The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-08
Tho End of National Democracy.

Tho End of National Democracy.
On the morning of election day the
Courier-Journal Of Louisville, the ablest
and sincerest promoter of National Democ-
racy as a continuing political organization,
declared that the life Of that organization
was at stake in Tuesdays vote.
"The national ISSUE" said Col. WAITER
son, 4" is the continued organization of the
National Democratic party, to be assured
in Kentucky by the loyal support at the
ballot box of JAMES R. HINDMAN by the
sound-money Democrats of the State"
This effort to hold together the sound
money Democrats. so called, as a distinct
party with a candidate of it's own, was
largely the Courier.Journars own enter
prise. haiti newspaper, hesitating between
it's inveterate hatred of Republican protec-
ton and its creditable horror of Organism as
developed in the Chicago platform. saw a
chance Of safety, or at least of personal COM
fort, in the perpetuation of the movement
inaugurated at Indianapolis by some of the
gold Democrats and represented in last
years Presidential campaign by the Pal
mer and Buckner ticket.
This year, as last year, the conditions for
such an experiment were probably more
favorable in Kentucky than In any other
State. The COurier-JourndI therefore re-
pudiated the regular Democratic candidate
for Clerk of the Court of Appeals, procured
the nomination of a Palmer and Buckner
man on a National Democratic ticket, and
appealed to all old Democrats who abhorred
the Chicago creed to rally to the support of
Mr.. HINDMAN. Our esteemed contempt
rary made a manly fight. 1t is hardly nee
essary to say that from beginning to end
its efforts throbbed with the fiery dash
and captivating energy and intelligent
tenacity which distinguish every impor-
tant campaign into which Col. WATTERsoN
throws his powerful newspaper.
Again, speaking on the morning of cleo
tion day, when it was already apparent
that for one reason or another the old
sound-money Democrats Of Kentucky would
not respond to the Couricr-JOurnaE's ap.
peal with a courage and energy equal to
its own, Col. WATTERsoN announced that
II he did not succeed he would not repeat
the attempt to preserve the National Demo-
cratic organization. Addressing the news
papers which had charged him with the
intention Of backing dow from his prin-
ciples. he remarked:
"The reptiles know US mott III MT. HISDMAN gets o
hundred thousand votes to-day. or II he gets but ten,
the course OF the Courier. Journal will be nowise
changed. We shall 60 on In religion preaching the
Gospel OF CHRIST. and Him cruciaed; in politics, the
doctrines OF Honest Money, Home Rule. and Free
Trade. II the party bosses do not follow our lead,
tho worse for them. II the people reject the sound
principles we urge upon them. they Will be the SUI.
ferers. The concrete things OF political life are moth.
Ing to US. It is ours to sock to ascertain the truth and
to proclaim It. not to call conventions. to set up can
didates and to carry elections. What the rest can
stand we can stand; and. hoping for tho best, not
fearing the worst. We shall watch the coming in of
the returns tonight with the equanimlty OF the
philosopher who has done his duty and has nothing
to recall or regret"
Mr.. HINDMAN and the National Demo.
cratic ticket received a great many more
than ten votes on election day, and a great
many less than one hundred thousand. The
full returns are not yet compiled, but it is
probable that HINDMAN's vote will exceed
the vote last year for PALMER and BUCK
Err; and that vote was 5,1O4 in a total
of 445, 956! But the slight gain, If there
is a gain this year, cuts no figure, and offers
no encouragement to Col. WATTERsoN's
ante-election hopes of saving the Nation.
al Democratic organization. When he
watched with the ~equanimity of a
philosopher the coming in Of the re-
turns on election night, he perceived
that they constituted a death sen
|, tence to National Democracy as a separate
political concern. The regular Democratic
vote exceeded the Hindman vote twenty to
r one. The plurality of the regular Demo
cratic vote over the Republican vote ex'
3 ceeded the total Hindman vote three OF
/. four to one. Then Col. WATTERsoN wrote
3 his remarkable editorial article entitled
' 1.-THE End of the Battle" in which, aban'
Q doning no principle, he nevertheless aban'
3 doned the attempt to build up a party
which should be neither Democratic nor Re
publican:
"The vote confirms the position of the convention
4 that nominated Mr.. SuAcKELFoRD for Clerk of this
. Court OF Appeals and repudiatcs the poaItlon OF the
convention which nominated Mr., HRDAAS. II IKE
Q the relation OF the Democratic organization in Ken
Q lucky to the national organization OF the Democrats
party. at least through the next State and nationA
q elections. 1t IL so decisive in character as TO leAyi
nothing 10 conjecture, and the Courier Journal ha
: neither the wish nor the purpose TO challenge II.
u Tho issue as Il was made. and has been fought out
o ) was clear and explicit NO snort was wanting Il