The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-05
Tns PoIIrTo1I nrVoIUrroM.
VIII the Spirit Represented ~ bryan Con.
troll the Democratic Party

troll the Democratic Rartyt
To n EDITOR OF TIE SuN-Sir: The re-
turns of the election. more especially those from
this city and from all the old eleven Confederate
states, with the possible exception OF North
Carolina alone. indicate to mo very plainly that
any hope OF wrestling the Democratic organiza-
ton from the control Of the forces which sup
ported Bryan is well nigh vain. Tho victory Of
Mckinley has been great. 1t has indicated that
the States OF the middle West, regarding which
there WAS so much anxiety. were really not
doubtful. The Republican voters havo proved
a. faithful to tho gold standard az were the Re-
publican delegates from those States in tho st.
Louis Convention. They have elected McKin-
ley and put down Reputation, for the time
being, at least. They have also returned Re-
publican Congressman, with few exceptions.
II is probable that the Democratic party, I'M
der the lead OF the Senatorial silver combina-
tion, has done fully as well as II could have
done under conservative leadershIp; nay. It
has done better, perhaps, than II the silver issue
had not been raised. 1t has made u canvass OF
intense earnestness, though last spring there
aeemed nothing left for 1t except TO lie down
and let the Republicans walk over II. II the
issue had been the record of the Administration
during the last three years., made In tho midst
OF prevailing and increasing business and in
dustrial distress, the overwhelming defeat Of
tho Democratic party would have been inev-
table. and far more dlspiriting than it is now.
The fusion with the Populists seems to have
been unusually successful; and unquestionably
It brought in an element which introduced an
aggressive spirit that tho party lacked ak
months ago. Once conservative. It has now
become fanatical in its tone and impulse, and
that zeal is likely TO remain. The flaming ora
tors Of social revolution are with It. It Ia q
completely transformed Democratic party;
vertically It has been "rejuvenated. reRoner-
ated," as Tillman said at Chicago shortly before
the election; and 1t has in the old Confederate
South q nucleus of strength which cannot be
dissipated.
Hero in New York the Democratic party, Or
ganized under this new leadership. was
beaten for tho FIRST time in the history of the
Republican party; but, after all. Bryan got
shout 135.ooo votes in New York. 4 momentous
total. The Bryan demonstration was alarm
ingly impressive. and was great enough to
afford a pretty sure Indication that the spirit
expressed by It will remain In control of the
Democratic party here. and hold it's position
improRnably. The National Democratic revolt
seems to have amounted to nothing. so far as
concerns tho regeneration OF the Democratic
party here and ~sowhe Apparently the new
leaders will continue to lead. Will not the
Tammany that goes into the municipal cam
paign of next year be the Organized Tammany
of to-day. with the same spirit and violence7
Can there DO any other inference from all this
than that the political readjustment which has
occurred during this campaign will not end
with tho election of Mckinley, but will be per-
manent2 The regular Democratic party. the
Democratic organization. will continue to be
moulded and dominated by the influences and
policies which usurped its control at Chicago.
So far a. there 10 reorganization, II will be on the