The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-06
DIFFERENT KINDS OF DEMOCRATS.

to observe, 81 am a Democrat" is accorded
the first page of the Forum for February
for his views on 1.-The Future of the Demo-
cratic Organization" Those who became
Popocrats by voting for Mr.. Bryan will be
very likely TO be made angry with the first
part of the New York senator's paper, be-
cause. in plain language. he shows that the
platform and the candidate are hostile TO
the traditions of the Democratic party. He
calls attention to the sixteen great national
principles announced by jefferson in his
first inaugural. and declares that these con-
tain the essence of Democratic principles
and practice. He proceeds to show that
the platform of the Bryan convention is az
variance with the principles of Jefferson;
that all of the sixteen Democratic prin-
ciples of Jefferson were cast aside at Chi
cago and the rank heresies of Populism
adopted. One by one Senator Hill takes up
the enunciations of the Bryan platform and
shows their heresies. 1.-The attack on the
Supreme Court, fiat legal-tender money. re-
pudiation and an assault upon the national
credit, and the federal authority in the
States" which We're the chief features OF
the Chicago platform, following a declara-
ton which means silver monometallism. are
not now and never have been Democratic
principles.
All these heresies, Senator Hill says, must
be dropped If the Democratic organization
is to be power in politics again. 1t must
rid itself of 1.-THE motley crowd of Populists.
silver Republicans, single-tax men, ola
greenbackers. professional labor agitators.
socialists and Adullamites generally"
whose undemocratic utterances drove many
Democrats to repudiate the ticket. The
Democratic party of the future must cease
being the champion of the silver-mne
owners.
Speaking of the Indianapolis Democratic
movement, Senator Hill says that it's future
depends entirely upon those who control
the organization. If they are so wise as to
return to Democratic principles. the Indian
apolis Democratic movement will cease to
exist, but If they shall continue to cling to
Populistic ideas, to menace the Supreme
Court and the national credit, the Indian.
apolis movement will become a power in
the politics of the country, for the reason
that the mass of intelligent and conserva-
tive men who believe in Democratic tradi-
tons and principles will not accept the.
heresies of Populism.
Senator Hill doubtless speaks of the DEM
ocratic feeling in the Eastern States. 1t
may be true that a majority of the Demo-
cratic party in those States stands with the
senator, but it seems to be equally true that
a large element of the party has accepted
the heresies of the Populists The most or
those who really believe in Organism may
sooner or later return to the belief i'm JEFF
fersonian principles, but just now they are
more Populists than Jeffersonians.
In this State Senator Hill will not find
one Democrat in five, and possibly not one
in ten, who voted for Bryan who is now
willing to admit his mistake or TO affirm,
that he does not believe the Bryan plat
form. The great body of the Democrats
who voted for Bryan are Bryanites to-day.
They stand for the silver monometallism or
the mine owners; they would modify the
Supreme Court; they are for any kind OF
money which is not redeemable in gold.
They have thrown the sixteen principles OF
Jefferson to the winds. Most of them, if
they would closely cross-examine them
selves, would find that they hold the views
for which the Populists have been so long
denounced and ridiculed by Democrats.
Here in the Indiana Legislature the Demo
cratic party is not a distinct organization.
but. one of them in the House said a
few days since, the opposition, which en-
braces the Populists.
Senator Hill may see a Democratic party
clothed in the mind of Jefferson and Jack
son in Indiana in 1900. but if he does there
must be a revolution of sentiment The
mass of the once Democratic party of In
diana has adopted Populstic principles or
heresies. These so-called Democrats differ
only in name from Weaver, Templeton
PETER of Kansas and Allen of Nebraska