The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-28
DEMOCRATIC POLICY.

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Those democratic papers, so-called, that
are talking SO much and so glibly of late
on the harmony or defeat line, place
party victory above every other consid-
Grafton. They insist that certain great
| principles should be relegated to the back
ground for expediency's sake and that the
Chicago platform should be entirely over
hauled and remodeled II the partys cam
paign In 1900 is to bring any practical re-
suits.
OF course this kind of talk and nrgu-
ment comes chiefly from the men who call
themselves democrats and yet advocate
the gold standard and think that some
more conservative" and available" man
than Mr. Bryan should be chosen at the
next democratic National convention to
| lead the party. A favorte argument Of
this class is that the currency system
could not be changed any way in accord
ance with democratic ideas for at least
six years because the senate Is to be re-
publican for that length Of time.
| If this be the case il democratic sue
cess In 1900 would not and could not re-
suit in a change in the currency sys-
tenn. 1t might be pertinent to inquire why
these gold democrats" should stand
aloos from the party and its candidate
next year, even though blmetalllsm be
made the chief Issue? If 1T is the Offices
| they want. IL harmony is desired simply
to insure victory and there is no danger
| for years to come OF the restoration OF sill :
yer. these men are inconsistent in not
Joining the majority again and waging a
| vigorous warfare against the many
threatening republican issues and ten
denotes! One of the journals that has been
arguing for the shelving of the currency
question and arguing on the harmony or
defeat line is the Nashville American 1t
recently said
| II william Mckinley is to be eycted from
| the White House a, the election Of November
1909, the democratic party can not afford to
make any mistakes. II can not afford to make
enemies instead OF friends II can not afford
to drive from Its ranks any man who affrlns
the principles Of democracy formulated by
Thomas Jefferson. II can not afford to hre
into It's own camp.
The democratic party is not now think
Ing of friends or foes In its present cal
culations upon platform. It is consider
ing It's past record and true democratic
principles only. 1t VIII not abandon any
of its great principles or contentious for
the sake simply of gaining few votes or
a temporary advantage. II is not seeking
to drive from its ranks any man who de-
slres to aght honestly with tit has
no intention OF airing into its own camp"
The opposition to the Chicago platform
\ a..
is SO thnly yelled. is doomed to disap-
ponthent II it imagines the Chicago plat
form and Mr., Bryan Will be abandoned by
the democratic party next year. The
Nashville American says again that II
intolerance and ostracism rather than
Cancellation and amenity are to charac-
terize the campaign of 1900 that campaign
will result like the campaign of 1896" W 40
were the "intolerants" in 1896; where was
the ostracism7 The minority rebelled
against one plank in the platform and
bolted. A dozen other great democratic
issues were In that platform and the whole
was adopted by an overwhelming major
ity. II the success OF democracy were at
heart what rule should have prevailed
the rule of the majority or that of the
minority
Tho minority not only pulled away,
put out an Independent ticket which they
finally deserted for repubicanism, but de-
nounced their old party In the most "in-
tolerant" terms as Socialists" and "anar-
chists" and "repudiators." It comes with
poor grace now from this element to
threaten the democracy again with dis
aster II there be the intolerance and os-
traclsm OF 1867
The Post believes that there Will be
! greater Harmony" between democrats In
1900 than In 1896. but 1t will not be Sc
J cured through the sacrifice OF single
tenet of faith OF the last campaign, nor
1 by begging anybody to come back, but
because tens of thousands OF those who
went away from the party in 1896 have
seen their mistake and have learned that
democracy, with blmetallism even. is Inn
: measurably preferable to corrupt, trust
promoting, incompetent and imperialistie
republicanism.
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