The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
rns DEnoonAr1o pAhrr.
ne Consequences 81 tts p,aaicpi ErAusnsEvsa-
ttop Al Chtrnge.

Vereation OF the mon i meet, whether IN town or
country. When the subject comes up at all,
only the larger questions Of politics seem to
awaken their interest Naturally, the probable
or possible future Of the Democratic party re-
coivos discussion by Democrats. but II 10 treated
In a very different spirit from that In which II
wonld have been looked at q few years hRo.
whether by Democrats OF Republicans. On each
side u 10 considered reasonably and without
controversial acrimony. Practically there Is
little ground for disagreement between Demo.
Gratis and Republicans whose views rs TO the
money standard do not differ essentially. and Of
such. Of course, I am sneaking. It 10 too early
yet TO tell how the Dingley tNriF Ia going TO
work, hnt on all hands the disposition 10 TO nc-
ccpt fairly the results Of tie trial, itS enactment
as n method Of settling n cause OF dispute long
provocative o. business disturbance having been
welcomed with something approaching a unan.
lmous feeling Of relief in the business and nnan.
cinl world.
Tho time has heen. doubtless, when the art.
fully and casuisticnlly eraeive MARYLAND plat
form. discussed by II suN to-day, would have
been accepted ~ n dcxtcrous piece Of political
work, but now II provokes only smiles from vold
Democrats. and I do not believe H. 10 received
with any more respect by the D mocracy OF tho
Chicago Platform. It IL n piece Of literary Logger.
dcmain, belonging rather to tho per'oi OF
''"''o INV b'siiN DulIl'tb tlTOupn "nI'h
We have passed than to this time when mon are
bringing calm reason 10 Rear upon the consider
ation Of political problems instead OF rartlsan
prejudice merely. Tho vote Of $500 900 for
BRYAN, In spite ~ a long and enlightcning can.
vaes. frightened conservative reon'e md taught
them that political pettiforginr might he carried
to = dnnrerous extreme. II aroused them TO the
conscionsness that there Ia a portentons body
Of the American electorate likely TO render sup.
port 70 any revolutionary doctrine which may
be rrorounded hereafter a. n natural develop
mont OF III Chicago PLATFORM. The danger Ia not
merely from the 10 to ] proposition. though that
lie sim sustained ami even urged with more vehe-
mence th'n over by the regular Democratic or
CARNATIONS ~ the States almost universally, but
In the logical consequences Of the general prin-
ciples enuncieted In that platform. II. during
the next few years. all Roes well with trade,
manufacture. and agriculture. and the wages
Of those employed In them. tho evil day invited
at Chicago may hs etaved on temporarily. hut
eventnnlv II 10 bound to come. n WINS because
the politicians controlling the Maryland ron.
vention feared the coming Of that storm TINT
they mad" r platform constructed primarily In
accord with the sentiment now IN control Of tho
Democratic party. They wanted to he with the
majority. yet to conciliate the minority, co.
peciallv strong In that State. Hence they tried
TO face both ways.
Nrithor side. In Maryland or anywhere else.
however. is deceived as 10 the purpose OF
the platform makers. Everybody understands
that the Maryland Democracy IL 70 he kent In
line with the regular Democracy o. the Chicago
platform. II Ia usc'ess for Mnewump and
psnedo.Democrntic IA pera to pretend IN s~e IN Il
a germ Of novel and reeereratire principle, 60
transparent 10 the trick. Democrats OPP
posed to Brvnn last year. who want a pre-
text for returning At the autumn elections,
even II 1t is no more than dronp'np tho
mere words "16 10 l." while reta lining tn es-
sence Of the principle involved. are glad that IL
is provided for them in the Marylnn| platform;
but they would 20 hack anyway. Nobody who
looks on the Chicago doctrine AS dangerous and
revolutionary will Re influenced by a suhterfuge
so apparent to every intelligence. Take any
Democrst with rreat end manifold property in
terrsts: is he going to nut them In jeopardy by
lending holm to a party OF which the Chicago
platform 10 now and Ia likely to remain tho
standard Of political and social principleI
don't believe II Of such a man or OF rny OF tho
multitude OF conservative DemocrHts repro
aented nv him. They cannot conreal from them
selves and are frank In acknowledging to otheru
That tho Democratic party 10 given over to
Organism.
Consequently. 7 do not believe that Tammany
would gain anvthing from that source nv imi-
o'if ~ i"ViN Tif i Hny bucn tDemO-
Gratis vote the Tammany ticket they will vote Il
without regard to the platform on which Il 10
put. They cannot he fonled into voting II, They
oil know that unless Tammany sauarely repu.
dates the Chicago STANDARD Of regularity II will
continue to abide by the doctrines enumerated
by the national authority Of the party. to what.
ever lcn~ths they may go. and will use any
power the election may give II to bring abont
their "scendency. No gold Democrat will vote
for Tnmmany except on that understanding
with himself. He will take Tammany herause
he likes II In spite Of its Rryanism. The Tom.
many leaders, therefore. will expend their solici.
tude rather on Ito regular following. with whom
Bryanism Is a passionate sentiment.
II Ia because this situation is 90 generally
recognized by 10th Intelligent Democrats and In
telligent Ronuhlicans TINT the aeperity Of Do
litical controversy has ceased. Both sidea ace
that the Democratic party is still under the
domination OF the elements which held II In
their grasp last year. and that there 10 no pres.
ent hope OF their d%islodpment. The existing
standard Of faith Of the Democratic party Ia IN.
disputahly the Chicago platform. and there Is
no other organized Democracy. nor 10 there any
present possibility OF the organization OF any
other. The National Democracy. generated last
year at INDIANAPOLIS. provokes no Interest out
size OF the small bn nd Of individuals seeking ron.
sequence by means ofit. II has not taken any hold
on public sentiment. Democratic regeneration
when II comes. will not come nom that quarter.
II will have TO he n spontaneous movement ,ns,da
OF the regular organization. due 10 the political
hopelessness Of the Chicago platform, demon.
strated In repeated trials.
Th"tiesson has not yet been learned. The indt.
cations nre rather that the prevailing Influences
at Chicago will continue to shape the policy of
the Democratic party four yenrs hence, with tina
probability that II will he carried IN n fur,h..
extreme. rather than that II will no made mora
moderate. II We are entering on n period of
great prosperity. as now seems probable, what
new policy OF moro political promise will be
available for the partyl II We como to 1900
amid popular discomfort what else can be moro
profitable politirallyi
Tint is why Democrats Of the old schoo, arc
losing interest In politics for the moment, They
arc without a party. and are waiting for the
spontaneous return OF the Democratic party
to principles tolorable by conservative men; but
as they whit they are onnrpsaed with 1..z.k..