The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-17
IN DESPERATE STRAITS.

Divided, disorganized, demoralized, de-
spondent, Democracy finds itself in des-
perate straits, and turn which way it will
it can find neither a safe path to take nor
a wise leader to follow. When, in the Chi
cago convention. it broke in mad folly
from its established paths and its accus-
toned leaders it undertook to blaze out a
way for fusion with Populism, and as re-
suit both it and its allies, the Populists,
are now wandering in darkness, blind
leaders of the blind, who know neither
whittier they are going nor where they
shall stop.
Never in the history of our country did
a great political party approach Presi-
dental election in such a confused and
disordered rout as that of Democracy at
the present time. 1t matters not whether
we consider the condition of the party in
the Nation, in State or in city, we find
everywhere the same blind bungling and
laundering. The leaders or bosses, or what
ever they are who are in command, are
moved by the same folly of seeking Popu-
list allies at the expense of losing the con-
servative and stalwart element of their own
party. A species of political insanity i'm
pels them to denounce Cleveland, Palmer.
Hill, Carlisle, Whitney and Gallery for the
purpose of cornering the favor of PETER,
TilIman, Allen and Mrs. Lease.
Half-hearted even in their folly and be-
wildered in the confusion of untried
ways, these blind leaders of Democracy
are unable to act with vigor or consistency
on the course they have decided to take.
Having driven the conservative Demo
Gratis out of the camp they still hesitate
to carry their bargain with the Populists
to its logical conclusion. They keep the
millionaire Sewall on their ticket for
Vice-President despite the cry of the Pop
ulists clamoring that he shall be taken
down and Watson substituted. This strife
over the Vice-Presidency disturbs the
party leaders so that they cannot attend
TO the campaign and fills their councils
with confusion worse confounded. How
gladly they would get rid of both if they
could Is known to every one, but they
have neither the wisdom to devise COM
promise nor the courage to enforce one.
In this confusion and decentralization it
is of course impossible to carry on an ef-
fective campaign. The days go by, but
no voice is heard for the fusion save that
of the wandering boy orator of the Platte.
The men who were expected to lead the
onset of aggressive free silver, Teller,
Boies. Matthews, Blackburn, Crisp, Dan
lei and Bland, are all silent. Some of them
have spoken once or twice, but none has
entered with any vigor into the campaign.
Even the Populists have assumed an IN
wonted silence, and PETER, Allen and
Simpson are as mum as the Democrats
and the boiling Republicans. What can
be expected of party so demoralized and
divided2 How could it possibly admins
ter the affairs of the country if by any
mischance it came into possession of the
Government? The whole scheme of the
fusionists shows political imbecility that
is as reckless as it is incompetent. Democ-
racy in fact is shooting Niagara, and
nothing can save it from the swift ap-
preaching catastrophe.