The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-15
Democratic Revolt Election
Prospects.

E~TOSpeCtSs
Democracy has done its worst at Chi
cago, and it must be very bad to be so
generally repudiated by democrats
themselves. Its platform declarations,
reduced to practice, would be revolu-
tionary in government, ruinous to bust
ness and destructive 10 society. 1t has
nominated for the presidency this plat
forms most conspicuous and most
brilliant exponent and defender before
the convention.
The issue is taking shape. On the
one hand is the republican declaration
of principles, protecting American in
dustry, maintaining and safeguarding
the national honor and credit, sustaining
all that makes for good in government,
prosperity in business and health in So
ciety, with candidates whose abilities,
whose lives, whose experience in pub
lie affairs command the respect, inspire
the confidence and invite the enthu-
siasm of the American people. On the
other is the red creed of anarchism, the
crazy schemes of populism, which have
already wrought incalculsble evil to
the material and political interests of
the nation, marshaled under the BAN
ner of the democratic party, borne by
a man whose sole claim to distinction
is the possession of the gift of that dan
gerous eloquence that inhamed the
mobs of Paris during the French Revo-
luton. Which will the freemen of the
United States choose?
Despite a slight schism in the ranks
of republicans on the silver coinage is
sue, the answer for the men whose
representatives were recently assem-
bled in St. Louis is not in doubt. The
great body of republicans, who first of
all things believe in protection TO
American industry, will remain loyal
to their party. The rift in the organ
ization is wider now than it will be in
November. Party loyalty will be fused
into one glowing mass before the day
of the national election.
How stands the matter with the dem
ocrats and the hitherto irreconcilable
mugwump? Read the brief extracts
from the press printed elsewhere in
this issue. These could be multiplied
many fold did space permit. Those
we publish are fairly representative.
Their number is legion and they are
limited to no section. They come from
the East, the West, the South and the
Pacific. Individual democrats, men
whose names are the household words
of the party, declare with all shades of
incisiveness, or with an emphasis that
in a less aggravated crisis might be
deemed p%rofane, that they repudiate
the platform and spurn the nominations.
These are apt to be the lineal descend
ants of the democrats of 1860 who fol-
lowed the fortunes of Douglass. With
many the determination is prompt and
decisive to vote for William Mckinley.
This course, rather than putting a gold
standard ticket in the field, is advised.
But whether OF not the revolt shall
finally take the shape of another con-
vention and another ticket, thousands
OF democrats in every state of the
Union will recognize the fact that the
best way to make their reputation of
the Chicouo plotforp, op1 ,ooa;Jo+oo
effective is to vote for Mckinley, and
will act accordingly.
Meantime every day adds to the
mighty volume of indignant protest
and reputation that is rolling up from
every quarter of the land in respect of
the acts of the Chicago communistic
gathering. Between this time and the
day of election the string of heresies
formulated at Chicago will be ground
to powder between the upper and
neither milestone of discussion. Four
years ago demagogues led the people
out into the wilderness of free trade.
Sobered by disappointment, their senses
refined and their vision clarified by
suffering, the false prophets of free
silver will not find this people ready
and willing to be gulled and buncoed a
second time while yet hungry and foot
sore and heartsore from their former
experience. The unanimity of McKin-
ley's nomination shall be eclipsed by the
magnincence of the vote that will make
him president.