The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-10-10
The Sentinel and Advocate.

The American Sentinel says it does not
comprehend an editorial in the ADVOCATE.
We are not surprised. The Sentinel never
could understand Democracy, nor ever realize
how any able, honest or patriotic citizen
could be Democrat.
1t is intensely partisan. 1t is for the Re-
publican ticket and platform every time, and
never observes any wrong doing under Re-
publican administration any where.
But for cash and promise of Office the con-
vention that nominated Mckinley would have
declared for the free coinage of silver. Had
it done so the Sentinel would have been tell
ing its readers weekly of the blessings to fol-
low from the re-adoption of free coinage OF
silver, and the prosperity that would result TO
agriculture.
The DEMOCRATIC ADVOCATE is also partl-
san paper, but it is not so blind that in can
not see faults and mistakes in its own party.
1t long ago saw that Mr.. Cleveland's course
was gradually disrupting the Democratic par
ty, and in series of articles criticised him
and his policy, and it also criticised the Demo-
Gratis in Congress for being driven by the
President both on the currency and tariff
questions.
Such independence was SO astounding 10
the Sentinel that it made notice oft. ltwas
over,joyed. too, because it thought the crit-
eism would result in creating division in the
party wherever the paper circulated. And 1t
Al 80, tha ,;,,a Tho A nvnc ATr was saverp-
ly criticised by many Democrats, who fol-
lowed wherever Mr.. Cleveland led, without
stopping to reflect whether he was right or
wrong. When the people, ignoring bosses,
leaders and managers, wrested the control of
the party from those who we're interested in
or allied to the money ring, corporations and
trusts and reasserted the principles of Jeffer-
son and jackson, the blind followers of Mr..
Cleveland began to investigate. They found
the party had drifted away from the faith of
its founders. They found that upon the cur
rency question an Administration, elected by
Democrats. was following policy inangur-
ated by the Republicans, and policy that
was directly opposite to the teachings OF JET
ferson, Jackson, Calhoun and other distin-
guished Democratic leaders. They found
other acts of the Administration that were not
in line with the teachings and policy of true
Democracy, and they are now among the
most enthusiastic supporters of Mr.. Bryan
and his platform. They are standing today
where the ADVOCATE stood several years ago.
The rank and file have been restless for some
years. Many had left the party and joined
the Peoples and Silver parties. Many Re-
publicans had left the Republican party, too.
The detection from the two parties amounted
to the l,037, 900 voters who four years ago
cask their ballots for Weaver. The great
built of these are now supporting Bryan, and
should he earnestly endeavor to carry out the
platform promulgated at Chicago, they will
stay with the Democratic party.
The true party journal will not hesitate to
criticise errors of party policy or false leader
ship. 1t is 4 duty it owes to its party; it is
the act of patriotism-not treason. as some
papers and leaders assume.