Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-31
An Approaching Democratic Council

An Approaching Democratic Council,
Ex-Gov. Pattison of Pennsylvania in an
interview printed in the New York Tribune,
says Of the political situation:
1T Is hard to say, after the experiences
of the last few months. what will be the
outcome. Campaigns are being contested in
number Of states, but the vital tests, so
far as the democratic party Is concerned
will be made In Ohio. Kentucky and Ne
braska. If those states should be lost to
US and the leaders should persist in going
ahead on the same lines 1t will be difficult
To find the democratic party next year.
Il hardly think there will be an independ-
ent democratic ticket. The experience of
1896 demonstrated that not to be the best
method of Graduating the internal disturb
ances. We can only follow a defensive pro-
gram until We can get together on a COM
mon platform constructed out of live ma
terial
In the three states I have named the
party is making a desperate fight. If Ohio
should go democratic 1t will produce just as
much of a disarrangement of republican
plans as 1t will of democratic if it should
go strongly republican.
after the smoke of battle lifts on No
vember the national leaders of the democ-
racy propose to get together and map out
line of action for the national campaign
of 1900. That seems to be the general I'M
derstanding'
If the democracy loses the test states
mentioned by Gov. Pattison, the meeting of
the leaders of the party to consult as to
next year will be held under circumstances
quite as discouragng as those that existed
for them in the spring of 1896 At that
time the situation was desperate. The coun-
try had repudiated the partys tariff bill
and the party had repudiated Mr.. Cleve-
lands course on the money question. The
great demand therefore was for an issue
something upon which to go before the
country with the hope of success. Trim
ming on either the tariff or the money
question would avail nothing. The party,
in whatever It decided upon, must speak out
plainly.
And so it did. The Chicago platform was
a very definite statement. There was no
mistaking what it meant. There was, of
course. a great risk taken, but the great
stake demanded it. There was no thor
oughfare in the other direction. And thus
was written one of the most extreme plat
forms ever adopted by any party
Republican success next month will be
another blow at silver it will likewise be
blow al territorial contraction. The re-
publicans if successful. therefore will stand
boldly next year on their achievements on
the skirmish line this year, and offer battle
In the general engagement In accordance
with those achievements. Will the democ-
racy accept the challenge. or by counter
maneuver of some kind attempt to draw
the republicans from the strong position
they will occupy? And what counter ma
neuver win be possible to 1t? In 1896 the
democracy simply repudiated Mr.. Cleve-
land. who had adhered in his financial pol
icy to the policy Of the republicans. But If
1t surrender the Chicago platform. or any
part of It, 1t will repudiate itself. And,
after doing that, could it expect anything
at the hands of the people but defeat?
But next months result Is yet to be re-
corded, and democrats of the school of Gov
Pattison may be very sure that If Mr.
Bryan carries only Nebraska he will insist
that the Chicago platform has been suffi-
GENTLY Endorsed TO make its reafirmation
by the party next year Imperative