The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-22
"TEsT OF DEMOCRACY"
Ex-senator Craven Gives His Idea
of4Them. s1

Mr.. Editor Allow us to thank you for
space accorded on Saturdays issue of your
paper to reply to your article Of the same
Who haIe 1ae sSg ps much eare as as
you have, the present state of affairs in our
party, regret much as you do the circum-
stances which divide men who have hereto
fore protested to be united; but the time has
come when we must prove our case before
a court, and base argument on some
thing more than the mere opinion of a news
paper, or few men, Now, it will be ad-
mitted, and, In fact, cannot be contradicted,
that every great organization has its plat
form-itS CONSTITUENCIES to speak, and that
platform, that bylaw, or that constitution, is
the only test by which we are able to ascer-
tain whether or not the individual is, or
is not, member of that organization. II a
man belongs to a church he must live up to
its tenets or be barred. If man belongs to
a lodge he must live up to its constitution
or be not a member. If a man belongs to any
kind of a society, be it religious or other
wise, he must obey the constitution or be
ousted. If a state legislature passes a law
that is not in conformity to the state con-
stitutfon it is not valid. IL the congress of
the United States passes an act that is not
in accordance to the United States cohstitu-
ton, 1t Is no good and 50 1t Is with political
parties; when all Of the pople in party
act together by representatives in national
convention. those who wish to be members
of that party must obey the mandates Of its
platform. and every plank therein, or be
barred. There Is no other alternative. and
3
ed without destroying the organization or
party itself. 1t must not be left to any
man or men, any county or state convention,
to say what Is or is not Democratic; their
guide is the national platform; that Is their
constitution. and anything inconsistent there
with is unconstitutional. In advance of
conventions we at liberty to advocate
that which we deem best for our interests
and the interests Of the party. but after we
enter the convention we are bound by every
thing that is honorable5 to stand by It's plat
form. or leave the party and renounce all
allegiance thereto. It may be that the Chi
cago platform is not what would make 1t,
or what you would have 1t, but It is made
and is the voice of our party, and we must
obey or lose what we have gained In the
estimation of that party. No matter how
strong the party may be In the state. It
cannot expect to win without the national
ticket. You might Just as well try to make
fruit grow the branch of a tree by GRID
ling it's trunk. DEMOCRATS who Will support
Bryan and Sewall now. will not aid In the
election OF. any man 70 state Office who
does not recognize the ~hfcago platform and
help carry It out.
Neither has any man right to ask recog-
milton In our state convention who bolts the
of Minnesota VIII not hesitate to tell those
fellows what they intend to do now, ana
in the future. when they meet In this and
other Democratic conventions. He who leaves
us and goes to. Mckinley will be more reg
spected than he who persists In being
Democrat and knifes the national ticket.
No. We say, be with us or be with McKin-
ley, but don't label yourselves Democrats
unless You help carry out the principles of
III. w. Craven.