The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-09
is THIS DEMOCRACYf

is THIS DEMOCRACYs
The action of the Chicago conven-
tion yesterday was consistent with the
record of the men who constitute
majority of Its members. The whole
day was spent la determining the posi-
ton of the convention upon the report
of its committee on credentials; and
the action taken was enough of itself
to deprive this body of the right to use
the name of Democrat For the mere
purpose of securing few more useless
votes, or more, it would seem, to anger
and outrage the minority, the majority
seated the silver contestants from
Michigan, who have no more rights as
delegates in this convention than any
other private citizen of the United
States. This is the most farcical con-
test that was ever brought before any
representative body. There is no pre-
tense of irregularity in the Michigan
convention. There is no flaw in its ac-
ton or in the credentials presented by
the delegates whom it selected in &C
cordance with law and precedent But
the silver men were deeply disappoint-
ed al the result, and they carried a
contest to Chicago on the ground that
federal off1ceholders had participated
in the primary and convention proceed
ings. This is almost the only cause of
contest actually visible. So f1imsy
was the pretext offered for throwing
out these sound money delegates that
the national committee, although d.
vided almost equally between the two
factions, decided with only one dissent
ing vote to seat the delegates regularly
elected by the convention SO outrage
Gus was the action proposed that one
of the delegates, himself a silver man.
announced to the convention that they
could nominate a silver candidate
without committing highway rob-
berry" Yet the silver majority seated
these contesting delegates, who had
manufactured their own titles to sit in
the convention there, who come with
out authority from the people, and
whose presence invalidates the right Of
ton of the Democratic party.
To this work the second day of the
convention was devoted; and nothing
could have thrown so brilliant a light
upon the aims and purposes of the
men who have for the moment OBJ
tanned control of the Democratic or
ganization. They have thrown to the
winds not only moderation and the
willingness to promote harmony, but
also all regard for party usage and
all pretense of fairness in action. They
might just as well have called in any
chance spectators from Chicago's
streets to sit in the convention as to
have admitted these contestants from
Michigan. 1t is not their purpose or
their method to ascertain the will of
a majority of the regularly consti-
tuted and chosen representatives of
IL party, but to carry out the pro-
gramme which they have determined
upon, by fair means or by foul So,
by these unknown and forbidden
paths, the convention moves to it's ap-
pointed end. Whether those who
stand by Democratic methods, and OBJ
pose anarchy in party procedure as
we'll as in economic doctrine, will re-
main in the convention until the end
is still an open question. 1t makes no
difference as far as results are con-
cerned The cabal of leaders who
have manipulated the convention from
the beginning will adopt free silver
platform and nominate a free silver
candidate, no matter what measures
it may be necessary to take to ac-
complish It, They cannot step fur
Their outside the limits of right and of
party legality, as prescribed by i'm
memorial usage and consent, than
they did yesterday, in admitting to
membership, solely on the ground Of
their advocacy of free coinage,
batch of delegates who bear no COM
mission from the people At this, as
at almost every other stage of the pro-
ceedings, the Democrats of the coun-
try look on with wonder and indigna-
ton and ask, rs this Democracy"