The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-14
TIE POLITICAL SITUATION IN
CHANGED.

1t begins to he apparent even to Mug
wumps and National Democrats that
there is no possibility of rescuiny the
Democratic party from the absolute dom
inatiou of Organism before the campaign
of 1900 is decioed. In nearly every state
the conventions of the Democratic party
have declared unreservedly their coulin-
ued adhesion TO the Chicago platform,
and in none, even in Maryland, where an
attempt was made to dodge it. greatly to
the disgust Of the masses of the Dcmoc
racy, has it been rejected
Nothing in the political future is more
definitely settled than that the Demo
cratic party will go into the campaign OF
1900 with substantially the same issues rs
those which brought it to defeat in 1896
Organism, in all the intermediate State
and local elections, will follow the course
it is pursuing this year of attempting to
gain everywhere positions and hold lines
of advantage with reference to the con.
troll Of the Democratic campaign in 1900
Up to this,time that obvious necessity of
self-preservation has been overlooked by
the National Democrats and Mugw jumps,
because it ran counter to their plans. but
they cannot shut,their eyes to t any lon
ger. " In the autumn of 1898 there may
have been reason for doubt as to the out.
come for the silver Democrats in the CHI.
cago convention. The Cleveland Demo
Gratis felt confident of winning, though
tn, basis oil which they rested their hopes
was understandable This confidence they
kept up until the following spring, 50
chat when it was demonstrated that the
slveritcs had swept the convention, they
we're taken utterly by surprise. They
We're tossed aside as of no account, and
the slverites went ahead and made IL
Il 4.
out the slightest reference TO them.
Practically The Cleveland Den ocrats
were kicked out of the party.
The situation is the same now, except
that the Illusions of last year have been
dispelled in the minds of all Democrats
of dscernment. That the Bryan Democ-
racy has absolute control of he Demo.
cratic party is now demonstrated abso.
lutely. The 'Nationaln Democrats are
outside nf he trenches and will be kent
out; they will not he recognized as Dem
ocrats except they come in unreservedly
to the Bryanite camp. Mr.. Bryan is re-
ported to have consented to Tammanys
conducting its campaign here in New
York without particular reference to the
Chicago platform, but only on the condi-
ton that its fruits shall he used for his
benefit in 1900. The regular Democratic
party of this State and this city is as
squarely Bryanite as that of Virginia.
aud it is still doubtful about making any
concession, as Il matter Of Temporary eX-
pediency, with II view to getting gold
Democrats to assist it in carrying out it's
Bryanite mans.
The political situation is unchanged
from that of last year and there is no
prospect that it. will he changed before
the next national election All voters,
therefore, Will have to take their posi-
tiCns accordingly. If they are on the side
of Organism they me with the Demo
cratic party, but if they are against Brv-
anism there is no alternative for them eX-
cept to continue to act with the Republi-
can party. They cannot alter facts by
wishing that they were otherwise-Naw
York Sun.