The Mission Of Democracy

THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.

Alter the election last week, Justin R. Whiting, the democratic candidate for governor, said in an interview that hereafter the fight should be made under the name "democracy."   And Mr. Whiting is right. The democratic party of this state has never gained a vote by prostituting a time honored name to fancied political exigencies. The addition of a long and incongruous tail to the old name has been a constant source of vexation and trouble. The populists and silver republicans who joined with the democracy in the combination did not ask to have the platform changed by the dotting of an "i" or the crossing of a "t." There has been no controversy over the offices and those who have supported the cause of democracy as a matter of principle would have done so as readily under the simple and expressive name of "democrat" as they would under the hybrid.

"Democratic -people's - union - silver - party." The leaders of the populists and the silver republicans realize the mistake of the past and there is no doubt but that the next struggle between the people and the autocrats of the republican party will be made under the simple name of democracy.

The Adrian Telegram, however, sees fit to criticize Mr. Whiting for expressing this sentiment. The Telegram wants a new party and a new name. But the Telegram is laboring under he misapprehension that the democratic party is a party of "one idea" when nothing could be further from the truth. There may be times when some particular question presses forward for immediate solution and becomes, for the moment, of all absorbing interest. But the democracy is builded upon a broader foundation than that required for the determination of any one question. It is the living exponent of those political principles which constitute the true theory of popular government and which conserve the political equality and the rights of the masses.

From the beginning political parties in America have divided upon fundamental propositions in the administration of government. The democratic party, in its earlier years, was representative of the common people as against the classes, of men against property, of local home rule against centralization and federal aggrandizement. It is still committed to the solution of live questions upon the lines of true democracy. That some questions should be more prominent, than others is in the very nature of things. Those which are most pressing must be determined first. Each will have its turn. And when those issues which are today demanding recognition have passed into history, there will be others ready for political action which are now forming in an atmosphere of careful study and consideration. These will the democracy take up and settle upon democratic lines. This "one idea" business is a myth, a delusion. So long as popular government shall endure and the necessity shall exist for the protection of the people from the greed and power of organized wealth - the self constituted American aristocracy - the democratic party will have a mission to perform.

In spite of the prosperity making Dingley tariff, cotton is the lowest in 50 years, the New England mills are compelled to close, wool is a drug on the market, hides and leather are slow and few, if any, industrial enterprises are announced for 1899.

The city council would do well to invest a portion of this year's deficit in providing a street sweeper for the paved district. The present method of cleaning the pavement is altogether too expensive for anyone but the dispenser of a republican congressional campaign fund.

Judge Frazer, of the Wayne circuit, has decided that his court is not constituted for the purpose of encouraging mercurial matrimonial relations. To the second application for divorce from a woman who had been twice married to the same man the court said with all due judicial solemnity "Nit."

There is some talk of a revolt against the re-election of Thos. B. Reed, speaker of the house, but it is altogether probable that the insurgents will soon be subdued for the republican majority in the next house presents such a narrow margin that the iron hand of the czar will be needed to keep it from flying the track.

We would remind those journals that are crowing over the large excess of exportations over importations in this year of grace that this condition does not, as they seem to assume, indicate an era of prosperity, but, on the contrary, that our people are too poor to take goods in return for those they send away and that we have got down to the level of that cheap foreign labor about which they have so often told us.

And when McKinley thinks that he must share that "endorsement" with Alger he must be overcome with that tired feeling.

Owing to Gen. Spalding's active business methods Hank Smith's bargain counter will not present a very inviting appearance.

Secretary Alger says the result of the elections is a vindication of his administration of the war department. The secretary is easily satisfied in the matter of vindications.

If Teddy Roosevelt wants to get all the fun that is to be had out of the governing business he can secure valuable pointers from Michigan's frolicsome chief executive.

Pingree says that "Hanna is the president and the president is Hanna" and since the receipt of the late election returns we are inclined to think that what Pingree says goes.

And "papa's boys" who were appointed to responsible positions in the military service must come in for their share of the alleged ballot box endorsement. It will be sometime before the endorsement of Gen. Dodge's whitewashing committee is ready.

One result of our short and sharp conflict with Spain is the recognition of American military resources by the nations of Europe. In his speech at the Lord Mayor's dinner, Lord Salisbury said that Europe fears the mighty force of the young republic. While the English premier anticipates possible trouble from American expansion he believes British interest will be benefited thereby.

The latest proposition is to pay Spain a money indemnity for relinquishing control of the Phillipines. While it may be the just and proper thing for the United States to whack up liberally for the privilege of civilizing seven or eight millions of savages whom Spain has utterly failed to control, the settlement of the eastern question upon such a basis will hardly meet with the approval of the average American citizen.

After Heinrich Christian Schmidt had sufficiently recovered from the effects of his election to represent the 2d district of Michigan in the congress of the United States to gather in the loose ends of that perennial smile, he called up the Adrian Times and submitted to an interview which cracked and snapped and scintillated with gems of statesmanship. After reviewing the situation carefully the new congressman is positive that he was elected because he got the most votes.

The first lagging industry which attracts his eagle eye is the United States fish hatchery at Northville where it is surmised that more "protection" is needed for the infant fish.

Such post offices and other federal jobs as Gen. Spalding has left over will be carefully used to lubricate Heinrich's chances for re-election.

The farmers are also to be helped probably in the cultivation of the notion that no one but a genuine Smith can make a real good congressman.

As a jollier Congressman Smith is all wool and a yard wide and warranted not to rip, ravel or run down at the heel.

Editor Robinson, of the Railway Age, makes the statement that the railways of this country pay 41 per cent of their profits in taxes. While this assertion may fall within the lines of veracity it is yet palpably false and misleading. Mr. Robinson evidently designates as "profits" that portion of railway earnings which is left after running expenses and interest on bonded debts is deducted. Upon this basis his estimate is correct. But it must not be forgotten that there are few railroads in the country whose bonded debt does not exceed the value of the property. The stock and, in many instances, a goodly portion of the proceeds of the bonds, represent the profits which the promoters have made out of the construction of the roads. The profits of a railroad which is carrying a bonded debt of twice the actual value of the property cannot be justly measured by the sum which is left to the stockholders after the interest upon that debt has been paid. What business man, whose stock of merchandise is mortgaged for more than its actual value, can estimate the profits of his business by what he has left after his interest charges have been met? What farmer, whose farm is mortgaged for more than it will sell for in the open market, makes enough to pay his interest and taxes? Indeed it must be a good farm and a good farmer who, without interest to pay, can realize a profit after a reasonable charge is deducted from his income for the labor of himself and family.