The herald., 1896-07-18
WATTERSON'S WEIRD Wall
Over the Platform Adopted at
Chicago
INVITATION TO CIVIL WAR
Is Concealed in the Depths Of the Money
Plank
Scheme Of Reputation and National
SpollatIon-Wants Another Ticket

ing with his family at Geneva, was inter-
viewed by the correspondent Of the Her
aid touching the Democratic crisis in
the United States. Col. Watterson has
sought the seclusion of the Swiss noun
tains, not merely for recreation and rest,
but for the purpose of completing the
life Of Abraham Lincoln on which he
has been engaged for some time.
For more than a. year." said Col.
Watterson, II have been out Of active
politics, and on that account have de-
clined to be drawn into the discussion
of public matters and into exposing my
self to criticisms and responsibilities
which could not be met. You see I am
not used to taking blows without Giving
them in controversial combat. and I am
loath to put myself to disadvantage in
this regard. But the condition of affairs
at home is too serious to Justify the ST.
lence of any man whose opinions may
be desired. What is 1t you particularly
wish me to speak Off"
First, the ticket nominated at Chi
cago."
Personally, 1t Is an unexceptionable
ticket. Mr.. Bryan is most worthy and
we'll educated young man, with a talent
for what passes for oratory. He is fer
vid, sincere, poor and honest. Mr.. Sewall
Is q Democrat of long standing and
credit. He Is a millionaire from Maine,
who. having nothing to lose politically,
thinks he can afford to crafty caprice
and amuse himself by playing with the
Populists. It is ticket that may be
made to arouse a good deal Of enthu-
siasm, both real and artificial"
And the PLATFORM"
"Monstrous. It not only means ma
tional reputation and spoliation, but it
Is an open door to revolution. If the
leaders of this movement come into
power, those of them who have any
sense Of accountability and conception
of orderly government would be quickly
set aside by the wild elements behind.
In this way. civil war, as foreshadowed
by the Chinese outbreaks last year,
| could be precipitated on the country.
Then the strong hand of the federal
power was interposed, but If this were
| withheld the reign Of the mob would be
easy enough"
" AA~S ~ VAC PAOPOooA ~ PoI dlOlAACA
Democratic ticket in the fleld?"
You will observe" said Col. Waiter
son. slowly weighing and measuring
what he said. that those who are so
quick to urge concentration of all sound
money men upon Mckinley are either
Republicans who naturally seek to swell
their party ranks by such an unexpect-
ed accession, or those Democrats who,
from sense of sheer outrage and dis
gust, leap at conclusions, not caring to
take two bites at a cherry.
But there are considerations which
neither class takes into account There
are from 100000 to 100000 Of staunch
Democrats who are not to be so easily
transferred from one party to anothe,.
yet whose votes can be made just as
effective in suppressing anarchy as the
votes of those Republicans who directly
support Mckinley. These Democrats
must have some abiding place. They
cannot find it under flag of which one
half is for sound money and the other
half for protection. Hence new. Dem
ocratic convention, with another Demo-
cratic ticket, and directed by wise coun-
sells, Is the sole hope of the Democratic
future, and would be the only refuge.
'Mr. Mckinley cannot compromise an
issue which he has made the corner
stone of his political belief. 1t is true
that the money issue, not the tariff issue,
Is in the ascendant now, but there must
be logical consistency in all things,
and neither Mckinley nor his party can
ignore tariff pledges without stultifica-
tion. Hence a new Democratic conven-
tion. with another Democratic ticket.
would be the one refuge for those DEM
ocrats who have nowhere else to go.
With respect to the convictions and ext
gencies, these Democrats would be in the
highest degree unsafe. AS between Mr..
Mckinley and Mr.. Bryan in the final
outcome. Mr.. Bryan would probably get
as many of these votes as Mr.. Mckinley;
while many would refuse to go to the
polls. but sound Democratic ticket
would get them all. Thus, after the
election. the opposition might be Or
ganized upon sound basis and not rel
egated to the wild roses of Populism
for three years more of ruinous agita-
tion with another life or death struggle
at the end Of them
ut is not certain that ticket headed
by Carlisle or Whitney and placed upon
real Democratic platform would not
gte more votes than the ticket headed
by Mr.. Bryan. Such ticket would not
imperil the result. but would secure it.
The complete disintegration of the Dem
ocratic party is an event to be contem-
plated by thoughtful persons only with
forebodings of evil"