The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-22

The contrast between the proceedings OF
the Republican State Committee and those
of the Democratic State Committee was a
contrast between courage and cowardice,
positive political principle and evasive po-
litical negation. The Republicans put their
party in this State on the aggressive; the
Democrats compelled their party to fight
the coming campaign on the defensive.
All the force and vigor Of the campaign
will be on the side of the Republicans.
They have something definite to fight for;
the Democrats were afraid to outline any
definite policy or body Of principle, and
hence left their party without a r~allying
cry. The distinguishing feature of Democ.
racy as it is now is the Chicago platform,
and it has no other. That is it's only vital
spark; yet the Democratic State Committee
was afraid even so much as to refer to the
subject, lest thereby it should give offence
to its opponents! And who are the organ
lied opponents Of the Chicago platforma
They are only the Republicans, the natural
enemies of the Democratic party, against
whom it exists to fight.
Undoubtedly the Democratic State Com
mittee pursued this course of pusilla-
nimity under the influence of Tammany
Hall. which had made up its mind to evade
the Democratic STANDARD in its own canvass
as a matter of expediency. At the time of
the meeting of the committee it had even
resolved to go to the extent of nominating
a gold Democrat for Mayor, with a view to
the Cancellation of the great body of Demo-
Gratis it drove over to MCKINLEY last year
by its violent canvass. Its intention was
to side-track, evade, and ignore the Chicago
platform, and then proceed to prove the sin.
certify of its repentance for its last years
crime against this great seat of wealth
and civilization by surrendering the leader.
ship of its ticket to the Democrats who
bolted because of the Chicago platform. 1t
was a bargain wrung from Tammany by
the threat that otherwise a straight gold
Democratic ticket would be put in the
field. The course of the State Com
mittee in meeting in secret, with closed
doors, in order to shut out from the public
ears all Bryanite murmuring against its
evasion of the Chicago platform, was
adopted in pursuance of the terms of this
bargain by Tammany.
Now, however, the organized Democratic
party, the breath of whose life is the Chica-
go doctrine, begins to show signs of shame
and indignation at this treachery of the
party's State representatives, as they re-
gard it, and Tammany IS thrown into worse
confusion than ever. 1t has made the bar.
gain, but how can it deliver the goods2
Accordingly, word comes from Tammany
that it has given up its plan of nominating
a gold Democrat for Mayor, GRANT or
DAYTON, or some other, and that no
one will be eligible for its nomination cx.
cept a true-blue Democrat who is ready to
stand up and swear that he voted for
BRYAN last year. The Chicago platform is
still to be slowed away secretly in the cell
lar of Tammany Hall, according to the
original terms of the bargain, but the can
didate is to be "a platform in himself" so
far as Organism goes.
1t is a poor trick and it will not work.
If Tammany takes Organism at all it will
have to take the whole hog. 1t cannot play
fast and loose, both run with the hare and
follow with the hounds. The Republicans
Will make n square and determined fight
against Organism all along the line and
from beginning to finish. Can Bryanism
sneak out OF the encounter simply by put
ting up a Bryanite candidate with no Bry-
anism to stand upon and to stand for2
II Tammany went into the campaign
with so transparent a device Of cowardice,
1t would be beaten by the sheer manllness
of the people. II would become despicable
in theireyes. Ii there should be a bold and
genuine Bryanite revolt against ii. Tam.
many would be buried out of sight.
Or is there no sincerity Of conyictior In
Bryanismt Was it a mere political trick
devised to further the ambitions and in.
terests OF u few leaders who are ready to