The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-10
Democratic Yard Stick.

Editor Morning NeWS: For the past two
years the alliance has been measuring cam
didates for democratic nominations by the
alliance yard stick and refusing to give
them their support regardless of their
democracy and fiUness for Office If they
failed to measure up to the requirements of
their yard stick, the Ocala platform. Has
r. been fair for the alliance to apply this
undemocratic test to candidates. Surely
not. Whatever else the Ocala platform
contains the rallying cry of the alliance has
been around the railroad and sub-treasury
plnDks, measures wholly impracticable
and undemocratic. The great distinguish
ing feature OF democracy from republicans
ism Is opposition to Capitalization, paternal-
ism and class legislation, and yet alliance
men have been applying tests to candidates
for democratic nominations more rabid and
extreme than the raukest of republican doc
trines. They do not stop at favoring gov
ornamental control and supervision of all
transportation lines but would have the
federal government for the correction of
present abuses which they claim to exist to
go to the extent of spending billions
of dollars TO secure their ownership and
food the country from one end to the other
with q vast army OF officeholders in their
operation, opening wide the gates for COR
ruption, population and debauohery. Such
a thing might be attempted under the
strong despotic governments of the old world,
but in free republic never. And W lille in
one breath they proclaim. equal rights to
all, special privileges to none," in the very
next they declare for a principle, under
their, subtreasury scheme. ,,o, which Gn
ter into the business of loan
ing money TO favored class on particular
kind of security at a nominal rate OF interest
to the exclusion of every other citizen OF the
country. No man or set OF men
can hold to such doctrines and continue to
be democrats. Already their teachings
have threatened democratic unity and
strength Is not every adherent Of the
third party a believer in these doctrines.
and do they not say neither of the old par
ties can nor will recognize them! Who
doubts the truth of them? Can any man,
therefore, advocate the Ocala platform,
containing these doctrines. without giving
aid and comfort to the enemy? Men who do
this, claiming TO be democrats, deceive them
selves and are misleading the peo-
pie. 1t is high time, then.
that the democratic yard stick be
applied Call back those who have been
deiuded and wandered out of the demo-
cratic camp on to the Ocala platform and
let the test for candidates and voters be
democracy pure and simple. Inc issue
must be met, and the sooner the better.
Democratic platforms alone constitute the
law of the party, and the democratic organ
ization can only be maintained intact and
democratic success achieved by strict adj
herence to the democratic faith and teach
ings. undiluted by Ocaleism or any other
ism. Put democrats in control OF every de-
partment Of the government and the evils
of republican abuse from which the country
is suffering will be corrected and the bless
ing of good government once more enjoyed
by all the people. DEMOCRAT.
May 9, 1892.