The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-08
DEVOTION TO The PARTY
SHOULD NOT BE DRAGGED TO
SONG AND DANCE LEVEL.
Colonel Sellers Platform $50 In for
the Old Flag and an Appropri-
alton" as Good as the
Kentuekiau' $.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

DENVER, Jan. THE annual ceIe-
bration OF Jackson day was held By the
Jacksonian Club at Weir's Hall to-
night, several hundred members Of the
club and their guests being present.
The principal event OF the evening was
an address by Governor elect Charles
s. Thomas of Colorado.
Governor elect Thomas, in the course
Of his address, replied to the recent
editorial of Henry Watterson in the
louisville Courier Journal. in which the
latter suggested that Admiral Dewey
and General FitzhUgh Lee be made the
Democratic nominees for 1860. with the
platform The Stars and Stripes. God
Bless Them. Governor Thomas said
IN part:
Bourbon density is said 70 be proverb-
ial. It poIarizes in the political atmos-
phere Of gold Democracy, which blandly
assumes that the national organization
IS ready 10 toss the reins from the drtv-
er's box 70 those whom the vehicle but
yesterday ran over. old morse sense
sitting IN the rocker" Is GilaptdaLed when
IL asserts either that the economic issues
OF the last campaign are obsolete, or that
the leadership Of that time IS not the
leadership Of 1899. II may be that N 800
Democracy viii find inspiration in the
name Of the great admiral; Il may pc
that the events OF the ensuing period Will
point 70 him as its logical candidate II
may be that General Lee, or some other
conspicuous military figure, viii stand a.
his associate, but these conditions must
come II at all not that the oolrers OF
1885 may be persuaded 20 return not that
their views or opinions must be accepted,
but that through such leadership the
principles OF the Chicago platform may
be effective and enduring
But IL It be true that political platforms
are formulated by political hypOCr1tss and
predesrtued TO abandonment, and that
De s'The Stars and Stripes, Good Bless
Them, what assurance can We give that
any pledge involved even IN such q
carch-phrase will not be di5regarded?
If We have lost all devotion 70 cur party
principles and our political duty is formed
10 resorting TO any device which promises
victory, Il were better TO adopt Colonel
Sellers platform and Go IN for the old
flag and an appropriation This has
some practical meaning and IN sentiment
II Is fully equal 10 Us more graceIul OUT
not less attractive Wattersouian trnita-
ton.
We are warned that the Republican
leaders are not going TO handicap them
selves with any ancient party rubbish.
Hence IL IS argued that We should not
only initiate but surpass them in our de-
sert1On Of party principles. We are told
that 81 the CppOrLule moment Mckinley
and Wheeler will march down 10 the
rootdghts 10 the tune q The Land We
Love" or words 10 that effect II nation
q pQuLcS nave descended 10 the song
and dance level Of negro uinsrelsy, then
one set OF end men viii serve as well rs
another. We are not concerned with the
names Of the performers II the song and
Jig be satisfactory
The men to whose keeping the fortunes
Of our party were committed by its last
convention believe that its declarations
mean something. They do not estimate
its principles by the changing currents OF
public sentiment, Of the shifting stand
ards OF expedienCy. They are building
not for to-day, nor for q generation, but
for all time. To them defeat in 1900 means
/ delay, but not disaster.
Governor Thomas was followed by
Hon Tyson s Dimes OF Denver in ar
address on the battle OF New Orleans