The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-18
EDITORIAL COLUMN
THE PROCESS GOES ON.

Another prominent Iowa democrat
announces that he can no longer follow
his party as at present led. This time
is the Hon. Cyrus S. Ranck, state sena-
tor from the johnson Iowa district,
late chairman of the democratic state
central committee, one of the states
leading lawyers. In an interview pub
lished by the The Leader and the Iowa
City Republican, MI. Ranck declares
that henceforth he will affiliate with
the republican party.
The process of elimination goes
gravely forward. OF the democratic
candidates for governor in the last
twenty years there is but one now liv-
ing who is in sympathy with the par
tvs position on the money question.
That single exception is Frederick e.
White, who ran last year. Irish, Trim
BILE, Anderson, Kline, Boies and Babb
-allhave publicly declared themselves.
1t is not otherwise if we go back over
the list ofschaiImen of the democratic
state central committee. There is but
one ex-chairman now IN sympathy
with the party-Charles Walsh, and he
is hunting gold in the Klondike. Irish,
Kline, t Fullen, Hunter, Howard,
Ranck and Healy, of those now living,
except Walsh, there is not one who fol-
lows the party on the financial ques-
ton. The.strong men, the representa-
tive men of the democratic party in
Iowa in the past-where are they?
Great has been the hegira. The theory
advanced 10y some silverites that all of
these men were never democrats hardly
harmonic with the facts. In the days
when the democracy of Iowa was in a
hopeless minority, when certainly there
could have no profit and little distinc-
ton awaiting these men as democrats,
they kept the flag Of their party flying
and struggled to upbuild its character
and influence. If these leaders OF the
party had not been animated by prin-
ciple, if they had looked at party at1ilia-
ton sel6shly, they would noe have been
demUcrete- That thoy stuck by their
principles is sufficient answer to
sneers against their sincerity.
The disease from which the demo
cratic party is now suffering is pro
gressive. 1t does not grow less acute
| Time brings no healing in its wings
In 1886 there was a general bolt, and
thousands who had never voted any
thing but democratic ticket, impelled
by their consciences and by what they
believed was their duty to their coun-
try, voted for Mckinley. But many
/ who disapproved OF the platform re.
manned, blindly trusting that the party
would yet cease worshipping at a false
and alien shrine. But as hope has
gradually faded from their breasts
they have dropped off by ones and twos
and threes, some making public an
nouncement, but more keeping silent
1t is true that in the meantime the
democratic party has gathered from
the republican party political bank
rupts and disappointed soreheads, snd
from other purlieus vagarists anG
cranks, but do these additions make ut
for the men of intelligence, OF char
acter and substance who have beer
lost? The present managers of the
democratic party in Iowa would de
we'll to devote themselves to PRAYER
full consideration. of this question
There is more to a party than mere
numbers; quality counts for something
and the best blood of the democratic
party has been driven from it. In pro
portion as the one party has lost in
character, the other has gained. The
republican party has lost the elements
it could most afford to lose, while il
has gained the elements the demo
cratic party could least afford to lose.-
Des Moines Leader.