St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-05
a LESSON FROM AN ENEMY.

1hO IcDuhc administered Dy O0ndtcr
DolDh, of Oregon. on Tuesday to these
senators of the Democratic faith who
persist in delaying legislation on the
silver question was well put. After
quoting from the message of President
Cleveland Of 1885, urging the diScon-
tinuance of the purchase and coinage OF
silver under the Bland act, which he
regarded as stronger argument
against the use OF silver than he him.
self was able to offer, he declared that
1.-The success OF the Democratic party
with such candidate and such a plat
form was abundant evidence of the fact
that the American people did not desire
10 continue the coinage of silver under
the existing conditions"
Coming from Republican senator,
this admission that Mr.. Cleveland's
views are i'll accord with the sentiments
of a large majority of the people is a
potent argument in favor of the pass
age OF the repeal bill, as we'll as we'll
merlted rebuke to those Democratic
senators who, by their paltering course,
have shown that they are not only I'M
true to the candidate and the platform
OF their party, but at variance with the
expressed opinions OF the people at the
polls. The evils attendant upon the
silver coiuage policy of the government
were fOreseen in 1885 by Mr.. Cleveland,
and pointed ont by him with character
istic directneSs and fearlesSness. His
party conceded with his views and by
nominating him in 1892. Endorsed them:
and the people, by all overwhelming
majority, placed the seal of their ap-
prevail upon his words and upon the
party policy as outlined in tn g Chicago
platform.
Fealty to its organization and leaders
is the only means by which a party can
hope to maintain its own ascendency.
If an organization, by its acts in either
the legislative or administrative depart
ments, violates its pledges,it surrenders
its only claim upon public tolera ton or
support. Those Democrats, therefore.
who nave forsaken the platform of their
party and deserted their executive, in
dorsed by millions of voters, have de-
iiberately taken themselves out OF the
party ranks. For a man cannot be a
Democrat and at the same time oppose
the party policy and attack its chosen
representatives, who are trying to carry
out that policy.
The weakness of the Democratic
party has long been the laxity of it's
discipline. Men have been called Dem
ocrats who entertained theories and ad-
vocated policies wholly at variance with
and antagunistic to the theories and
policies formulated by the party and eX-
pounded by its acknowledged cham
pions. The adherence of such men.
nominal though it might have been.
has been one of tine chief sources of
weakness in the party. They have
claimed as reward of their continued
support the abandonment Of principles
that have long been held dear by every
true and consistent Democrat. They
have advocated and are now advocating
compromises that are alike cowarely
and pernicious. They have been will
ing to sacrifice great principle for a
temporary advantage-to parley with
Ubiquitous heresies, to temporiZe with
wrong. They have seemingly forgotten
that middle ground is always dan
gerous ground; that the fra o: :2cutend-
ing armies will inevitably ptoTe dis
astrous to those who taIe their stand
between them. Timsiiity qeyer get won
a battle or benefited CO Use. 1t is only
the aggressive men who succeed in
business, i'll politics or in war. The
compromising man IS like him who ven-
lures between the upper and neither
millStoneS--he will be ground to pieces.
Senator Dolph's reasons for his allie
glance TO the cause of silver repeal are
based upon true Democracy, and, al
though he now adheres to the party in
opposition, he is more entitled to be
called Democrat than are many of
those who are nominally among the
leaders of that organization. His rebuke
to the weak and the cowardly of the
dominant party is certainly timely, and,
if the diSSenters from the Democratic
faith were less stiff-necked, might pro-
duce beneficial results.