New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1898-10-15
Think Something. Say Something.
Mean Something.

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sion of the democratic spirit.
tactical mistake-to say nothin
more-was made by the Democrat
of New York in ignoring at Syr,
cuse the Chicago platform of 1896
AS a first result of this failure t
indorse the nations platform, W
have the nomination Of an indt
pendent ticket, headed by Henr
George, Jr.
This young mans name recall
an admirable character in America
pubic life. 1t represents the deepes
convictions of q great and growing
body of citizens. 1t represents tn
belief that the earth was made 70
all of it's inhabitants and not 70
individuals who might chance t.
establish claims upon certain sec
tions of it's surface. There is bacl
of the name of Henry George, Jr
a force that cannot be overlooked
The Importance of this indepen
dent movement will depend upor
the efforts which shall be made tt
remedy the mistake of ignoring
the Chicago platform at Syracuse
and, consequently, upon the attitude
of Democratic speakers in the com
ing campaign.
TO these speakers the journal
says most earnestly: think some.
thing, say something, mean some.
thing.
Let the spirit of national demo,
cracy inspire you. The platform
is a State platform. Indorse and
urge all that it says. But do not
be content with that. The indivi-
dual speaker belongs to the Ma
tional Democracy as well as to the
State Democracy, and he must
speak for both. He must do this
for the State Democracy, for the
National Democracy and for his
own sake and for success.
If any man of ambition is doubt
full, let him consider the fate of
those who have feared to trust the
national expression of Democracy.
They have seen one man repeatedly
elected Governor. and repeatedly
in control of the State party, shorn
of his power and cast aside-be-
cause he lacked courage in 1896 and
trusted more to pocketbook selfish
ness than to wide Democracy. They
have seen another ex-Governor-
once a Democrat--unable to secure
from his county district the honor
Of representing it as convention
delegate because he feared to stand
with his party. They have seen
scores of smaller Democrats driven
from the party for the same sort of
treason.
You may believe as individuals
that the free silver movement has
diminished in Importance with
changing conditions. If you think
so, say SO. Democracy can stand
But whatever may be
the status to-day of this or that
plank, remember that the demand
of 1896 for something deeply and
drastically democratic has grown
The nation demands
party that is democratic and that
means something. Not a party of
and evasion. not a party
that relies for its success upon the
Of other parties.
The platform of 1896 was the
of great democratic
it marked the birth of
a great struggle that is rs sure to
end in popular victory as is right
TO triumph always. But the Demo
cracy which spoke to the country
ut Chicago in 1896 is broader and
deeper in it's meaning than any
extant platform definition of it.
Fidelity to the Chicago platform
means fidelity to the spirit of a
declaration which embodied the
true democratic feeling. It does
not mean superstitious reverence
FOR the letter of the platform. The
instrument is no divine revelation,
nnsusceptible of Improvement to
meet the requirements of new con
litions of ripper wisdom.
But it's spirit is the soul of Demo
cracy. It is permanent protest
alike against Republicanism and
that false conservatism within the
Democratic party which would do
nothing at all for fear of doing
something wrong.
The fight this Fall is not wholly
q battle for State offices or for
State supremacy. 1t is a battle in
which the greatest State in the
Union leads the attempt to make
the Democratic movement for the
Of the people a reality.
The lines on which the battle is
to be fought should be those Of
boldness and aggression, worthy
Of the national document of 1896
and true expression Of the spirit
which keeps that 1896 platform
alive in spite of defeat.
Criticism Of the details Of the
Chicago platform is useful, and
frank, honest criticism is duty.
Such criticism and discussion crys-
talize into the wisdom which takes
shape and becomes the national
guide for four years in the national
platform.
What is lacking in the Syracuse
platform must be supplied by
Democratic speakers-a declaration
which shall apply the spirit of the
Chicago platform to the political
situation which has developed since
1896. A declaration which shall
also treat the issues raised by the
war, the duties of the nation in
volved in foreign conquest, the
punishment Of Republican favori-