The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-04-20
A SURVEY OF THE FIELD.

The more closely, carefully and hon.
estly any one studies the political his
torS of the United States for the last
sixteen years, says the Cincinnati En-
quirer, the more fully will he be con-
vinced that the people of all parties
have been dissatisfied with the actions
of their leaders. Neither party has
been able to control the National Ad-
ministration more than n single term.
1t is not because of the fickleness of
public opinion, but because of the un-
rest and the unsatisfactory condition
of the people. Political platforms
have been constructed in the interest
of classes, to the neglect of the rights
and welfare of the masses.
National conventions have construct
ed platforms with studied purpose to
mislead and deceive the plain, honest
people, When the Democratic party
elected Grover Cleveland the revision
of the robber tariff was the issue, and
upon that issue the Democracy won a
victory. Then the party, mindful OF
the teachings of Jefferson and Lincoln,
declared in favor of restoring silver,
which had been surreptitiously demon
etized. The National banks, with the
assistance of European capitalists who
held our Government bonds, took an
active part against remonetizing sill
yer, and demanded the redrawal of all
Government paper money and in favor
of giving to banks the issue and con-
troll of all paper currency. To the ut
| ter surprise and bewilderment of the
| Democracy, Cleveland, it's honored and
| trusted leader, apostatiZed, and in
duced Carlisle and other hitherto stall
wart Democrats to desert, utterly de-
moralizing the party. ''The sheep were
without shepherd" The Republi-
cans, in order to capture as many
Cleveland Democrats as possible, pro-
claimed that they were in favor of sill
yer provided other nations would give
their consent. A lying pretense,
backed up by cowardly plea to cheat
men out of their votes. In the spring
of 1896 the disciples of Jefferson were
scattered-without organization, with
out leader, without money. The anx-
ious inquiry by the true, honest De-
mocracy was "Who will show us any
good?' A National convention was
called at Chicago to consult what
could be done to rescue the party from
annihilation and reinstate an era of
prosperity to our oppressed country,
The conclusion of the assembly of pa.
triots was the Democratic party was
worth preserving at any price. They
constructed a platform, reasserting the
doctrines and principles which had
made this republic the admiration of
the world. We assert that the Chicago
platform has no equal in history fol
plainness and the wisdom, terseness
and force of it's utterances. No person
however ignorant or stupid, has need
of an attorney to explain the meaning
of single sentence. The Democratic
platform of 1896 is an inspiration-no
word can be added or taken away
without impairing its force. The an
xious inquiry went forth, "Who will
be the standard bearer of the forlorr
hope? Who will bear the message tc
despairing people? Who will rally
to the polling booths the scattered
fragments of the grand old Democrat
ic party?" A young man, unknown tC
the masses of the people, heard tn,
agonizing cry and responded, "Here
am 1. Send mep'
Six and half millions of voters re
sponded to his call. 1t Is believed
and not without reason, that an homes
count would have given him a millior
majority Of the white electors of the
United States.