The sun., 1897-07-22
Tho Chicago Platform tho Test OF
Regular Democracy.

Last spring there began in virginianews-
papers an animated discussion as to tho
course proper for the Democratic State
Convention to pursue with reference to the
Chicago platform. 1t was precipltated by
Democrats who had rejected that declara-
tion Of political and social doctrine, and
their purpose was to prevent the conven-
tion, to be held in August, from rcafirming
it as the standard of Democratic faith.
Their plan was the same in substance az
that simultaneously proposed by gold DEM
ocrats here In New York and generally
throughout the Union it was to IGNORE"
the Chicago platform and mako the issues
for the campaign local merely, and entirely
independent of the national issues to which
the party was committed at Chicago.
Accordingly. the Virginia papers con-
tained many conciliatory letters from
earnest Democrats who were driven from
their party by that platform last year. They
argued that the questions raised by it were
not pertinent to State campaign, SINCE for
instance, State had no power as such to
determine the currency question, and that
the injection Of purely national issues into
the campaign would only serve to continue
the breach in the party which had been made
by them last year. They asked for nothing
except that the subject of the Chicago abomi-
nation should be avoided by the convention.
The answer of the Democrats who had
maintained their regularity by supporting
the Chicago platform and candidates was
that they were not disposed to expel from
the party those of their brethren who had
voted against 1t in the last campaign, but
that they must return to the fold prepared
to sustain the declaration of the State Con-
vention, which, undoubtedly and necessa-
rily, would be favorable to the Chicago
platform. They contended with truth that
the Democratic party is a national party
and its standard of doctrine is determinable
by National Convention alone. They as
serted that If there was to be a different
set Of principles for every State its disin.
tegration would speedily follow.
In this way the discussion went on for
several weeks, and as it proceeded the
hopefulness Of the advocates of the "policy
Of silence" at first strong, steadily grew
weaker until at last it died away wholly.
The gold Democrats had been able to pro-
duce no impression ON the Bryanite follow
Ing, except to confirm them in their determi-
nation to conduct the State Convention and
the campaign under the authority Of the
Chicago platform as the only standard of
regular Democracy.
The Virginia primaries were held last
Monday and they were carried by the free.
silver men overwhelmingly, Major J. HoaE
TYLER, an out-and-out Bryanite, securing
enough instructed delegates to the State
Convention next month to assure his nomi.
nation on the first ballot. He has more
than three times as many as were obtained
by Mr.. j. T. ELLYsoN, his opponent, though
Mr., ELLYsoN accepted the Chicago plat
form and ticket last year. in spite of his
convictions in favor of the gold standard.
Only an absolute Bryanite has any chance
with the convention.
Like results appear in every other State.
The Democracy OF the Chicago platform is
everywhere refusing to make any conces-
sions to the gold Democrats. 1t holds the
fort, and it is determined to keep its posi-
tion of advantage. These are facts to which
it is useless for Democrats loyal to their
old.time political principles to shut their
eyes Disagreeabe as they are. they are
Interchangeable facts. The Chicago Democ
racy is maintaining its line unbroken, and
all efforts to parley with it, to bargain with
it, will be as fruitless in this State and this
city as they have been in Virginia. It is
painful situation for genuine Democrats
to face, but face 1t they must. The stand.
ard to which the Democratic party Is to be
held by those now dominant in 1t is the
Chicago platform. They are resolved that
the Democratic party shall sink or swim
with it, and their resolution is invincible.