The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
To Guide the Wanderers Home.

Washington ID c. Post Ind. Rep July 3
The Palmer and Bnckner faction Of
the Democratic party-strong in cash.
responsibility, and organs, but feeble
in the matter of votes-has been thrown
into a white heat by the action Of
congress on the tariff II is true that
this action Is just what everybody ex-
peeted, just what every boiling Demo
crat who voted for Palmer or for Nc
Kinley knew would happen if the
Republican party obtained power TO
pass a tariff bill, but all that is for
gotten or ignored by the So called
National Democrats. Their organs are
raving like mad bulls of Bashan and
wildly accusing the Republicans of
having betrayed them.
The New York Times, although far
more decent and dignifed in its wrath
than the Evening Post, is sufficiently
venomous. II declares that the wisdom
and foresight Of the National Democrats
in declaring the old faith and raising
the old standard at Indianapolis are
demonstrated by every day and every
hour of Republican legislation and
administration at Washington.
Democrats, - 1t SAYS, could unite
with Republicans to beat back repudi
alton and dishonor, but they cannot
remain in that alliance TO further the
Republican tariff policy. The Times
then proceeds to free its mind in this
way:
Mckinley newspapers and the
Republican upholders of the job ridden
tariff should cease their appeals 10
sound money Democrats 70 remain with
their party. They insult the men who
elected their president and put into
their hands the power they prostitute to
dirty gluttony. They have become so
shamelessly indecent that no respectable
Democrat can abide with them. It Is
easy to quit them. Organism Is not the
alternative. The paternal mansion Of
Democracy has been kept open. Il l.
furnished and occupied. The door is
open in welcome.
There are millions Of Democrats in
the country who have no faith in the
principles of the candidate of the
Chicago convention. and to whom Nc
Kinleyism is abominable The lamp
has been kept burning that will guide
their footsteps to that wide open door
That is drivel Organism is
practically 1.-The only alternative
The coinage question will be the over
shadowing issue in American politics in
the next presidential campaign. The
supposition that the party which polled
about six and half million votes for
free coinage last November will see the
light in the window of the paternal
mansion and march into that wide
open door is simply ludicrons. The
Democracy has been free silver party
ever since the coinage question began
to be discussed. Scores of test votes in
congress attest the unflinching support
of the free coinage demand by the
Democracy year after year There
never was a more honest declaration of
party faith than the coinage plank Of
the Chicago platform. We opposed
tn at demand, and time has not changed
our views, but we commended the
fidelity and fat footed candor with
which that convention declared the
faith for which the party had long been
contending.
The Democrats in the congressional
elections of next year and in the presi
Dental fight two years later will use
the tariff issue for all it is worth, but
they will value it chiehp as an aid to
the paramount issue of free coinage.
The Democratic leaders do not believe
there is an early resurrection for the
Cleveland tariff reform policy.
As to the gold Democrats, they will
have in 1900 the same option they had
in 1896. If they continue to regard free
coinage as reputation and dishonor
and the men who support it as enemies
of the republic, they will either flock
by themselves or vote the Republican
tic ket, and the latter will be the more
sensible course. In spite of all their
raging they will have to make choice
between a free coinage party and the
Republican organization. The great
National Democratic party is apparent
ly not caring much what course the
boilers adopt. In fact is cruelty un-
grateful for the tender affection which
keeps that lamp burning to guide their
footsteps to 1.-The paternal mansion.