The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-13
DEMOCRATS DIVIDED.
Their Policy of OPPOSITION becomes
Apparent Upon All De-
casi0ns.

In the face of the strong and pa
triotic national sentiment which has
been led by the present administration
the democratic party is confused and
doubtful. Its policy for years has been
one of opposition, but it is an migrate
full task to oppose the American move
ments now so justly and grandly in
progress. There are men in the demo-
cratic party who are wise and pa
triotic enough to be unwilling to bar
the progress of events. But these men
find themselves opposed by the reac-
tionaries in their party.
A conspicuous illustration is the
democratic minority in the house of
representatives.. The democrats in
the house decided to oppose Hawaiian
annexation. But number of the men,
bers Of that party refused to abide by
the caucus decision. Then an attempt
was made to whip the recalcitrant
members into line, and to decide that
the action of caucus was binding
upon every member of the party. But
the attempt failed disastrously. The
discor1 among the democrats in the
house is shown by the lack of loyalty
to their nominal leader, Bailey, of
Texas, an obstinate young man who
has been compelled several times to
endure the ignominy of seeing the
Maine allan frnr,, hic hand at nrtc &c
when cool-headed leadership was in
demand.
The democratic state conventions
now being held add their testimony to
the hopeless division in the party.
Some democrats are disposed to dig
Organism out of it's suicidal grave and,
as in Indiana, are endeavoring to re-
galvanize into life the dead cries of
Stree coinage of silver" and tariff for
revenue only" They would recall the
memory of the fact that the Chicago
convention with its sixteen to one'
absurdity presented an unreal issue
and by its wearing of the livery and
clasping the hand of populism drove
from the ranks of democracy its old.
line leaders and followers. Bryan him
self puts on the shoulder straps of a
colonel that he may get high enough
position to ak about war and the wal
policies.
The more up to-date members of the
democratic party realize that the mil
will never grind with the water that has
past. and they are ready to discuss wal
measures and the new questions that
are teaching the people that we are
on world that is round and can be
circumnavigated. But here again the
| democratic faulty is shown in the
position of obstruction that is taken
The congressional opposition to the
war revenue bill is reflected in demo
cratic platforms throughout the coun
try, and as war opens the door of ma
tional growth and development demo
cratic voices, even as far apart as
Bryan and Cleveland, unite in the cry
shut the door,"
1t is the old spirit that objected to
| IIie WAL measures VI JlllI N-O'lu NCdi
ago, and objected to the constitutions
and other reconstruction that grew
out of those war measures. 1t is thu
voice of party that is obstructive
when it denies and destructive when !,
affirms.
But this division in the democratic
party emphasizes both the dsty ant
the opportunity of republicans. The
conventions of republicans that are
being held show that the republican
party is awake to it's obligation and tt
its privilege. Loyalty to the admin
istration and a cheerful readiness tt
enter the doors that open to larger
uses for American ideals-these are
the manifestations of party spiri
that is alive. The formation of part.
lines in the view of the stirring events
of to-day assure the result of the cleo
tions of three years-1S9S, 1899 ant
1900. Tried and true men on platform
already Marked out, in nation and II
state-these will be the means to thu
desired result.
And meanwhile, unable to catch "
to the American triumphal car, II
which the republican party is riding
the democrats turn to fighting one an
other in the road.-Troy Times.