New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-22
DEMOCRACY HUNTING FOR BELIEF

DEMOCRACY HUNTING FOR bhhihr'
The battle In the Democratic party OF TINS
and some other States is very old one. IN
Ike some other historical struggles II Is ever
fought, but never won. AT bottom II Is Il s'rus
Gle to force some principle Into party WHICH
has none. Time was when the pcmocra''c
party had convictions. II was aeih 'he
bank" and aftcrward /, defended the cons''
tutlonal rights of shareholders: 1t opposed Win
orcot soIemnitv an unconstitutional war, when
# also declared "a failure in the hour OF us
success; it favored unlimited grccnhack expan-
sion. and it demanded Free Trade and no FRO
lection. These ut various periods were lis
principles and the progress of events mas cA-
purcated all Of them Some Democrats can
vet be found who want Free Trade. hut IN
New.York conventions they have To sit very
ouict The progress Of events has made IL
certain that the party would bc voted down
in this State as overwhelmingly on that issue
as on the unlimited printing of grecnbacks or
tho nnconstitut.onaty Of supprcsslng the ke-
bclon.
A party without a principle finds its emnodl-
ment in Tammany. 1t Is nothing hut con-
spiracy for office and plumber. To great
many Democrats that kind Of organization IS
as in politics solely for plumber, and want some
color of honest belief as reason for their po-
l,tlcal efforts Also, they recognize that the
voters have become so largely Indifferent to
tho obligations of party discipline that the ma
iorl,y will surely vote against party which
has no belief worth mentioning. The men OF
This sort do not ne n rule, believe In free silver
coinage themselves, but they think as many
,oht md hnl1
tauce rs with any other. Moreover. they are
anxious 10 b. regular" so that they can gam
,dmittance 10 the next National Convention
md have n share In the distribution o' 'h'nES
nftor a Democratic National victory
II IS perfectly true that the campaign OF iS'''
created in the minds ~ Democratic voters G'h-
crol belief that the cause or silver WAS '' '""''
of the people, that the money-enh'rS III" ''n'
Movers were depressing the poor ana me NhE'
earners, and that n revolutionary d"lhra'loh
like the Chicago platform did cmbody the thngS
for which Democrats ought now 10 contend
Rrvanism captured n large share or Inc voters
who remained Democrats NJ the last lr'S-
dental election IN this state. and since th'S'
oro about the only living boilers they nav"
they are jealous TO see them expressed IN inc
platform and placed at the front IN the cam
nalgn OF the party In this state. 80 inc I'hu'
ors who want 10 hc regular nnd use free sll'
vor merely as pretence undoubtedly nave ne
hind them most Of the Democratic voters
The trouble Is that there were not enough OF
them nv about quarter Of n million to do
ANYTHING In the Presidential election. NOBODY
con 500 evidence that there are any more OF me
same mind now A fight on that Inc Is
ocbt FOR defeat Thus arises the perennial con
NIct between the Democrats who thihk 'hey
be,,eve something and the other Democrats
who only want success. no matter on "hh'
nIe, or platform Men Of that sort prattl'
about State issues. not because they fancy mat
,bora arc any concerning which the majority
Of the people are disposed TO put aside all
National questions in Congress election
but because they want some excuse Tor stop
| Ding any expression Of the only beileis 'h'
porty has For this they are fighting ana per
| hans on that plea they may succeed. IN 'hh'
case Tammaay Hall Will become the only true
bono ~ the New-York State Democracy.