New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-04
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS.

The National Democratic party has nominated
Senator John NJ Palmer. of Illinois. for Presi-
dent. and General S. Il. Buckner. Of Kentucky,
for Vice-President-a ticket which will probably
command more Democratic votes than any other
that could have been named. native OF Ncn-
lucky. General Palmer was one of the original
Republicans. and presided over the first State
Convention of that party in Illinois in 1876 was
one of the eectors-at-large who voted for Lincoln
In 1860. was distinguished as soldier. begin
ming as colonel Of the 14th Illinois. and rising TO
the rank of maiorgeneral commanding the Four
teenth Army Corps at Lookout Mountain, WAS
elected Governor of Illinois as a Republican in
1865 but soon Joined the Democratic party. ana
by IT was elected United States Senator in lS?l
He is not only popular personally. but has for
years commanded the highest regard of Demo
Gratis as an able and unfinching advocate of
their doctrines. No other man could have been
chosen who embodes more thoroughly the con-
victions which have prompted organized resist
ancc 70 the platform and nominations Of the
Chicago Convention. General Buckner was in
like manner distinguished as Confederate lead
er and in civil life has been an honorable and
able leader of Democrats, enjoying great popu-
larjty among them in Kentucky and the West
ern States These nominations insure large
vote for the ticket in the States west OF ONO
and West Virginia. and in some other Southern
States also 1t Is not n ticket which will attract
Republican votes. nor was 1t intended to. but 1t
provldes an honorable refuge for those Demo
Gratis who are unwilling to vote for Mckinley
hecause of their hostility to Protection. which
has been General Pamcrs main point of dis
sent from the Republican, policy, and who never
theless. deem 1t their first and highest duty to
overthrow the Anarchists and defeat Bryan.
The Convention adopted platform which is
also admirably calculated TO attract Democratic
and repel Republican votes. Not in criticism.
hut in compliment it may be said that the ira
ditional Democratic doctrines against which
Republicans have been conending for forty
years. are stated in this platform with unusual
force and distnctness. Nor would any other
course have been sensible in Convention strlv-
ing to influence Democratic voters. The attack
on Republican measures, the censure OF RepuD-
lcan principles would probably have been less
emphatic and uncOmpromsing if there had
been any thought of electing candidates NOM
mated. Convention which only hoped to keep
alive the regard of Democrats for ancient Demo
cratic doctrines had no occasion TO fit its utter
anccs to Republican appreciation. Hence it
from assertions of the platform which do NOT
accord with the facts as Republicans see them.
Reading many passages of this platform. one
cannot escape a feeling Of amazement that men
who are unquestionably speaking with patriotic
motives who have been distinguished in public
affairs and accounted more than ordinarily well
informed nevertheless deliberately place on rec
ord statements which TO Republicans and to
trarv TO the experience Of the last eight years
But il would be initiating Democratic example
to expect these earnest and Jealous Democrats
% hide their real beliefs under any insincere
retlcence and it would be the height of foolish
ness 10 expect them to win Democratic votes by
uttering only opinions agreeable to Republicans
They are striving. 1t Is but Just TO believe, in
what they Judge the most effective way. 10 de-
stroy the hold of Bryan and the pernicious doe
trines he represents upon Democratic voters.
Men who devote themselves 10 that task with
sincere patriotism. however widely they may
seem in error in their opinions. are heartily wei
coined by Republicans allies in a struggle
TO uphold the honor Of the Nation and 10 main
tain the integrity Of free institutions.
The candidates and platform will command Il
host of Democratic votes in the very States upon
which the result of the election must depend. it.,
indeed there has been any possibility of Bryan's
success For even his Populis managers admit
among themselves thar he cannot hope for any
vote east Of Indiana. must carry the entire South.
including kentucky and Missouri. and must
then carry either Illinois, or Indiana and Michi-
gan in order to win. The support which Gen
era Palmer will draw away from Bryan in
Illinois seems to put an end 10 whatever chance
1 anybody may have imagined there Of Re
! publican defeat in Il State which. M the last
! election gave $1,000 Republican majority over
! Democrats and POpuliss together. So the Re-
publicans had a plurality and fell but 5000
short OF a clear majority over Democrats and
( POpullsts in Kentucky at the election last year.
and General Ruckner's personal strength seems
TO make IL certain that Bryan cannot get a plu-
raty in that State even if he can come I'm sec.
ond in the race which Is moi clear But with
Kentucky lost and Illinois even Bryan's widest
drcamcrs must see that Indiana and Michigan
together could no longer save him Moreover. in
those States also. as in Wisconsin. Minnesota.
Iowa. Missouri and Nebraska. The ticket put no
Yesterday will seriously divide the Democratic
forces and reduce 10 minimum Bryans
! chances These are beyond n doubt the calcu-
la,lons which have prompted in their action men
who have been for many years the shrewdest
and most experienced Democratic leaders III the
West They ought TO know better than anybody
else how 10 reach and influence men OF their
own parry
| The Republicans of the West nominated Major
| MIX iniev In entire confidence that against the