Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-26
DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF.
The Democratic Party Has a Big Internal
Fight on Its Hands.

The Democratic Party Has Big Internal
Fight on Its Hands.
1t is evident that the Democracy at
the present time has conflict on its
hands like that which eliminated in
the Charleston rupture Of 1860 and the
overthrow Of the party for quarter of
century. The conditions in the De-
mocracy in their general relations are
much like what they were 40 years ago.
On one side are the conservatives-the
Clevelands, the Carlisles and the By
nuns, who are the Douglases, the
Pughs and the Walkers Of today-who
plead for prudence and for decent re-
gard for good government and civilian
ton. On the other side are the fanatics
and the destructionists the organs,
Tillmans and Altgelds of the present
time, who are filling the role played by
the Soules, the Keitts and the Ham
monds Of the earlier days-who are reok-
less alike of the traditions and the for
tunes of their party.
The attitude Of the destructionist ele-
ment of the Democracy of today toward
the moderate faction is significantly like
that held by the extremists of the same
party on the eve of the war. "When I
was schoolboy in the north" ex-
claimed Yancey in the Charleston con-
vention of 1860, the abolitionists were
pelted with rotten eggs, but now the
abolitionists have spread into three
bands-the black Republicans, the Free
Sellers and the squatter sovereignty
men," Every reference which the Bry-
ante press or politicians make to con-
ventions of gold Democrats is an echo
of Yancey's bigotry and intolerance.
The same malignant extravaganza of
Characterization toward the opposing
section Of the party is heard now that
was heard then, and the same reckless
disregard is revealed for the conse-
quences which the feud may infict
The conservative Democrats are told
that they have forfeited all right to the
party name, are ordered to join the Re-
publicans, to whom they belong, and are
warned that they can never get back
into their party except after long pc
Rod of penance for their sins.
This spirit and this talk are ominous-
ly familiar to everybody who knows
anything of the Democracys factional
fight of the later fifties and early six
ties. Itwould seem that the ruin which
the earlier conflict inflicted on the party
would restrain the destructionists Of
today, but apparently the lessons of ex-
perience teach them as little as do the
dictates of reason. The disaster which
this spirit DEGREES to the Democracy is
as certain as any event Of the future
not determined by physical laws can
be. If the money question is all issue
in 1900. the overwhelming defeat Of
the Democracy can be foretold with the
most implicit confidence. And there is
strong probability that it will be an
issue. The National Democracy, as re.
vealed by the action of the party in
Iowa. Kentucky and other states, will
stick to the party's historic position on
that issue, and nobody supposes that the
madness Of the silver faction will be
abated until more drastic dose of adj
versity is dealt to it than even that
which hit it in 1896 At the present
time the Democracy is house divided
against itself, and it must meet the dis
aster which such a condition invites. -
st. Louis Globe Democrat.