Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-09-14
WEDNESDAY EVENING. SEPT. IA 1898

Oregon, Washington, California MIS-
souri,, Texas and Pennsylvania, In
every one of these States, with single
exception, the democrats expressly re-
affirmed the Chicago platform OF 1896.
In Pennsylvania the national platform
was not specially reiterated. but the
nominees of the convention supported
Mr.. BRYAN in 1896 and are avowedly in
favor of the Chicago platform. This
general action in every portion Of the
Union shows Enthusiastically the senti-
ment of the party on this question and
fore shadows the action OF the conven-
lion which is to be held in 1900. There
cannot be q shadow of doubt that the
rank and file of the democratic party
are more thoroughly welded to the Chi
cage platform than they were when 1t
was upheld by the eloquence OF Bryan,
aided by Sibly, Teller, Daniel, Blackburn
Bailey and other democratic leaders.
They believe in the words of a great
poet: Truth though crushed to earth
shall rise again. The eternal days OF
God are hers" There is, however,
small class of timid democrats who lack
the courage of their convictions-some
of them indeed have no convictions bat
are mere creatures of what they call
policy. Andrew Jackson said "the right
was always expedent." This they
deny. They are ever hunting for some
compromise, some form of words that
will bear double meaning and catch
birds of every feather. After the cleo
ton somebody is TO be cheated. This
is not democracy and it is not sound
and wise policy Nothing can be
palmer than that the time for policy
of fraud and evasion, if it ever existed,
has gone by. The democrats in 1896
adopted square, honest and unmis-
taxable platform. It said what it
meant and meant what it said. The
republican national convention at st.
Louis adopted Geceitful, lying plat
form, intended to secure the votes Of
the silver republicans, but now they
see that these tactics cannot be repeat
ed. So they will come out for the gold
standard, and the interest OF the classes
as against the masses. The democrats
will reaffirm their platform OF 1896 and
they will go before the people on this
issue. Between the two, the trimmers,
shutters and hypocrites will have 3
hard time. The number of these timid
and time serving democrats happily is
small. They embrace more leaders
and managers than they do of the rank
and file. In New York the democratic
party seems to lack bold and skilful
leadership. Cleveland and Hill both
betrayed the party in the last Presi-
dental contest, after reaping its high
honors and rewards. They are with
out influence and appear to be COM
Dletely discarded. In no event can
either have any standing hereafter
with the national democracy. But
other men have come to the
front as leaders and some OF
these apparently wish to shirk re-
affirmation of the national democratic
platform. Their plan is to win demo
cratic victory by abandoning democratic
principles. There can be nc deadlier
blow given to the democratic party than
this. 1t means to give aid and comfort
to the republicans. The democratic or
ganization in New York has done much
to impair the confidence and respect OF
democrats throughout the Union and
even to inspire their disgust. Nothing
could be more disgraceful, contemplate
and treacherous than the conduct of the
New York delegation at Chicago in
1896. We hope sincerely that the
masses of the democratic party in New
York will demand bold and emphatic
declaration OF democratic principles and
will spurn the so-called leaders and
bosses who seek to lead them to adopt
cowardly trying of seeking to gain
power by indireotion and trickery. We
are deeply panied to witness some
thing OF the same petty system of poll
tics in Maryland. There is much in
common between the Virginia and the
Maryland democracy. Our sympathies
have been strongly with the democracy
Maryland in their fight against the
Cievelandites and renegades who join
ed the republicans aud their negro allies
in order to defeat the true democracy
oftheir State. The Maryland democrats
stood bravely by their colors and by
the party faith. They were defeated
by base and infamous coalition, but
they cast larger vote for Bryan in
1896 than was ever before given to
democratic nominee. We regret their
defeat deeply, bpt such coalition
could not last and it could not hope for
a permanent triumph. All that was
needed was for the true and faithful
democracy of Maryland to keep step
with tie democracy of the Union, and
A.. L >loft tho damoo-etio hoppa-