Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-08
GEORGE CRAWFORD. EDITOR.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 8. 1898.
The hopes for reunited Democ-

The endorsement or the chicago
platform OF 1896 by the Democratic
state convention in Milwaukee last
week has rendered, for the present at
least, q reunion Of Democratic forces
an impossibility.
Wisconsin Gold Democrats, to the
number of more than fifty thousand,
repudiated that platform at the polls
four months after its adoption by the
national conventions; while thousands
OF those who supported the national
and state tickets did 80 under protest.
The recent state convention gave
some signs of Democracy by refusing
to fuse with the Popunlists, whom the
Democratic state convention OF two
years ago so cordially welcomed to
it's bosom.
The action OF the recent convention,
In this regard, inspires the hope that
those who profess and call themselves
the true and regular Democrats OF
Wisconsin may, two years hence, also
reject the principles of the Chicago
platform.
Then--and not Till then-will there
be hope OF reunited Democracy.
In Justice to many OF the delegates
of the convention, 1t should be said
that they are able, representative
men, who have always stood well In
the councils OF the Democratic party:
and further, that the spirit OF bitter
ness or of defiance towards Gold
Democrats was not manifest to any
great extent among them. And fur
ther, II can be truthfully said that no
voice rang out In favor Of n declara-
tion for the free and unlimited coin
age Of silver vt the ratio of 10 to |,
without waiting for the MD or consent
of any other nation ON earth. But
the Chicago platform, which was en-
dorsed by the convention, includes
that, and such IL declaration was there
fore wholly unnecessary.
II il needless to say that every
Democratic candidate In Wisconsin
this year, from Governor down, will
be handicapped by the rcailirmation
OF the principles of the Chicago plat
form,
That platform was, and is, popu-
listic and revolutionary. The con
vention which adopted IL refused
To endorse the policy and acts of the
only Democratic president the country
has had for nearly forty years,
and censured him for putting down
riot and iusurrection. In II word, 1t
needed tho voice of socialism, and re-
gardod the entreatics and warnings of
sound, conservative Democracy Us of
none effect.
The logic of events has proven the
incorrectnoss of the position taken by
those who by the gales of populsm
We're, in 1906, were swayed from their
Democratic mooriugs. The financial
storm prophesied has not swept over
the country, and not ono of their cal
amitous predictions has come to pass.
On the contrary, in the new era Of
prosperity that is dawning upon the
country, under the single gold stand
ard, their sony is rs an idle tale of
the past
II the Chicago platform OF rejected
and repudiated principles is binding
upon members of the party until it's
repeal by n national conventions: and
II the declarations OF that platform
must be regarded 10y the faithful us
the essence OF true Democracy. then
tens of thousands of Democrats who
left the regular organization in 1896
will continue to remain without the
camp, preferring disloyalty to party
rather than disloyalty To their con
victions and to what they regard
as the highest interests Of the coun-
try.
Tho 80 10