Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-06-30
THE POLICY OF THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY.

vi ISAdS, SldleS WHhl DclltNS w x
the overwhelming sentiment of tn,
democratic party. He :ald: 1T seems
the almost unanimous opinion Of the
democrats whom l have met, that the
party should, in 1900, re eadopt the Chi
cago platform of 1896 without Qualifi-
caJion or reservation. 1t will be im-
possible to disassociate MIR. Bryan
from that plitform. He is part of the
tight of 1896, and to adopt that plat
form aud refuse the nomination Of NJ.
Bryan. would be serious mistake. |.
is my Judgment that his nomination is
foregone conclusion" Again he says:
sIn common with the democrat
throughout the country feel that The
fight ought TO he made on the lines
laid down in 1896, and of course, if that
s to be done, the Chicago platform
must be readopted without omission or
addition, and Mr.. Bryan must be nom
mated" Mr.. Bailey is the selected
leader of the democrats in the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. He is eminently an
int llectual man, bold, frank, eloquent,
and, like Mr.. Bryan, not afraid 10 say
where he stands. He is already force
in the democratic party and is destint q
TO be q greater force in the future. He
is comparatively young man and is
in touch with the people. Still bis 20
sition is not taken merely to please
them, but because he recognizes the is-
-ue Of the hour, the nature OF our strus :
gle and the logic ct the situation.
The Hon. Henry NJ. Teller, the
great leader of the silver republicans,
who walked out of the st. Louis con-
venliou when that body completed its
final sale and surrender to Wall street
ard the gold standard, speaks to the
same effect as MIR. Bailey. He says :
"Bryan is the legitimate and logical
candidate of all the silver forces for
President In 1900 AS time rolls on
Bryan will be more and more the le-
yitimste aud logical candidate. | be-
lleve he will be the nominee OF the
silver forces in the next national cam
paign. and that there will be no diff
Guilty in combipg upon him."
If ANYTHING could add force to MIR.
Teller'5 utterance it would be found 10
the fact that prior TO the Chicago con-
yention he was regarded by many per-
sons as the best man on whom to unite
all the silver forces in the struggle OF
1896. There is no higher man to dsy
| IN the field of American politics. His
integrity, his courage, his noble stand
for the people against the money
power. have made him loved and hon.
ored bv every one familiar with his ser
vices. But Mr.. Teller puts the cause
far above any personal considerations
aud no one supported Mr.. Bryan with
more alacrity, cordiality and power
! than be did in that long aud eventiul
contest. He made not the slightest ef'
fort to secure the nomination al Chi
| csgo.
The nomination of MIR. Bryan al Chi.
cago followed naturally and logically
the adoption OF the grand and elevated
platform by the convention. The dem
ocratic party which has its origin in oul
successful Revolution of 1776 and in the
principles OF our Federal Constitution
has always been right in its instincts
and almost always faithful to the cause
of the common people. One of the un
fortunate results of the civil war was
the transfer of its leadership and man
agement TO class of eastern politicians
who first of all were for making money
for themselves and to so make with
capital the alliances necessary to thi:
end. Democracy and politics were with
them mere instrumentallties and subor'
dinate considerations to getting rich
1t thus happened that The apparent
democratic triumphs OF 1884 and 1S92
wrought no substantial recognition o
democratic principles. Some thing:
indeed were gained and some evlls
averted, but the grand aim OF wealth
and privilege-namely, TO use the pow
ers of government to prom ote theil
owe ends, was strengthened and pro
NOTED by haviog sympathetic friend:
in control; the producing classes grew
poorer day by day; the money lendel
richer and more exacting, and the tone
OF the great party on which reliance
would naturally be placed to correct
such mischiefs was debauched by
trescherous and corrupt leadership
The party was placed in false and un
natural position. BY heroic effort il
1895 and 90 against all the power o
money and the corrupt forces o
the administration, in fair oper
fight the honest democratic masses
recaptured the democratic organ
izstion and reenscted the sublime
creed of humanity which wa:
embodied in the Sermon on the Mount
the Declaration of Independence anc
all the teachings of our fathers. Ii
this contest, especially in the closing
struggle at Chicago, William J. Bryan
loomed up as central figure, bold
true and eloquent. electritying every
; body in that vast hall by his matches:
eloquence and reaching every hear
by the truths which sppealed to al
that was in their better natures. Il
was obvious that the cause OF the peo
pie had at last found true and fitting
champion.
II xr>, ua lid nnf iu,