The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-06

| to certain platform declarations.
Our friend says that "the south has
profound interest in the tables ana
comparisons which he is pleased to lay
before us But the south has a pro-
founder interest in the essential facts OF
democracy, as well as a profounder in
terest in the conditions which make 1t
absolutely necessary for the democratic
party to stand united, representing as
it does. the public sentiment on ques-
tons which affect the social order and
well-being but which are somewhat
alien to purely party politics. There
fore, before looking about for "connec-
TONS" the democratic party of the south
must look to it's own preservation. The
rejection or the suppression OF the ma
tionai platform would create consterna-
ton and confusion in the democratic
ranks in every southern state, give life
and hope to decaying opposition to de-
corcacy and confront the party with
serious antagonism in every southern
state, with the certainty that several
would be lost to the party.
The contest of last year unequivocas
and clearly defined. has made the par
ty in the south stronger than it ever
has been, and it is stronger before the
people everywhere as the popular vote
shows 1t redeemed Alabama from the
list of doubtful states i'll which it had
been placed by the policy of straddiing
I'd tic, lie nv
the declaration of last year the most
potent leader of the opposition, Mr.
Kolb. And there were similar re-
suits in other southern states.
Mr.. Knott will find few democrats to
agree with him that the election Of
Cleveland in 1892 was a victory for the
party. On the contrary, it was a vic
tory for the forces and the interests to
which the democracy has been opposed
from the foundation of the government.
In the whole history of the country, dem
Ocratic principles never suffered more
crushing and disastrous defeat than they
did when Cleveland was elected in 1872
The people saw and understood this per
fectly, and the result was that when
they got an opportunity they visited
their indignation on the party by de-
feating it.
The trouble with Mr.. Knots argu-
ment is that he sees in the defeat OF
the party last year rebuke TO the Chi
cago platform, whereas it was a rebuke
to Clevelandism. The people punished
the party because it had made Cleve-
landism possible; and unQdestiOnably
the party was responsible for that VI
tai mistake If Cleveland, as president,
had stood by the democratic majority in
congress, instead OF brow-beacing ard
Dull-dozing it, the party would have
been overwhelmingly. triumphant last
year.
SO far as New York, New Jersey and
other states are concerned, the demo
cratic party rot only wants them, but
proposes 10 win them. 1t proposes to
win them on broad democratic grounds,
and not by methods Of chicanery, in
trigue and deception. The people OF
those states cannot afford to re-indorst
the kind of republicanism represented by
Mckinley. They will not vote for fur
Their depression, lower prices and star
walton wages. New York has just said
so in terms that cannot he mistaken
In selecting its candidate for the state
ticket, as we'll as for the mayOralty Of
the city, the party was careful to name
only men who voted for Bryan and who
bad stood true to the party last year
All others were given notice that they
need not apply.
The significance Of this lies in the
fact that as no state convention met,
and as The party had no opportunity to
leaffirm the Chicago platform officially,
it took pains to feaalrm it through the
candidates selected. Judge Parker
made known the fact that he WIS d plat
form democrat as soon as he was nom
mated Mayor Van Wyck declared
that he was for the platform heart and
soul. Last year the New York state
convention Endorsed the Chicago plat
form
But on the other hand if it We're
possible. as the gold democrats seem to
think. to obtain the vote Of New York
without wrecking the party in the south,
we are not in the humor down here to
commit political suicide
A hearty welcome is extended to such
gold democrats as are willing to return
to the party rather than give aid and
comfort to the destructive influences OF