New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
THE PARTY OF THE PEOPLE,"

One of the "long talks to the Tammany So
ciety yesterday was delivered by the Hon.
Josiah Patterson of Tennessee, who certainly
cannot be accused Of infatuation with the pres
ent prospects Of his party. Indeed there is
something respectable and attractive in the
frankness with which he confessed that only
miracle could rescue it from overwhelming de-
feat in November. II have no delusive words"
he said. with which to beguile you In the
political skies can see no stars which give
'augury of Democratic success this year" But
though the Tennessee Congressman sees
straight in this matter, there is a subject on
which he is deluded, or at least would like to
delude others; for the reason why he knows
that Democracy will survive to bless the coun-
try" is that lit Is still the party of the Con-
stitution and the party of the people" There
Is no novelty in this proclamation. 1t has al
ways been a large part Of Democracy's stock
in trade, and would scarcely be worth COM
ment now II events were not making its spu-
rious character even more than usually con-
spicuous.
THE party of the people That Ia what
Democrats called it when it was the bulwark
of human slavery and when 1t set one-half the
Nation fighting to destroy the whole. That Is
what they called 1t year after year for quar-
ter of century. when they never had the
faintest hope Of political supremacy which was
not based upon the certainty of a solid South
a South made and kept solid by either fraud or
violence or both That Is what they called 1t
four years ago when the leader whom they
now eXecrate was quoting the Eighth Com
mandment in condemnation of the party and
the principles under whose sway the people
had attained an unparalleled degree Of pros
perity We do not deny that the familiar
designation may have been a successful re-
cruitng agent, but it has been an impudent
pretence all the time and at the present mo-
ment the people assuredly seem to have found
it out Yet Democratic orators still cling TO the
old phrase without blnshing.
The party Of the people" This is the party
(which is about to hold National Convention;
and what Is going on ut Chicago? OF course
being 1.-The party Of the people" its representa-
tives. however they may differ among them
selves. are giving fair chance to ALL and pre-
serving free speech inviolate. SO much can be
taken for granted. can it not? Well, hardly.
The spokesman Of the majority, nearly or quite
two-thirds of the Convention, swear that they
intend to do all the talking as we'll as all the
acting They threaten to prevent their Ma
chnery in motion, and some of them have al
luded to the pleasure which they expected to
derive from throwing Chairman Harrity
through a window in case he should attempt to
exercise the authority given him by party law
Hear also what the Hon. fernando De Soto
Money Sonator-elcct from Mississippi, snys:
THE silver delegates will take charge Of the
entire organization" I'VE do not intend to
Of ho loft huS ho
man talked Of as temporary chairman by the
majority Of the National Committee Is hostile
ito the spirit and purpose Of the great majority
"of this Convention. We will not permit any
"such man to damn us all in his address"
Doubtless the men for whom Mr. Money speaks
have the right to control the Convention II they
have the power. But isn't it strange that the
representatives of the majority Of 1.-THE party
of the people" should refuse hearing to the
minority and, thrusting reason into a corner
should rely on brute force? 1t would be strange
conduct for any party except 1.-The party Of the
people" That party has always had an aver
sion to free speech. 1t put an end to free speech
as we'll as a free ballot with shOtguns at the
South and we have doubt that there are
men at Chicago now who are thinking that re-
vovers may be useful argument on and after
Tuesday Of this week.
Congressman Patterson, Of Tennessee gives
it up for this year, but he says he knows that
Democracy will survive to bless the country"
The Democratic party had many lives to start
with, and whether 1t has enc or more left Is a
question which no man can answer 1t has
mysteriously survived to curse the country
until now, and 1t may just conceivably be re-
generated at some time with the capacity OF
blessing II 1t does ever attain to such a po
tency as that we shall be glad to acclaim It as
'thc party Of the people"