The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-11-25
DEMOCRATIC DEMONSTRATION,

Just now the Democratic party is un-
dergoing the process of disintegration,
which. curiously enough, It passes
through at what might be called stated
periods and regular intervals. Who
ever reviews its history will observe not
only the regularity OF the recurrence,
hut the operation OF the same antece.
dent conditions and compelling caus $,
Ii has always Quibbled and pettifogged
to win; always been ready to sacrifice
principle to votes and the end ~ Il has
always been practical dismtegration
and collapse from incompaubhity ot
the dlscordant elements, and then a
new departure. That was the story ot
its fatal weakness before slave-holding
aggreSSioa. which ended IN such disas-
ter. Since then the party has cotdled
every folly in finance, nom fiat money
to free silver; has cultivated the faVor of
every crank who had a constituency or
a hobby; has, In short. baiteG its hooks
and spread its nets for every sort Of
political fish that swims, from Jelly fish
to shark. In its hunger for office ana
eagerneSs for votes IL shrank from no
sacrifice. refused no concession, butwas
ready to profess anything or promise
everything SO it gained votes, Hence
the motley crowd OF cranks and dema-
gogues that constituted the Chicago
convention; hence the Stiffness OF their
nominations. the wild outgivings OF
their platform. and the wretched imbe-
cility OF their campaign management,
The result is what we now see going
on-party disintegration. The old lead
ers, who had whatever capacity there
was in the party. have withdrawn in
disgust and fiocked by themselves. The
men now in control have neither the
ability nor the experience requisite for
the function Of leadership. They are
all at sea already. Instead OF under
taking TO heal the differences, they ag-
gravate them; instead Of trying to unite
their discovered organization. which is
aRcNAuNNAN NcSElNAtA ~ AAANtt NQINNeSs
they proclaim their purpose to perpetu-
ate the breach and compel the Sound
Money Democrats to organize and act
Mr.. Bryan either is, or
thinks he is. the head Of the regular or
ganization and the fountain Of its
He does not hesitate to say
that the doors are shut against the
Democrats who voted against him at |
the late election. He gave fair warn |
ing before election TO all Democrats |
who were contemplating leaving the old |
party that they must take their bag
gage with them." for they would not |
be permitted to return. II was hardly |
wise to utter such threat before cleo |
ton; it is simple idiocy to repeat IL |
now, when there Is nothing to be gain |
ed but everything jeopardized by it. |
But Bryan is the only recognized head
NJ the regular organization, and what |
he says goes OF course all his follow
ers are not fools, and the logical con-
sequence Of his pigheadedness will be
presently the falling away in large
of those who faithfully sup
ported him and the further disintegra-
tion of the demoralized Democracy.
And then? Well, then probably a new
departure, and. for Republicans, a new
for ascendency with a Democ-
racy that has suffered for its mistakes
and, let us hope learned something
from experience.