The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-18
WHO ARE DEMOCRATss
The Question Discussed by Ex-Sena-
tor Craven.

To the Editor of the Globe.
AS this is time when even those who are
not college professors, born with silver
spoon IN their mouth, seem to be giving their
opinion as to what constitutes Democracy
and how they are to be known we feel at
liberty, with your permission to venture an
opinion, and TO ask all old-line friends of the
party to think before they, at the call of Dan
Lawler, or any magnate, attempt to disrupt
our organization by organizing a new and
Independent wing of Democracy.
Now what Is the situation? The Demo-
Gratis all over the United States have met in
to attend county and state conventions,
and they in turn elected delegates to go to
Chicago to fix up platform and name a
presidential and vice presidential candidate.
The men sent to the national convention,
notwithstanding the criticisms Of the minor
ity, were. the best we had could get No
man can question their ability to Judge of
people and things as well as the average man,
to say the least They, after mature thought
and wide discussion adopted a platform and
selected candidates to lead the party in the
fight of &C.
The men at Chicago were the chosen repre-
sentatives of the people, and they have
spoken for the people. and now ask the peo-
pie to speak for themselves in November,
thereby ratifying or repudiating what the ma
tional convention has DONE
Such has been the way Democrats have pro-
ceeded heretofore, and will proceed hereafter.
1t is the only way and, rather than to sheer
!
Gold Bug does, he ought to make the most
of the present platform until another ma
tional convention is held in 1900. Platforms
are the corner-stones of parties. and he who
aids in making a platform and then sneers
at it, aids in laying the cornerstone OF
building in the daytime and steaithliy tears
it away in the darkness Of the night.
Four years ago Cleveland was nominated
and elected on a platform that recognized sill
yer. Lawler was nominated on platform
| that recognized Cleveland's platform, and
| every man who had a spark OF Democratic
| blood in his veins. and a silver, gold or paper
! dollar in his pocket, used them in the cam
| paign for the platforms of Grover and DANIEL
Night after night, day in and day out through
| the mud and the mire, did those of us who
! now propose to follow Bryan land LIND, II
| nominated), then carry the banner ana the
/ badge of Cleveland and LAWYER, we were then
! heralded as good Democrats from every mousse
/ top, because we had the courage to cast aside
the prejudices Of religion and nationality,
brought out in that campaign by our Repup,
| lican friends and voted for Cleveland and
! Lawler because they were the men chosen
to lead by the delegates We had sent to our
! state and national conventions. The Demo
Gratis of 92 are the Democrats Of 49, and the
| supporters of the Chicago platform will be the
| Democracy of 1900
No men under the call of Lawler or any
| other man can meet at the Merchants hotel
! or any other place and take any action in OPP
position to the Chicago platform that will not
brand them forever traitors to Democracy.
! They may call themselves sound money DEM
ocrats. gold Democrats or what they will, but
the guide of every true Democrat now and for
time to come is and will be the platform of
his party as adopted in the national conven-
ton.
Democracy is the same for the rich and the
POOR the same for him who holds high office
or low position, the same for the man who
shovels in the street as for the national COM
mitteeman Of a party, or the president of a
great republic, and the national platform is
his only guide. New York, Chicago and st.
Paul gold men; Whitney. Palmer and Lawler
4 bolt us if you will but don't attempt to steal
| our organization and our good name Of DEM
! ocracy. J. w. Cranen,
Carver County, MINI.
Norwood Mimi, July 16.