The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-03
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTYs

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This inquiry does not relate to the status
Of the Democratic party in a future state
Of existence, for 1t is not known that there
is any future state Of existence beyond this
life for political parties. But what about
the near future? What will become of the
Democratic party in 1900? VIII it go to
pieces, disband or reorganize ?-and if the
latter, on what line? This question is per-
tinent, because it grows more and more
evident every day that the dominant issue
Of the last campaign, free-silver coinage at
16 to l, will never figure in another national
election. The money question in some form
may be a prominent issue four years hence,
but the issue which supplied the Demo-
cratic party with all its ammunition in the
last campaign is dead. The same is meas
urably true of the tariff question. That will
always be a live issue, but it will not
be a leading one, at least will not
furnish the basis of a campaign for a num-
Der of years to come. There is but one con-
tingency hat would make this possible,
and that is the failure of the Dlngley law
to afford needed revenue, protection to
American industries, and restore prosper
ity. That it will do the first two no per-
son doubts. and that prosperity will come
while the law is in force is as certain as
the case, no party will dare to advocate free
trade or a low tariff in 1900, nor for many
years afterward. The contrast of good
times with the dark and. disastrous years
Of the Cleveland administration will be too
striking to make it safe for any party to
propose the re-enactment of a tariff for
revenue only, with a prospect that it would
be, as before, for deficits only. With the
free-silver question dead and the tariff
question settled for some years to come,
the question recurs, What will the Demo-
cratic party do in 1900? A possible answer
to the question is suggested by its course
after its defeat in 1872. In that year the
party organization abandoned Democratic
principles and Endorsed the ticket and plat
form Of the Liberal Republican convention,
just as last year it abandoned Democratic
principles and nominated a Populist candi-
date on a Populist platform. In 1872 the
Democrats who were faithful to Democratic
principles held a convention at Louisville
and declared, among other things:
We proclaim to the world that principle
is to be preferred to power; that the Demo-
cratic party is held together by the cohe-
sion of time-honored principles. which they
will never surrender in exchange for all
the offices which Presidents can confer.
The pangs of minorities are doubtless eX-
cruciating; but we welcome an eternal mi
nority, under the banner inscribed with our
principles, rather than an almighty and
everlasting majority purchased by their
abandonment.
Resolved, That having been betrayed at
Baltimore into a false creed and a false
leadership by the convention, we repudiate
both. and appeal to the people TO approve
our platform and to rally to the fold and
support the true platform and the candi-
dates who embody 1t.
Substitute Chicago for Baltimore, and
thai sounds very much like the sound-mon-
ey Democrats in 1896. AS everybody knows,
the Republican party was successful in
1872, and Democrats who supported Greeley
spent the next four years getting back into
the party. BY 1876 the party was reorgan-
lied on the old lines and put up a strong
fight. The Greeleyites came back into the
fold just as the Bryanites will have to do
In 1900. The "bolters'' of 1872 were vindi
Gated as those of 1896 will be. The Demo-
cratic platform Of 1876 made no reference
to the fasco of 1872, nor will that of 1900
to the iasco of 1856. But what the platform
will be time alone can determine. AS al
ready stated, it cannot make anything out
of the silver or the tariff question. If the
Republican party should fail to meet the
expectations of the people or make any
serious mistakes, the Democracy may fall
back on a policy of general opposition, but
a negative policy of that kind never wins.
If the Republican party fails to deal hon.
estly and wisely with the currency ques-
ton, the Democracy may come out in 1900
as the original, simon-pure sound-money
party. 1t has swallowed itself before and
can do it again.