The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-01
THE DEMOCRATS.


THE DEMOCRATS.
At last even the Democrats give
signs of life. Mr.. Thomas J. McDer-
mott, chairman of the Democratic
state central committee, has sent a
letter to the New York World, in re-
spouse to an inquiry; and in an inter-
view upon the same, reported in re-
cent issue of the St. Paul Dispatch,
we read:
Talking on the general situation
within the Democratic party, Mr.. Nc
Dermott exhibited good deal Of
feeling as to what he defined as "the
perversion of the mission of that par
| ty by certain elements now in control
of the party machinery" He would
not make any more specific state
ment. While avowing himself a
Democrat Of the irredeemable order,
| he declared himself as having no
federation for the policy which evil
| IDENTIFY SO sought ito make the dollar
superior to the man in the admins
tration of party affairs and the affairs
of the nation" The late primaries
were not, in Mr.. McDermott's opinion,
anything like fair or honest express
sion Of the will Of the Democracy, nor
were they designed to be. Democrats
| We're Indifferent where they were not
| utterly diSheartened. 1t might be
fun for Republicans and those who
call themselves Democrats but work
| ed for Republican success in this
state, to have the party, year after
year, challenge public sen Jiment. only
| to be not only beaten, but diScredit-
| ed.
but there comes an end to every.
thing In time," continue Mr.. McDer-
mott, land l think the end is now
very near, if it has not come already,
tor those who have been SO enthusiast
tic about keeping the Democracy a
mere tender to the Republican party
especially in this state. Mr.. Lawler
| will. 1 suppose. be the national COM
mitteemaE. II he is, hope and be-
leve he will not try to continue to
make the policy Of making the party
| a matter OF individual ownership,
either of corporation or an individ-
ual. Ii he does try to continue it he
will have the entire Democratic party
to count with, without the vast
| money resources which rendered such
| course so successful in the past.
II should prefer to say nothing at
this time, but to wait until the ma
tional convention has announced the
party policy; but, it seems to me, that
somebody should speak out and de-
mand of the delegates beforehand
that they will have no hand in estab-
fishing policy at Chicago which will
leave the party where it has been so
long, as merely combating with the
Republicans for the favor of the
banks, the railroads and the allied
moneyed interests of the state and
nation. Such course is equivalent
to party suicide, and the D mocracy
was never organized for any such pur-
pose, and must inevitably yield to de-
feat if it can offer no other excuse for
its existence"
This is we'll said, and strongly said,
and every word of it is true. And
here, it is significant to observe, that
Mr.. McDermott has issued call for
the Democratic state convention, to
be held IN Minneapolis, August nth, the day
before the Peoples Purity convention meets
IN the same city.
We believe that il the Democratic
party Is able to throw overheard the
incubus which has SO long held it
down. and adopts free-silver, anti
national bank platform the Populfsts
will be ready to meet them half way.
Under their past management any CO.
operation would have been impossible
it would have been crime against
the Peoples Party to have attempted
it,-it would have been mere merger
of votes at the sacrifice Of principles:
but when the Democrats move, as
we believe they are about to do, onto
the Populist platform, and are separ-
ated from us only in name, it would
be treason to the cause of the people
to refuse their proffered and much
needed assistance.
Then let us have Free Silver con-
vention at the same time and place;
as the Populist convention. make
up splendid ticket, with John
Lind at the head OF it; and proceed to
wipe out that $4,000 plurality which
the Republican party had two years
ago. 1t will require a union Of all
honest men to defeat Plutocracy in
Minnesota, with it's millions of cor
ruption money. The aristocratic.
money-lending Democrats will go
over to the Republican party in a
body, as they did in 1894, but they will
not take with them $4,000 honest
Democrats who we're wheedled into
the same course two years ago. II
they are treated fairly these gentle
men will be found voting our ticket
this year.
Let the war cry be-"AU friends of
free-silver and liberty get together"
| HORRIBLE CONDITIONS IN
ITALY.