The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-08-03
The Battle for Harmony.

Inc ugQG lot harmony III Iu0 WIS
consin Democracy becomes more in
tense and interesting with the enlist
ment of organized forces. Also more
deadly. To the mere spectator it is
obvious that while both sides in the
conflict profess to be actuated by a
hope of peace and united action, each
is possessed with a desire for che
destruction of opposing force and
influence.
Why not? Assuming that there are
honest men in both factions, no other
result can be anticipated with reason.
When the mere self-servers and place
seekers, those who talk of harmony
only when they hope for spoils, are
counted for their actual worth and
number and influence, there remains to
be reasoned with the honest leadership
and the real voting strength upon both
sides of Lhe questions which have
caused the party disruption. These
latter are unselfishty and sincerely
devoted to their respective beliefs with
respect to important questions and
these beliefs are as Numerically op-
posed to each other as any which
divide political parties in the United
States al the present time. The one
and only excuse for a pretense of har-
mony is the hope of success, while it is
as plain as daylight that the Gold
Democrats have no hope of success
without an abandonment of those
things which the followers of Bryan
hold not only essential to success itself
but necessary TO make success de-
sirable.
Let US take for example and as types
of their followers two of the opposing
gentlemen, or gladiators, just now
somewhat conspicuous as leaders. Mr..
John Toohey was for Mr.. Bryan and
the Chicago platform in 1896, and
wishes to repeat the experiment in
1900. Mr.. John Nagle was opposed to
both in 1896, and is opposed to both in
1900. Each of these citizens aban-
doned his party to advocate the prin-
ciples he believed in three years ago.
When Mr.. Nagle says Mr.. Toohey
came to the Democratic party with its
blood upon his hands, Mr.. Toohey may
as truthfully respond that the life
giving fluid of Democracy is more fresh
upon the hands of Mr.. Nagle than upon
his own. This, of course, is wholly
irrelevant to the merits of the issues
which oppose these gentlemen to each
other, but it may be regarded as i'm
portant because true.
These men are both honest. Both
have character and ability. Naturally
we respect more highly the opinions of
Mr. Nagle for the reason that while he
is fighting with Mr.. Toohey over the
question Of which has the better claim
to the title of Democrat, his arguments
in relation to the questions which
cause his quarrel are really Republican
arguments and in support of Republican
policy. Why in the name of common
sense should Messrs. Nagle and
Toohey or any other citizens holding
radically different views of political
questions try to get together or want to
get together. They have nothing in
common in their political belief, and
Mr.. Nagle cannot convince the public,
even if he should fatter his own opin-
ion of the party with which he former
ly affiliated with such belief, that
Mr.. Toohey did not leave the Repub-
licans to join the Democratic party in
1896 instead of the Democratic party
leaving itself to join Mr.. Toohey.
The active apprehension of Mr..
Nagle and other Gold Democrats that
the Democracy may be betrayed by
Organism is almost as affecting and is
likely to be quite as effective as the
anxiety of the faithful hen which has
been induced to hatch out a brood of
ducks and worries herself to death
with fear that they will drown them
selves. milwaukee, Sentinel.
-
IT is rubbing it in to have the guam
dom marruinn narann of Milmankna