New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-14
1 P4RTY II TROI BIZ

He who seeks a match for the political cam
pagn Of this year must 60 back a long way.
1t is questionable whether. since the contest Of
1860. the Democratic party has ever been SO
completely disorganized as It is now. Its d.
vision then was more clearly territorial. and
concerned an issue upon which. as 1t was one
Of morals and humanity. the demag0gueS III
the party had no opinion except that Of the
crowds to which they appealed The change
has not been as great Is might nj first appear.
The issue Of common honesty moves deIla-
gogues much the same way. and they never
hunt for the right, bot always for the prevail
ing temper Of the mob. In that state Of facts
the Democrats would today have no strength
worth mentioning in Northern States east of
the Mississippi nor in many Western States. eN-
ccpt for the readiness Of great many Demo
Gratis. who really believe IN the gold standard.
to vote for the widest Bryanite on earth in
order 10 get back into relations with their party,
and percllance capture a few offices
The silver issue had no real strength in the
Northern States east Of the Kansas line. even
in the hours OF greatest excitement last fail. The
frenZied efforts of Democratic demagogues 10
keep their party together gave It a show Of
earnestncss. and the appca. TO Anarchists and
Socialists attracted y ihrong Of foreign born
voters. especially in cities and wherever the
pinch of hard times was felt. But this year
the silver fanaticiSm is altogether weaker than
IL was then. even in Western States. When lead
erS Of the silver party like Senator Stewart are
said to admit that there is no use in talking
silver this year. Democratic politicians OF aver
age sense might comprehend that the life has
gone ont of that Issue. The one question ON
which the Democratic party chose last year TO
rest oil that was even prOfessodly decent and
loyal IN IFS campaign has turned against ii 50
declsivcly that everybody knows il must cost
the parry a great number Of votes. Yet its
managers and committees and conventions stick
10 the plntform of 1876. ana have Kind Of
reason for doing SO.
The plain truth Is tha, the Sociali,tic and
Anarchstic features Of ihh platform remain
the only live part of IT, The leaders who know
that il is Infamous dSloyaliy 10 appeal after
the fashion OF 1896 TO class prejudice and thc
passions Of the ignorant poor. and are well
aware that o: would cost them the support Of
an army Of decent and lawaEdng citizens II
they did - openly, find n way Of doing The same
thing III n dishonest and cowardly fashion by
standing on the last Democratic National plat
form" and pretending that they care intensely
for free coinage of silver. These persons have
10 more interest in the silver question than in
a last years birds nest They realize that it
means 20 more to the voters of to-day than the
anti-bank resolutions Of IacksoD's time. But
under cover of loyalty TO the silver issue they
can Get reaflirmed a platform which markedly
appeals 10 all the neither forces of civilized so
ciety to everything that IL dangerous, destruc-
tive and disoyal. All that they are determined
TO do. because II gives them the chance OF NOV
ing the ignorant mob. while they calculate that
sober and substantial citizens will treat the
platform of 1896 as no more imporan. than
burned powder.
They are right. as 10 many respectable Demo
Gratis. The binding force Of n partisanship so
bgoted and intense that it survived the infamy
| Of the Bryan campaign will still control multi
| tudes who realize and detest the ahominablG
| position In which their party has been placed
| and yet would vote for It's candidate. as John
| Cochran once said, "if Il should nominate the
| devil !ncarnate" Such Democrats are many
1 but not all are OF that sort There are multi
tudes who yielded or were content to refrain
| from voting In 1896 but will never consent 10
do thing calculated 10 fnsten upon the party
| permanently the destructive and revolutionary
doctrines OF ,ha. year. II overpowcred in con
| yeai.ons, surh Democrats will be found nj the
| polls. determined to defeat and crush the party
under its present leadership 30 completely that
| II will be compelled. In sheer desperation, to put