The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1898-09-15
tween the adjournment OF the Chi
cago convention in that year aud ,:he
night of election day can never be
repeated.
Democratic Apathy In Missouri.

Alarm prevails among Democrat,
managers throughout Missouri
They have been feeling the pulse ol
the '.artv and the conditions are un.
satisfactory Even the heavy Demo.
cratic counties decline to enthmsc
They seem weary and Indifferent
The managers remember well the re-
cults of a similar fatigue and lack OF
interest in 1894. In that year the
Republicans carried the state, secured
Il majority in the Legislature and
cleted eleven OF the fifteen Congress
men. 1t Is estimated that $4,000
Democrats failed to vote. They
were disgusted with their party,
mad have more reason for the feeling
now than they had then. Bat for
the abandonment OF old Democratic
principals in 1896 aud fusion with
the Populists in behalf OF dcbased
money the Democratic party Of Mis-
souri, could not have recovered from
the signal defeat of fonr years ago.
Free coinage has been beaten, and
the populists arc no longer voting
the Democratic ticket without great
er inducements than are offered in
this state. so distinctly unfavorahle
is the outlook that the Democratic
leaders and organs are harpinx on
the word "apathy" and advising
special measures Of some kind to get
out the vote, especially in the party
9 rongholds.
The Republican carried Missouri
in 1894 OH the merits of the situation.
Many Democrats had turned against
their own national administration in
control of all departments of the
government. The party was self
condemed. By an amazing change
of front on financial questions the
Democrats in 1896 combined with the
Populists and were overthrown in
the country at large. though the fu-
sion strengthened them for the mo-
ment i'll Missouri. But the Pvpulists
are now out Of the alliance. The
Democrats must rely Oh themselves
in the approaching November contest
their platform is rank with
free coinage it will not catch the
Populist vote. Free silver is beaten
and played out. General prosperity
has given it the finishing thrust.
The sonnd money Democrats of the
state will never uuder anv circun.-
stances support the 40c dollar plat
form adopted at Springfield. In two
years the number of Democrats IA
voring the 100c dollar has largely in
creased. The Democrat managers
are right. There is a great deal of
apathy in their party, and they will
tiud also plenty of positive dislike OF
continued silver agitation among
those who support free coinage in
the decisive trial of 1896.
Opposed to apathetic party,
which has lost its ally after sacrific-
ing historic articles of faith, is the
unit.d Republican organization,
whose steady gains have long assured
its coming ascendcncy in the state.
The Missousi Republicans were never
IN better shape. The party goes into
.he campaign selfgoverned and
No boss or ring pre-
,umcs to dictate its action in any ro-
,pect. 1t is running its own affairs
On the strictly popular plan. Each |!
OF the party is unit. Its
are perfectly definite and
not patched up in the spirit of mer-
;euary fusion. They speak out with
ringing clearncss for the dollar in |
as good as gold and tor na-
.ionul progress. Now is tine time |
for Missouri to catch step. Its tend
encies have been in this direction for !
years, and the prevailing Democratic
is sign that the hour
for political regeneration is ut hand.
-G-p.