The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-24
NOT EVEN LUKEWARM.

A subscriber sends to us an editorial
from the Butte Miner with a request
that we will kindly answer the ques-
tons which it asks, because he con-
siders them "hot ones" We have tried
these inquiries by pouring water upon
them, and they do not even sizzle. AL
though we think there is very little
profit to anybody in raking over the
embers of the recent campaign, we will
give, briefly, replies to the questions
in the hope that they may contribute
enlightenment to some.
Who is to blame for the defeat Of party
those who support the nominees of the ma
tional convention, or those who bolt them?
AS far as the casting Of votes goes,
those who decline to support the nomi-
nees Of a convention defeat the party
which it represents. AS far as the
question of moral responsibility is con-
cerned, which is the main thing in
this world, the men who adopt a plat
form which they know beforehand that
a large number, If not a majority, of
the party cannot conscientiously ac-
cept, are the men who compass its de-
feat. This is not peculiar to the cam
paign of 1896. In every city and state
in the Union, at some time or other,
party has owed it's defeat to an I'M
wise choice of candidates or an i'm
proper platform. The mere mechanical
oc+in Of hoJ1n
act already committed The response
bility for defeat always rests with
those whose blunder as to men or
measures alienates the people.
Who represents the Democratic party-the
national Democratic convention or handful
of self-constituted leaders,"
That depends on what the Demo-
cratic party is. If it is a mere skeleton
organization, consisting Of a certain
number of officers in state and nation,
it is represented by those who secured
| control at Chicago. If the Democratic
party means an organization of men
united in the advocacy of fixed policies
of government, it is represented by
those who support such policies as
are consistent with the partys history
and the utterances Of it's great leaders.
Who brought defeat to the party-the party
itself as represented in national conVen-
ton, the assistant Republicans who sup
ported the nominee of the national Republi-
can convention?
The conquest of logical statement by
emotion which appears to be partic-
ularly characteristic of the silver news
papers, is shown by the repetition here,
This is identical with it and needs no
other reply.
Who calls the party together for action
the national committee, or the Pharisaical
deserters who lacked the Democratic cour-
age to defy the gold power of the East and
| stand up manfully for the true Democracy?
This question appears to be asked
for the purpose of introducing some
rhetorical expressions. which are
neither original nor striking. Meant
to be offensive, they succeed only in
being foolish. Party conventions are
| called by party committees, but no
party ever yet won any victories by
| advertising that 1t would put up the
bars to keep voters out.
Who are the real Democrats-the men who
espouse the cause of bimetallism, which was
Democratic cause during all the years of
Democratic supremacy in this country or
the Clevelands and the Carlisles who receive
the hearty Endorsement Of the Republican
party and are made the subjects Of fulsome
praise by John Sherman?
This is very funny mixture. IT
contains the familiar attempt to mis-
represent, by using the word ''bimetal-
ism" No man who favors the free
| coinage Of silver at the ratio of Is to
1 by the United States alone was. is
or ever can be a bimetallist He be-
lieves in silver monometallism, which
was not a Democratic cause" at any
| time in the past. The absurdity of
| Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisle the indorse-
| ment given to their financial policy
by certain Republicans should become
apparent upon our reminder that such
| Republicans as Senators Teller and
Pettigrew and Mantle and Cannon, and
ten or dozen more, Endorsed Mr. Bryan
just as heartily moreover, the nomf-
nees for high Office, in this state at
least were pretty much all Republi-
cans, who did not even consent to
| write sex" before their names. 1t
strikes us that this question Of seeking
aid and comfort from Republicans and
making the receipt of 1t O reproach