part to changed conditions,
and in part to tho fact that tho republican party
had concluded ono successful war and was in tho
midst of another, still a part of the falling off in
1900 was duo to the pronilnonce- of some of the rep
resentatives of corporations, who were again aspir
ing to leadership In tho party. Since the election
of 1900 this element has been actively at work.
It Is- backed by the influence of tho railroads, by
tho Influence of tho financiers and by tho influence
of the great metropolitan papers, both democratic
and republican, and it Is winning over some demo
crats who are more Interested in the. division of
tho spoils than in the principles unon whiqh the
party stands. It would be a sufficient answer to
tho expediency argument to point to tho election
of 1894, which was conducted under tho Cleveland
administration. After the president had done ex
actly what tho Wall street financiers asked, scarce
ly any democratic members of congress were
elected above tho Mason and Dixon line, and we
lost Missouri for tho first time since tho war. Mr.
Hill was the candidate for governor in New York
and was defeated by a larger majority than tho
national ticket was in New York in 1900. But ex
pediency is a low level upon which to decide
either national or party questions. If the demo
cratic party does not stand for principles it cannot
stand for anything, and if it stands for principles
it must stand for thoso which the masses believo
in, not for those which are popular with the men
who use government merely as an Instrumental
ity for the plunder of others.
The contest is on hetweon tho many who de
sire justice and are interested only In good gov
ernment, and tho few who are intrenched behind
special privileges and enjoy governmental favor
itism. Somo who wero firm In 1896 havo been won
over and their places must be taken by stronire
and moro courageous men. Such an opportunity
as is now presented for service to the party ma?
not soon return. One honest, fearless democrat in
a precinct can defeat the reorganizes: two in a
county can nut. tho mmm-on i""ju2lu...a
a hnu , ; Zr. L""""-. .woulBUl to rout;
i;.;rvfZrL"n,-" convention can save the
mi "uuujiuuug surrender.
Aiie test can Do mado upon a resolution in-
The Commoner.
dorsing the Kansas City platform. Such a resolu
tion ought to bo introduced at every primary, for
hero is whore tho rank and fllo of the party speak
and where the real opinion of tho people must jo
ascertained. Such a resolution ought to bo In
troduced into every county convention, and into
every state convention. The friends of the Kan
sas City platform must riot bo deceived by ths pro
tended anxiety for harmony now manifested by
tho gold element. They did not want harmony
when President Cleveland mado up his cabinet
from the minority of the democratic party and
Ostracized every democrat who would not sur
render at tho dictation of tho financiers; they did
not want harmony when they carried on. their
Palmer and Bucknor campaign of fraud and de
ception in the interest of the republican ticket;
thoy tlid not want harmony when they went
out in tho fall of 1897 with the belief that they
could substitute tho gold democrat organization
for tho regular organization. They prate about
harmony now that they aro In a minority; thoy.
plead for recognition, but they are planning to
fill every committee position with a reorganize
and every office with a man who has been tried in
the balance and been found wanting. When they
had control of tho national committee they drew
tho lino against every democrat who- believed in
bimetallism, and. they will do so again if they are
Intrusted with power. There has been no change
in those who were leaders of the administration
force of 1896. Their sympathies are not with the
people aud- they havo been counted upon to op
pose evqry necessary reform, The party under
their leadership would not be a democratic party,
for it would compromise with1 ttie republicans on
every vital question. Tho pressing need at this
time is for men who will fight on the people's side
and who prefer defeat to disgrace. Tho contest
may be a long one, but the time will come when
republican policies will be repudiated and when
democratic principles will be vindicated. All that
is required is that the party shall be honest
and. courageous. In times of adversity it can es
tablish a character that will commend it to tho
people and its victory will then be permanent.
Those who are willing to suffer defeat with right
principles' rather than seek success by abandoning
principles will be called upon to administer the
government and aply democratic principles when
republican experiments failk as fall they -will.
Wanted Men honest men, industrious men,
moral and courageous men, patient men, demo
crat! c m'fm! '' . i- ..
JJJ
Are yow-interested in preserving the
democratic organization? Are you in
terested in achieving the triumph of
democratic principles? Are you inter
estedijv arousing the American people
to a sense of the danger inimperialism,
colonialism, FowleHsmand trusts? If
so, read "Preserve Democratic Princi
pies," printed on page 7.
Are you opposed to the republican
nation of the democratic party? Are
you opposed to giving the contivl of the
party organization into' the hands of
the sulJcers, sJcullcers and shirkers who
sold out the democracy in 1896 and
1900, and who sceh now to secure the
leadership of the party they betrayed?
If so, read "Preserve Democratic Prin
ciples" printed on page 7.
JJJ
Lament's Boom.
The St Louis. Globe-Democrat recently pub
lished an inttrvlaw! with a member of the demo
cratic national committee booming Daniel Lamont
for president. The committeeman Is reported to
have said: "The democratic party cannot find a
better or more available man than Daniel Lamont
This Is my mature Judgment after talking with
some of the leading democrats of our state. Mr.
Lamont Is a business man, but h also Knows all
the ins and outs of the. political game, and his
nomination would raise the hopes of the party as
Vol. a, No. 16.
nothing else would." The Globe-Democrat added:)
"Since his retirement from politics, his (Lamont's);
connection with the Northern Pacific railroad has
brought him into close touch withi the northwest."
Reference is mado to this incipient boom, not
because it. is likely to grow to large proportions,
but because it illustrates tho Ideas of the reor-.
ganlzing element, of the party Those, who are
casting about for somebody who can "win" always
go on tho theory that the "business element" will
not support a man who stands for democratic
principles, and that we must, therefore, allow, the
"business element" to select some one who will look
after the interests of the corporations, and, make
tho democratic party tho tool of the corporations.
Such people do not seem to think that the loyal
democrats have any opinions that need, to be con
sulted, or any interests that need to be guarded.
In. all the United States it would be difficult to
find a man less deserving of the nomination than
Mr. Lamont, or one who would develop less
strength in a campaign. His only prominence in
politics is due to the fact that he was first private,
secretary to Mr. Cleveland, and afterward secre
tary of war. He has never been credited with
having any views on public questions that wero
sufficiently important to be reduced to writing or
to appear in print. He does not stand for or repn
resent a single issue that 90 per cent of the demo
crats would regard as important. If he were
nominated there is nothing that could be saidi
for him in a campaign,, and every public speaker
would have to employ his imagination rather,
than his reason if he found any arguments to make
in his behalf.
Not only is Mr. Lamont without affirmative
merit, but he is handicapped as no other candidate
so far mentioned would be. His prominence in
the business world is not due to anything he has
ever done which exhibits constructive intellect,
executive force or judicial ability. He has dimply,
been a, .railroad magnate and', as He has risen to
OuProminent place among the railroad magnates in
a short time ,it is evident that his present -wealth
is due to speculation rather than to the legitimate
methods of accumulation. He- belongs to that
class which' has no politics, but stands ready to
act with that party which promises tho greatest
aid to financial enterprises. He is a democrat to
the same extent that J. Pierpont Morgan and
Jim Hill are democrats, and would be no more
popular as a candidate than either of them would
be. In fact, if a railroad magnate' is wanted for
a candidate, J. Pierpont Morgan would be, prefer
able because he has shown his ability to organize
great enterprises, and he could probably contribute
more to the campaign fund than Lamont could;
It is one of the mysteries that no one but the re
organizers can solve that a- man like Lamont
should ever be spoken of in connection with an
elective office. Mr. Lamont is old enough to have
shown his capacity to deal with governmental
questions, but he has preferred to devote himself
to the- making of money accprding- to the most
approved Wall street methods. Having made his
choice he has to abide by it. It is Impossible for
a man to be identified with the enterprises which
have given Lamont prominence In the business
world, and at the same time be a fit representative
vL ?J,e??l !S Msh offlce- Bveu il e were to
rid himself of his present business connections ho
would have to be taken on probation for a while
before the public would have confidence in his re
rorm, but he has given no indication of a change
In purpose, and the reorganizes do not seem to
toHSfS J? W ne? essary- Tney stand reay
r,n ffff ,theIr1liats to any man who has money,'
no matter how he has made it.
tho liS? great mstake Put Mr. Lamont on
the campaign committee which is to have charge
or the coming congressional campaign for he
paarnt?3andr SS, lnh?ical to CSJSallS
party and cannot bring to. tho support of anv
heTan " h WSJ8 a hal doze". SnKZ
mortal t? thQ candidate is under secure
mortgage to the corporate interests which Mr La
mont represents. There is a great stride mine
to wVlc VrThl? r? tUoTrfwiTllSI
satisfied WMVhn at,wy fet and are billing to bo
troS nn J?n?halJ r,turn for th0Ir Dr. an
or by tte 3?S?Pn??ndSwh0 live by cumtion
or Dy tne sleight-of-hand methods emnloved hv
syndicates and exploiters. A member ? conereM
cannot serve both classes and a candidate fo?gcon-
j'
