The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-03
PEACE OR WAR.

1t has been evident for some time
that the question whether there should
be peace or war between the Democrats
who believe in the maintenance of the
gold standard alone, those who hope
and wish for international bimetallism,
and those who favor silver monometal-
hsm pure and simple by the process
of free coinage at the ratio of 16 to 1
by the United States alone, rests al
most entirely with the last mentioned
faction. The attitude of the National
Democrats since the election has been
as pacific as that of the Bryan Demo-
Gratis seems to be belligerent Those
who supported the Indianapolis can
didates and those others who voted for
Mckinley and urged others to do so
are not Republicans and have no de-
sire to affiliate with. that party in the
future They have said so openly and
repeatedly. The Republicans have
made many overtures to them, and are
even now celebrating upon a tariff
policy which should retain, if possible,
the support Of the men who made Mr.
Bryan's election this year impossible
On the other hand, the supporters of
the defeated candidate have exhibited
singularly vindictive spirit, since it
can be gratified only at the cost Of all
hope of future success OF ali the DO
sitions that practical politician can
take the most foolish and suicidal
seems to us to be the declaration that
because man voted against you once
he shall never be allowed to vote with
you thereafter The statistics show
that every national election in this
country since 1872 has been carried for
the victorious party by the votes of
men who were opposed to it four years
before. If the rule of exclusion had
been followed, if the party of the mi
nority had been imbecile enough in any
case to say that it wanted and would
tolerate no assistance from any but its
former supporters, every contest for
the last twenty-four years would have
been reversed.
Where majOritfes count elections are
not won by building up the walls to
shut out voters, but by putting out at
fractions to entice them in. Every
Democrat who voted against the can.
didates Of the Chicago convention be.
cause Of the strange doctrines put in
the platform, and because of a fusion
with Populism, desires to be able tc
vote straight Democratic ticket two
years and four years hence The DO.
sition Of all these has been conciliatory
and they nave neither asked nor de-
sired to run the party They have
made no conditions except to drop the
disastrous experiment this year Out
OF sight and return to the issues and
policy on which the party was kept in.
tact, grew to mighty proportions anG
won great victories. We must confess
that the response to this thus far has
not been encouraging Kentucky i:
a good illustration. If any Democrat!
in the country ought to be studious O.
the future, and wise for it, it would b,
those Of state where a regular Demo
cratic majority of from rs, 900 to 60, 0O
has been annihilated, and Republican:
have won two elections in succession
Yet the regular Democratic committe,
has announced in Kentucky that any
person who did not support the nomi
nees of the Chicago convention shall
not hereafter vote at a party eaucu:
or sit in a party convention
Now, the men who are thus ostra
cized, including the secretary of tn,
treasury, United States senator anC
many others whose Democracy is un
questioned, bear the consequences t.
themselves with equanimity. But how
about the others? They stood up anC
were counted this year. They founC
themselves a minority viii it pay t
crafty their desire for revenge at tn
price Of remaining a minority forever
Is that what parties are for? Can al
organization be kept together when it
perpetual defeat is guaranteed? w
know that there will never be fulle
vote in Kentucky than there was thi
year We know that the Republican