The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-20
Senator Hill on the Prospects OF the
cmOcracy

We lately reprinted the whole text of an
article contributed to the February Forum
by Senator DAVID b.. hill on "The Future
Of the Democratic Organization" There
are, however, certain features of the paper to
which we would direct particular attention.
In the passages to which we refer the Sena-
tor expresses the belief that, under certain
circumstances, it Is possible for the Democ-
racy to be successful in 1900, and cnumer-
ates the steps which in his opinion are iudis-
pensable to that end
1t is, in the first place, pointed ont that,
with the exception Of the reverses which
were traceable to the iollies OF 1850. reverses
from which the Democratic party did not
recover until 1876, it has never lost n Presi-
dental election twice In succession. Reason
ing from this circumstance, rs well as from
the inherent ficklencss which seems to char
a~cterize popular action in political matters,
Senator HILL deems It fair to conclude that
the next President of the United States. to
be elected in 1900, will be Democrat. The
conclusion, however, is based on the assuinp-
ton that II policyof pacilication rather than of
%antngonism shall be adopted by party man
ayers toward all factions of the Democracy
that n spirit of charity shall prevail among
those honestly holding diverse views upon
some few issues, while agreeing in the main
in many others; and, above all, that there
shall be n recurrence and henceforth n
steadfast adherence to well-settled Demo
cratic usagcs and principles, untinctured
with Populistic notions.
The assumption that such n policy will be
followed is certainly well founded, unless
those responsible for the management Of
the Democratic party shall deliberately in
wife a defeat even more decisive thar that
which was last year encountered. A
careful study of the last campaign must
convince every unprecedented observer that
the success OF the Democracy in 1900 is i'm
possible II it ndhercs to the lines drawn at
Chicago in 1896 1t caunot hope to gain
any more votes from the Populists than il
secured last November. 1t Is more likely to
get fewer votes from that source, in view of
the strength exhibited by the middle ,of-thc,
road faction in Texas, Georgia, and North
Carolina. \ still more serious detection
mag bc looked for in another quarter.
There is ample evidence that hundreds OF
thousands OF Democrats, to whom the Chi
N"N' ''H
supported the ticket upon considerations OF
regularity, expediency, or other grounds
satisfactory to themselves and to their con
sciences; but who do not desire the experi-
ment to be repeated, or their party loyalty
to be again SO severely and needlcssly tested.
They were willing to pardon or excuse the
errors Of their party in one campaign, but
they will not tolerate srich errors in another.
Tn Democracy, then, will inevitably lose
n large fraction of the votes it commanded
in 1896 IL 1t clings to the Chicago pro.
Rramme. We should bear in mind. on the
other hand, hat in y 8 it obtained n large
majority OF the electoral votes in the
teeth of both Republicans and Populi,ts.
How can 1t regain tn At preponIerance, cx-
cept by recovering the help Of Democrats
who voted last November either for
the Republican candidates or for those
Of the Indianapolis Convention! Sena-