Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-21
MODERN POLITICAL HISTORY.
Some happenings OF the Past ana
Future Possibilities.

Some happenings OF the Past ana
Future Possibilities.
To the Editor OK the Dispatch:
The events of recent date have shown
that there is an organized purpose on the
part of those Democrats who bolted the
party in 1896 to secure control Of the Ma
tional Convention in 1900, and dictate the
partys policy. 1t is equally clear that
it is their intention, if they fail to control
the convention, to attempt TO organize
what they call Jefferson Democratic
national party in order TO defeat the NOM
inees of the regular Democratic National
Convention. The Belmont-Croker dinner
incident would have no significance but
for the fact that it was TO sound the
first bugle blast in the contest that is now
ON. Under tho sOpOriic plea OF "har-
mony," the men who conspired to defeat
Bryan and elect Mckinley have already
begun their efforts % repudiate the living
principles Of which the Democratic party
is the exponent
There is not a true Democrat in America
who does not long for harmony
IN party ranks, but not one Of the six and
n half million who voted for Bryan in
1896 will submit to that harmony which
ignores vital issues and seeks to conduct
form, or a platform capable of two con-
structiOns. Better defeat a thousand
times than another victory like that won
in 1892. For a hundred years in alter
nate victory and defeat. the Democratic
party has been the salt in American poll
tics. During that time silver and gold
stood 10 TO l and l6 to l and remained
so TO 1873, when silver was surreptitious-
ly destroyed and no one was ever found
who acknowledge the theft.
In 1892, for the first time since the war.
the Democratic party was in possession
Of the executive and legislative branches
Of government. For quarter Of CEN
fury. in the humiliation Of successive
defeats, this gallant band Of Democrats
prayed for an opportunity TO restore
government to the ways Of the fathers,
and when Mr.. Cleveland was inaugurated
on the 4th of March. 1895, the old Demo-
Gratis felt that they could say: Let thy
servant depart in peace" They had con-
fidence, and justly 50, that the robber
tariff would be straghtway repealed. the
trusts prosecuted to their death, barrier
erected against encrOachment on the
rights of the States, the monetary policy
patterned after Jefferson's letter to Ham
ilton-"the unit must stand on both
metals"-and the old-fashioned policies Of
economy and equality restored in gov
eminent.
Instead OF carrying out the pledges and
policies of the party. the administration
ignored tariff reduction until It had done
the bidding OF the bankers. when it had
so divided the party that a Democratic
tariff bin could not pass. Instead OF pros
ecutng the trusts. instructions were given
to district attorneys not 10 bring suit
~ civ ~
treatment TO both metals, as had been
promised. the administration stopped the
coinage Of silver, thus reducing the money
in circulation and more firmly establish
ing the gold standard. Instead OF stand
ing as a barrier to entertainments on the
rights OF the States, it ruthlessly tore
down the constitutional rights and fol-
lowed Grants policy of sending unasked
Federal troops into a sovereign State
to help corporate greed in is struggle
with labor.
These acts first astonishad, then out
ragged, and then stunned the great mass
OF Democrats. who saw, with sorrow and
indignation, their party made the agent
for carrying out - policies which they
had been fighting all their lives. In 1896
a crisis came in the life Of the party.
Under Mr.. Cleveland's leadership the
party had been defeated I'm every section
Of the United States, and every man who
loved the party saw the stern duty staring
them I'm the face Of repudiating the adj
ministration they had put in power. or
standing by and seeing the Democratic
party wrecked by letting it become an
annex TO the Republican party.
In this crisis the devotion 10 party and
to principle was 50 pronounced that those
who had betrayed the party were driven
from the party's councils. and leaders
who lead were put in their places. 1t
was a memorable contest. The admins
tratiOn. with its immense power; the
New England Democracy solid and ag-
sressive, New York and the New Eng
land States representing large and pow
erful interests, and all those who were
i'm favor OF rule 10y the classes were
united 10 secure an endorsement Of the
Cleveland Administra ton and to nominate
candidates who would advocate the policy
that had almost wrecked the party.
Against them stood. with few influential
papers and not many leaders of national
reputation the rank and file Of the party
who had not been seduced by Office or de-
ceived by false teaching They were
armed only with the sling and the pebbles
Of truth, but they went forth TO the en-
shepherd lad who met the giant In the
Valley Of Elah. They brought back the
party to it's old moorings They put the
banner in the hands Of able and honest
men who were genuine believers/in the
right of the people to govern themselves.
They were unm0ved when old party lead
ers boited the party. They had marked
out the path of right and they went into
the campaign with the spirit of Luther:
at Is neither safe nor right TO go against
conscience. There take my stand. /
can do no otherwise. so help me Cod"
over a million more white men voted for
Bryan than for Mckinley. and more votes
were cast for him than for any previous
Democratic candidate.
The analysts OF the election returns
show that. in spite OF the intimidation
and corruption. Mr.. Bryan would have
been elected but for dishonest padding