Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-01-12

to two facts:
First. that certain protectioDist Sell
ators that opposed our reform were !
considered 10y both our opponents AMI |
ourselves Democrats. and treated us |
Democrats IN good standing. while |
they opposed our most Democratic |
principles and policy. We were there
fore charged with the responsibility
for their acts. Their opposition not on.
| ~ INSTRUCTED us. but discrcditcd us be-
fore the people by showing us to u"
divided and disorganized. In the ln.c
campaign we tried to draw the line
and certainly here in Illinois we drew
II vigorously: but there was not time
enough to make the disclaimer effect
i've. But 1t would he gross folly--fol'y
inviting to further dcfcnt-tO he less
than drastic now in defining Il Demo-
crat and insisting upon Il genuine be-
lief In Democratic reform a. u sine qua
non.
The other fact was that we not only
presented Il disorganizcd appearance
to the people. but were actually. ~
least. unorgunizcd.
We were not organized well enough
tor effective attack and We were
equally helpless to defend ourselves
AGAINST growing misconceptions.
Scarcely two leaders perfectly agreed.
No great newspaper attempted To con
sistcntly defend the party. There was
neither organized attack nor organized
defense. And we are practically In
that same condition to-day. While ],
lasts we shall. fear he dependent for
success upon the WEAKNESS tho country
may come to feel of Republican doni-
nation. independence such as char
actcrizcs Democrats and Is unknown
among Republicans is very fine nnd II
something for us to he proud of: but
we must succeed In reconciling II with
that of the necessity Of organized and
consistent party action and of RESPONSE
bic leadership without which party
success aud even party government, IL
an impossibility.
Now. what IL necessary In Illinois!
Let us bring II home. The first essen.
tial thing. ns I look at II. II to get the
Democrats of Illinois convinced of the
importance of organized and united
party action. a disunitcd party can
not net. and the very worst n party In
power can do II to do nothing. For this
there must bc leadership. II seems to
me too that our leading men should
meet oftenrr and confer more. not sim.
ply how 10 get the Democratic vote out.
bu, how 10 get the Democratic thought
out.
For we should remember that poll
; ties now il u battle of ideas. \ while
ago 1t was only II tusslc for spells. That
time has gone by. The people are not
much Interested In the otiices-and are
therefore free ~ be- exceedingly indie
pendent In their Judgment of parties.
Another essential thing II that the lead
: crs should In this State agree upon u
l. platform that will interpret Democratic
principles In u way IL meet the national
I demands. And we should not wait for
: u convention to do this. We must do It
!. rs soon us possible. In this platform
;. all individual wishes cannot bc includ.
I al. of cOursr-nnd some Of us must
j learn to take half u loaf rather than
u no bread. We must keep In mind. too.
( the fact that VIZ are holwlessly without
y the cooperation Of other States. ana
q the fact that to the Democratic party
+ broad national sentiments are rs the
=. breath Of Its life, and the fact that by
/. the force of its principles ana to be In
Il harmony with Its history It must be Il
q truly national party ~ nothing: that its
Il ideas cannot bc scctiOnallzed. ana that
u 1t leaves 10 the Republican party and
n the Popullst party the championship OF
+. class interests.
!. We need. too. to take up the campaign
II now. We must not walt for campaigns
!, but work between campaigns. be
n lievc the state Central Committee vii
:, take this view of the need Of the h0u
., and I think we ought to get into THU
10 work all who can help. We need ~
al sponsiblc and wise leadership. with
1. out leadership organization In vigol
= GUS supper, of settled and defined
ID party policies IL not to be thought q
~ aud without organization of this sor
q. chaos rcigns. We need leadership am
AZ organization which will harmonizr an,
n make effective the forces of the part,
anu ItlittI 'h"'' >""'''
Il within the party which tend tn dcstro
-. the respect and confidence Of the pee
m pie.
In In any platform We may make ut
~. count must be taken of the currenc!
nj question. and In any effort after "He'
q. tive party unity wa must acknowiedt
h. the necessity of Il firm. steady ana col
,s sistcnt position on that question,
NJ, must bc instinct with national rattle
O. than local feeling. for this IL essential
no n national issue The currency quesiio
rs Is II grave political matter. At the M
ho nlent II /. very pressing ana 1t Will T.
nj main. long after the present Cohgre'
M has retired. II serious concern to ~
+, pnrtles. At the moment II has u
s, iloor, ana many public men would Nv
W., TO believe that 1t Is really more col
trolling issue than that of the tnri
49, But this would br II delusio
y ! There IL no way to displace II
~ tariff issue. 1t Is imperative for Il
rs Democratic party to make for itself
nj currency platform and to take resolut
a, " In hand the work of putting the c''
rency of the Nation upon wise, broa
-. scientific footing. The public thoug
4, ID 1 m a nNsitnI SIN