The times., 1899-08-01

sire TO absorb all of the functions of the
party organization. Under strong pressure
from Governor Stone designations from this
subsidiary organization. variously known
as the advisory committee and the ways
and means committee, were offered and ac-
cepted with hardly any protest from the
meeting. as follows: John p Altgeld,
Democrat; Senator Teller Silver RepuD-
lican. and former Senator Allen OF Nebras-
ka, Populist. After these designations were
accepted the subsidiary organization was
formally declared abolished by vote of tbs
committee, the only protest against that
action, SO far as We know, coming from
the Hon. George Fred Williams, the Mas
sachusetts member of the committee, and
a gentleman from New York of the name
of Willis ]. Abbot, who participated in
the proceedings on a proxy from the re-
mote Northwest which had been sent 10
Mr.. Altgeld.
This act of abolition formally severed
the tie of fusion which for three years had
beer binding the Democratic organization
to political vagaries which have not been
sufficiently virile to sustain organized effort
activities have not been sufficiently broad
to extend beyond the narrow confines of
local issues. In the light of these facts
no one need misunderstood the full sig
nifeance of Vice Chairman Stones declara-
ton THE Democratic party heneeforth
must maintain its individuality" he says.
IF other parties desire to build a parallel
al hn 10 clxc
objection can be raised, but consolida-
tion under the terms of which the Demo-
cratic party will surrender in part control
over its own organization, or place any Of
its affairs in the hands of those who do
not accept its doctrines and disclaim
allegiance to all other parties, is not to
be tolerated under any circumstances"
Chairman Jones knew that some such
declaration as this was going to be made.
The committee knew it. Mr. Bryan anew
1t. And all three endorse it. 1t is a
declaration of Democratic courage and in
dependence. 1t is a timely notice served
on all past, present, or prospective allies
that they must fight under the Democratic
banner If they want to, without any hope
of tincturing Democratic principles with
their vagaries or of sharing personally in
the honors Of leadership or the fruits of
victory. The notice means that the
Democracy is going to run its show all
under one big tent and does not propose to
divide its energies or its profits any longer
with side shows. II means that If those
who came under Democratic influence in
1886 are not sufficiently inoculated with its
true doctrines by 1900 they can leave
Democracys house of worship and go back
to their own tabernacles. The church
militant cannot be always praying with
new converts to strengthen their faith. II
the Populists in those States which gave
their electoral votes to Bryan and the
first time for the Democratic ticket three
years ago are not now satisfied to stop
chasing shadows they never can hope to
be regarded as safe allies for the Democ-
racy. II the free silver Republicans have
been Hannaized since 1896 1t is not the
fault of the Democratic party. The Demo-
cratic organization is now going to work
exclusively in its own harness and wear
no borrowed collar or purchased traces.
With charity for all and malice toward
none it is going into business again on its
own hook, asking no favors and doing
harm to no honest interest.
Mr.. Bryan recognizes and approves this,
or like the honest man he is, he would
have raised his voice in protest at Chicago
when the quasi-partnership with PopuIism
and half-hearted Republicanism was dis
solved. He has given evidence of his
hearty support of the new programme by
his strong and voluntary endorsement of
the Goebel ticket in Kentucky, which stands
for party regularity, whatever may be its
shortcomings in other respects. He sees
the wisdom of the course mapped out
whereby votes that were alienated from
the party in 1896 by the blatant boasts of
Populism can be regained in 1900 by steer
ing the party along the straight path |
marked out ~by its founders This does |
not mean the 1.-THE of concession to that |
unruly element that quit the party three |
years ago because it would not stultify |
itself on the financial issue. That element !
can go where 1t belongs-in the Hanna |
camp. But the new programme does mean !
a concession to tfe hundreds of thousands |
of Democrats who wandered off from the |
party in 1896, because of the noise and con- |
fusion made BY the overzealous allies |
There are enough of these in Kentucky, In |
diana, West Virginia, Maryland and Cali |
fornia to overcome any loss OF strength |
of populists in Kansas, Colorado, and Ne |
braska And there will be more than |
enough Republican bimetallists in Illinois, |
Montana, the Dakotas, Washington, Wyo- |
ming, Nevada, Idaho. and Utah to counter |
balance misguided Populist opposition and !
the loss of stubborn Democratic mono |
metallists in those States. Accessions from
these quarters added to the Solid South |
will give the victory to the Democrats |
without worrying over the electoral votes
OF Populistic Kansas, Colorado, and Ne
braska, or the irretrievably gold mono
metallist States of the Middle West and |
New England.
Governor Stone is to be congratulated
on the bold stand he has taken, Mr..
Bryan is to be felicitated upon his ap-
proval OF the course. and the Democratic
National Committee Is to be thanked for
giving occasion for this declaration of
party courage and independence.
News From the KIondike.
Gratifying but disquieting news comes
from the gold fields in the Klondike.
Steamers arriving from Alaskan ports
,iy,y xabr<