Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-15
Pathetic. Admirable, Mischievous.

To most of those who may read the
account of the convention of sound
money Democrats of Kentucky and the
sentiments there uttered some of the
features must seem pathetic, some adj
mirable and some miscellaneous. The
appeal of Henry Watterson to the
Democrats Of the country, unlike most
things which cmanate from his active,
aggressive brain, Is not lacking in
pathos, all the more keen because one
realizes, and we suspect by the tone of
the address that the truth is not wholly
the appeal is Il vain one so far as the
probabilities of the present go. Ii is
pathetic in another feature, and that is
the recognition bluntly acknowledged
by Mr.. Watterson, that there has since
the war; at least, been in the party an
element, forces of reaction" Watterson
aptly terms them. which in several
crises have brought overwhelming de-
feat upon the organization as a whole
and have shorn it of its strength in the
days of its might. This statement is
one which even the casual observer of
political events knows to be true Some
have termed it a fatality but it has
been there about the neck of the party
like milestone.
But while inveighing against these
forces of reaction Watterson evidently
overlooks one of them the old worn on.
free trade dogma, and drags ii out as
he would a life preseiver for the rem
nants of the old party. though it should
be said that he dwells on this feature at
much less length and with far less
stress than did some of the other
speakers. 1t was safe to assume that
Carlisle would essay to get all the har-
mony there might be from this one
string.
If those who term themselves sound
money Democrats have any mis-
sion to perform it is to encompass the
defeat OF the organization which has
stolen the name of the Democratic
party and trampled it's old principles
under foot. The leaders of those vino
seek to bring about this defeat of the
lawless elements are sagaeious enough
to realize that the Bryanite craze feeds
upon distress. 1t is as swift to perch
upon disaster as a vulture is upon the
carrion it smelled afar But for the
hard times, to the inception and con-
tinuance of which the last Democratic
administration and a Democratic Con-
Sress, loudly processing free trade
theories and endeavoring to carry them
out in so far as able, contributed to
far greater extent than anything else.
Organism never would have attained
dangerous proportions. 1t comes With
poor grace for men Instrumental in put
ting into practice policies which dis
couraged business. depleted the treas
ury, necessitated the sale of bonds and
at the same time tacitly approved of a
tariff measure full of favoritism and
smelling of scandal, to criticise thu.
work which the Republican party is
now endeavoring to accomplish under
such difficulties as party never before
encountered in time Of peace. Those
who are now finding fault with Bryan
ism and at the same time are approx
ing the causes which brought Organism
about are not engaged in making much
lasting political capital. We admire
the courage with which they stand by
the wreck, the country admires the
intrepid manner in which they riskel
their political affiliations to lend
hand in the task of saving the country
from the political revolution impending
last fall but that there is mischief in
Some of the utterances made at the
Louisville convention, Wednesday must
likewise be apparent to some Demo-
re VOL