The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-04-15

national convention. The Chicago
platform" says the Nebraskan, "is the
latest authoritative definition of Democ-
racy as applied to existing conditions
II minority OF the delegates to ma
tlonal convention, representing minor
lty OF the members OF the Democratic
party, has right to determine what is
Democratic, then each member of the
party has a right to define Democracy
tor himself and to assert that he is a
better Democrat than anyone else"
Perry Belmont cannot deny the truth
OF that statement He was one of the
delegates who attacked the platform
adopted by the majority. He voted for
minority report which declared
against independent bimetallism on the
ground that it would retard or entirely
prevent international bimetallism, and
notwithstanding the Fact that he osten-
sibly favored the free coinage of both
metals by international agreement he
went as delegate to the Indianapolis
convention of the gold Democrats and
supported platform for single gold
standard and nothing else. While the
Republicans declared for the existing
gold standard with the promise of BIZ
metallism if other nations joined in its
adoption, the gold Democrats went fur
Their and further away from their own
party by favoring perpetual gold stand
ard. Mr.. Bryan corners Belmont when
he says to him: "You may be able to
explain why the minority rejected at
Indianapolis the plank for which it
fought at Chicago"
OF course, Perry Belmont cannot ex-
plain the Inconsistency OF his action, and
neither can any other Democrat who
did not support the Chicago platform.
1t is the detection OF the gold Demo-
Gratis that was mainly responsible for
the election OF plutocratic president.
They set UP candidate OF their own to
defeat Bryan, and instead OF voting for
Palmer on principle they must have
voted for Mckinley, stayed away from
the polls, or else they were not as many
as they pretended to be by their noisy
discussion. The fact that out of the
total popular vote for president in 1896,
which was 13,o23,643, only 1851 were
cast for Palmer, the gold Democrat,
shows that the party OF Perry Belmont
did not cut much OF a figure. 1t will
cut less in the next campaign if they
are foolish enough to repeat the expert
ment.
Not only was Belmont opposed to BIZ
metallism in the Democratic platform
but, as Bryan reminds him, he was OPP
posed to the income tax and favored the
retirement of greenbacks. Belmont is
merely Democrat in name and should
have the decency to join the Republican
party, whose principles he espouses un-
der false colors. Even such paper
as the Peoria Journal, which belittles
Bryan in every way possible, is forced
to concede that Belmont has got the
worst Of the discussion. The course
of Belmont and those who stand with
him in connection with the Indanap-
oils convention" says the Journal, was
in no way capable OF being taken as
display of party loyalty, and as such it
is hardly to be supposed that it will
amount to much in support OF Belmont's
present position as to Democracy and
those who are real Democrats Bryan
has at least been faithful to his party
ties, and Belmont has not. and this in
itself is enough to end the present con-
troversy."
What self-respecting gold Democrats
should do is either to join the Repub-
ican party or abide by the national
platform adopted by an overwhelming
majority OF the Democratic delegates in
national convention. The minority in
every deliberative body must submit to
the rule of the majority. We have every
confidence that the Chicago platform
in its financial plank will not be changed
to crafty the malcontents who for one
reason or another saw fit to array them
selves against the duly nominated presi-
dental candidate OF their own party in
1896 and contributed to his defeat. If
the principles OF the party are too un-
palatable for deglutition they will not
be gar-coated to regain their allegi-
ance.