The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-08-10

In the last issue of the CAUCASIAN
we called attention to an editorial in
the Atlanta Constitution which ex-
pressed the fear that if the next
Democratic Convention should ig-
more the Chicago platform or follow
the advice of men like Senator Nor
gan and give it only half-bearted
support, that the great ms nifty Of
the lank and file Democrats who re-
ally believe in the principles of the
Peoples Party platform as we'll as
Of the Chicago platform would 60 in
to the Peoples Party.
The Constitutions editorial clear
ly indicated that If it were not for
the Peoples Party the Democratic
party as an organization would de-
sert the reform issues which it ad-
yocated in the. last campaign.
The Richmond Times, a gold stan
dard Democratic paper, which of
course is anxious for the Democratic
party to reverse its position in the last
campaign takes issue with the Con-
stitutiOn in a way that bears out our
Interpretation of the Constitution S
editorial that the Peoples Party isthe
only safeguard of the rank and file
Democrats against their party
backsliding from their demands OF
1896. Referring to this Constitu Ion
editorial the Times says:
The Atlanta Constitution says that
for the Democratic party to fail to
reafi1m the Chicag 60 platform of 1896
would be to revive Populism in the
South, to restore its vitality, and tc
drive into its ranks many genuine
Democrats who have a higher re-
gard for their convictions than they
have for the spoils of victory.
This is pitiful confession. W.
have ALWAYS contended thai the Chi
cago platform was a sop thrown t.
Populism, the object being to retir,
the Populist organization ard t,
bring into the ranks Of the Demo
cratic party the whole body of tn.
POpulistic voters. The Constitution
confesses as much in the words which
We have quoted.
But apart from all the principle
involved, We do not believe that it i
good policy for the Democratic par
ty to pursue any such course. True
the POpulists did unite with the Dem
ocrats IN 1896, but their leaders hav
time and again said that it was bu
the means to an end. That Popu
lists were not at all satisfied wit
the halfway measures incorporate
in the Chicago platform. but accep
ted them as the first step in the d.
rection of greater Populistic achieve
ments.
The editor of the Louisville. Dis
patch now makes bold the assertio
that the fight hereafter in the Dem
ocratic pnrty is to be between tn
conservatives who are disposed to q
back to old-time Democratic prime
! pies and the radical element led b
Altgeld, who proposes that the part
shall advance in Populism and com
out for the initiative and refere1
dunn, fat money, and government col
3 troll OF railroads and trusts. This
not the exact language of edits
Stewart, but it is his meaning, if v
are capable of Interpreting his word
:, The Times editorial is no less
compliment to the Peoples Part
, than that of the Constitution whe
! We take into consideration the ia,
y that the Times, like the Chariot
q Observer, is q gold standard pape
o and like the Charlotte Observer, r
CARDS and refers to the Democra
A who believe in the Chicago platfor
y for the sake of the principles emu
. ci&ted therein, as the "lawless" ell
ment of the party, 1t is easy to 81
l. that the Times is also apprehensi,
! Of the Populist or trne democrat
= tendency of the Democrats wi
= supported Bryan from prime
!. pie and to which in the above quot,
editorial it refers as 1.-The radical .
;. ement of the party"
y And again, the Times is CORE
- when it says that the Popuiists III
- ted with the Democrats in 1896 as
means to an end. That is to say, q
n Democratic party having incorpor
Z ted in its platform Of 1896 some
= the really democratic principles
9 which the Peoples Party contend
Il the Populists we're willing to uni
q with the m to secure the enactment
y these into law, holding in abeyan
b for the time being some of the 9th
ri great reforms needed and dema