The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-27

If the admirable speech made by Mr.
Cleveland in New York on Saturday
night served no other purpose, it would
be notable for the clearness and force
with which it draws the line between
winning and losing issues for the Dem
ocratic party. We most earnestly ad-
jure all Democrats, whether they love
Mr.. Cleveland or hate him, whether
they think that Mr.. Bryan is demon
or a demi-god, to consider this question
in the light Of sound reason, common
sense and practical politics. We as
sumo that all Democrats, whatever
their views on economic. subjects, desire
to win at the polls. It is just as GER
tain that they can do this at the next
election as it is that the sun will rise.
They will do it, not by splitting their
forces, but by uniting them. The Re
publican party has kindly opened the
way for such reunion, and has so act
ed in its control Of the government
thus far as to make Republican sue
cess impossible over any other than a
disunited foe.
There are two roads and two choices
open to the Democrats of this country.
1t is not a question of men or of lead
ership, but Of policy. There is the finan-
cial issue to put to the front, the prom
Use Of which is a continued exclusion
of the Demo cratic party from power,
and the widening and deepening Of the
unhappy chasm that opened in its
ranks year ago, Evidence is hot
wanting to show that, while sound
money Democrats are unutterably dis
gusted with the actions of Mr.. MeKin-
ley and his followers, they are no more
low the free silver leaders to the con-
summation of their plan. The speech
Of Mr.. Cleveland reflects the opinion
and determination Of from one to two
millions Of thinking men. We are not,
In this article, fighting either for or
against them. We are not arguing
about theories, but stating facts. These
men believe in Democracy want to
vote the Democratic ticket and are
going to vote it. no matter what hap
pens. The only question is. shall they
vote the ticket nominated by the reg
ular party organization, or will they
be compelled to place in the field one Ct
their own? 1t is not doubtful what
they will do if they are forced to a
choice.
The state election in Michigan this
year was comparatively unimportant
yet the same issue was joined there,
and the sound money Democrats nom
mated ticket. What was the result :?
Whereas Palmer and Bucl1ner received
only about 1000 votes last fall because
so many Democrats voted for McKin-
ley direct, this state ticket, in a year
when national issues We're not promi-
nent, polled over 5000 votes. Do earn
est Democrats, whatever their views
about the financial question, wish to
invite such a diversion as this in every
state and every congressional district
in the Union? On the other hand there
is one issue on which Democrats are
ullNI anu IL Is I'll issue winch the Re-
publican party has, with characteristic
blindness, forced to the front The
whole country. outside Of the few ia
vored individuals who dictated the tar
If rates of the Dingley bill, is in an
uproar Of protest against its oppression
and injustice. There is not one Demo-
crat in the United States who will not
gladly cast his next vote for a ticket
representing resistance to the robber
tariff. There are as many Republicans
IN the United States who are eager to-
day to voice their anger and disap-
pointment by voting for Democratic
nominees as there were Democrats last
November who refused to stand by their
party. The positions are reversed. On
the financial question the Republican
party has a nominal harmony based
on insincerity. while the Democratic
party is absolutely divided on princi-
pie. On the tariff issue the Democratic