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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
This admirable review of the function
and history of the democratic party is
reprinted from the Kansas City Star:
In view of the possible reorganization
of the democratic party, which the de
feat of Mr. Bryan may bring about, the
history of that ancient political organi
zation is of especial interest. It has
passed through many epochs and crises
without losing its remarkable vitality,
and there is no reason to suppose that it
will not recover from its latest disaster.
Its reason for existence lies in the very
constitution of democracy. As John
Adams wrote in 1812: "You say our di
visions began with federalism and anti
federalism? Alas! they began with hu
man nature; they have existed in Amer
ica from its first plantation."
Professor A. D. Morse of Amherst col
lege in an prticle in the International
Monthly, points out what he believes
are the three functions of a great party
teaching the people, giving shape to
public policy and administering the af
fairs of government. The democratic
party has exercised these functions with
degrees of success depending on the or
ganization's make-up and attitude for
the last century and more. In colonial
politic?, while as yet the people were or
ganize! only in what John Adams called
the court and country parties, the sig
nificance of the latter organization was
in teaching the principles of democracy
and in giving practical training in poli
tics. It was this democratic movement
that carried out the revolution, Its influ
ence was manifest in the loselyknit con
federation and the attempt of the colo
nies to get on without a central govern
ment in the years following'trie-war.-""1"
The extremity to which its principles
were carried caused a reaction, and the
federalists advocates of a strong gov
ernment dominated the convention that
formed the constitution. As a conse
quence the document was regarded with
popular distrust and ratification was
difficult. The bill of rights was added
to the constitution as a concession to
this feeling. During this period the con
servative classes the "well born," as
they were derisively called headed by
'Hamilton, seized the opportunity afford
ed by the disorganization and lack of
leadership among the more numerous
opponents, to establish a strong govern
ment. With the return of Jefferson to
America the opposition found the leader
it needed. The struggle between these
two men resolved itself into a conflict
'between the principles of local home
Tulewith large individual liberty and a
highly centralized authority.
The era of the control of the Jeffer
eonian democracy fron 1600 to 1825 was
one of the most creditable in this history
of that party. At the time of the over
throw of the federalists it had done
- much to restore to popular favor the
democratic principles which had been
discredited by the failure of the con
federation. Under Jefferson it brought
' the masses under active participation in
the government and developed a nation
al spirit where before provincialism had
been strong. By his conciliatory policy
and his retention of federal ideas, which
had proved their worth, Jefferson at
tracted to his party large numbers of
the opposition from the conservative
classes. This alliance added a strength
and effectiveness to the democratic ad
minibtration which it could not other
wise have had.
The party under the influence of Jack
son, from 1825 to 1810, departed from the
conciliatory policy of Jefferson. The
earlier leaders united the conservative
with the radicals; the later one was the
avowed champion of the masses and
stood for a radical democratic move
ment. Jackson's administration and
the years of his influence were charac
terized by many blunders, but during
this time the masses of the people were
educated in the spirit of nationality and
respect for law. The sectional spirit
developed from 1840 to' I860 and the
democratic party was without a leader
of the first class until the time of re
construction and Tilden. Its record
during this period was not to its credit.
The party under the later leaders,
Tilden, Cleveland W. C. Whitney, Gov
ernor Russell of Massachusetts and Gov
ernor Pattison of Pennsylvania, resem
bles in its make-up the organization
which Jefferson headed. It combined
the radical and conservative elements to
a remarkable degree. Mr. Bryan has
taken the role of Jackson in alienating
the conservative classes. In all its his
tory the democratic party has succeeded
admirably in fulfilling the first function
suggested by Professor Morse that of
educating the people. In the function
of shaping public policy it has had un
even buccsbs. The purchase of Louisi
ana and the enunciation of the Monroe
doctrine during the era of Jefferson are
to its credit, but it looted the civil ser
vice under Jackson, allowed the flag to
be fired on under Buchanan and advo
cated giving up the Filipines under
Bryan. Its administrative successes
have been under the regimes in which
the conservative element has been large.
The successful Jeffersonian era may
rough'y be compared with the credit
able administration of Mr. Cleveland.
The leadership of Mr. Bryan has some
of the characteristics of the JackBonian
period. The question now is one of re
construction. It remains to be seen
which era of the party will repeat itself.
Cleverton That man Van Piper is a
good fellow to cultivate. He has three
lovely Bistere.
Daahaway All right. You cultivate
him, and I'll cultivate the sisters.
Town Topics.
He is wise who eaves up for a rainy
day, for even if there be a protracted
drouth it is well to have capital with
which to buy water. The Judge.
HA
DM
A
m J
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JOHN SEBASTIAN. G. P. A,
Chicago, 111.
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