The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-17
JUST TOO AWFUL
Henry WattersOn Says Chicago
Platform Is EMonstrOus.
An Open Door to Revolution
And Civil War.
WANTS THIRD TICKET.
Without 1t Bryan Would Get
Many Gold Democrats.
Henry Can't Bear to Think OF
Disrupted Democracy.

New York, July IA dispatch to
the Herald from Geneva, says; Col
Henry Waterson, who is sojOurning
with his family at Geneva, was inter
viewed today by a correspondent Of
the Herald, touching the Democratic
crisis in the United States. Col Wat
terson has sought the seclusiou of the
Swiss mountains, not merely for recre-
alton and rest, but for the purpose OF
completing the life of Abraham Lin
coin, on which he has been engaged for
some time.
For more than a year." said Col.
WatterSOn, Z have been out of active
politics, and on that account, I have
declined to be drawn into the discus
sion of public matters and into expos
ing myself to criticisms and responsi-
biltttes which could not be met. You
see, am not used to taking blows
without giving them, in controversial
combat, and I am lOath to put myself
at a disadvantage in this regard But
the condition of affairs at home is too
serious to justify the silence of any
man whose opinions may be desired
What is it you particularly wish me
to speak Off"
First, the ticket nominated at Chi
cage.''
Personally, it is an unexceptionabIe
ticket. Mr.. Bryan is a most worthy
and well educated young man, with a
talent for what passes for oratOry. He
is fervtd, sincere, poor and honest. Mr.
and credit. He is a millionaire from
Maine who, having nothing to lose p0-
ntically, thinks he can afford to grati-
fy caprice and amuse himself by play
ing with POpulism. It is a ticket that
may be made to arouse a good deal OF
enthusiasm, both real and artificial"
And, the platform %
"Monstrous. 1t not only means ma
tional Reputation and spoliation, but
is an open door to revolution. If the
leaders of this movement could come
into power those of them who have any
sense of accountability and conception
of orderly government would be quiclz-
ly set aside by the wild elements be-
hind In this way civil war, as fore
last year, could be precipitated upon
the country. Then the strong hand Of
the federal power was interoOsed, but
if this were Withheld the reign of the
mob would be easy enough"
3What Of the proposal to put anoth-
er Democratic ticket in the field?''
You will observe" said Gel. Wat
terson, slowly weighing and measur-
ing what he said, that those who are
SO quick to urge concentration of all
sound money men upon Mckinley are
either Republicans who naturally seek
to swell their party ranks by such an
unexpected accession, or those Demo-
Gratis who from a sense of sheer out
rage and disgust, leap at conclusions,
not caring to take two bites at a
cherry.
But there are considerations which
are from two to four millions OF
staunch Democrats who may not be
so easily transferred from one party e
the other, yet whose votes can be made
just as effectual in suppressing an
archy as the votes of those Republicans
who directly support Mckinley. These
Democrats must have some abiding
place. They cannot find it under q flag
of which One-half is for sound money
and the other half for protection.
Mr.. Mckinley cannot compromise
l. -r--T-
ner stone of his political belief. It is
true the money issue, not the tariff
issue, is in the ascendant now, but
there must be logical consistency in
all things, and neither Mr. Mckinley
nor his party can ignore tariff pledges
without self stultihcatiOn. Hence
new Democratic convention with an
other Democratic ticket and directed
by wise counsels, is the sole hope Of
the Democratic future and would be
the one refuge for these Democrats
who have nowhere else to go.
Failure to respect the convictions
and exigencies OF these Democrats
would be in the highest degree un-
safe. AS between Mr.. Mckinley and
Mr. Bryan, in the final outcome, Mr..
Bryan would probably get as many OF
these votes as Mr.. Mckinley, while
many would refuse to go to the polls,
but 8 sound Democratic ticket would
get them all. Thus, after the election,
the opposition may be organized on a
sound basis and not relegated to the
wild horses of POpuhsm for three years
more of ruinOus agitation with another
life or death struggle at the end OF
TT is not certain that a ticket headed
by Carlisle or Whitney and placed up
on real Democratic platform would
not get more votes than the ticket
headed by Mr.. Bryan. Such a ticket
would not imperil the result, but would
assure it The complete disintegration
of the Democratic party is an event to
be contemplated by thoughtful per