New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-02
THE DEMOCRATIC CHANGE OF BASE.

Ex-Governor William J. Stone of Missouri,
recently elected acting chairman Of the Demo
cratic National Committee, Is credited with
making some candid and interesting revelations
of Democratic party policy for 1900 If the
latest statement attributed to him is authentic,
the influences which at present are dominant
in the Democratic National organization will be
directed soldy hereafter against a renewal Of
those extraneous alliances which made Mr.. Bry-
an in 1896 the nominee, not Of one, but Of three
separate Presidential conventions. Apparently
all such entanglements to be avoided in
next years canvass. The Democratic party"
says Mr. Stone, in the announcement recently
put in circulation, must henceforth maintain
"its individuality. II other parties desire to
build a parallel line alongside the Democratic
cracks no objection can be raised. but con-
"solidaton under the terms Of which the Dem
"ocratic party will surrender in part control
lover its own organization, or place any Of
ats affairs in the hands of those who do not
fully accept its doctrine and disclalm al
"legiance to all other parties, is not TO be toll
'erated under any circumstances"
There Is, indeed little reason TO doubt the
genuneness Of this declaration of policy 1t
agrees with Ex-Governor Stones known ideas
and purposes. and harmonizes with the spirit
shown and the results accomplished at the
recent meeting of the Democratic National
Committee. which witnessed his long delayed
advancement 10 the open role Of party leader
ship. At that meeting the auxiliary commit
tees created TO conduct the campaign of 1895,
and manned In part by Populists and Silver
Republicans, were quietly dsbanded and all
connection was thus definitely severed with the
two minor organizations which Joined the free
silver coinage coalition three years ago In
their stead new standing committees were con-
sttuted. places which are to be allotted to
Democratic National Committeeman only HAY
ing thus indicated the individuality" Of the
Democratic orgS niZation, by sending adrift its
associates In the outgrown free silver combina-
ton, the new chairman Of the committee and
the prospective nominee Of the party for the
Presidency united in assuring lukewarm East
ern Democrats that regularity of the old fash
Toned stamp, rather than conspicuous devotion
to any single paramount issue would be the
accepted test OF Democracy In future National
conventions.
The change Of base indicated by the present
StoDe-Bryan programme is far from surprising:
for political conditions scarcely Justify re.
vival OF the ephemera coalition which assured
Colonel Bryan In 1896 his triple combination
for the Presidency. Political alliances based
on feeting and accidental community Of opin-
ions or interests soon lose their vitality. A few
months Of campaigning Jared almost to break
ing the imperfect union OF the Democratic, ST.
yer Republican and Populist forces three years
ago, and failure at the polls only FASTENED a
dissolution Of partnership which was clearly
inevitable There seems to be no good reason
why the Democratic leaders should seek now
10 perpetuate the entanglements Of 1895 The
Silver Republican organization, then entitled
TO serious consideration. not only on account OF
its strength in the Federal Senate, but because
Of It's controlling power in half a dozen OF the
mining States. is now n mere memory. It's
handful of voters has already been swallowed
up In either the Republican or the Democratic
ranks. The Populist party has maintained Its
identity in a measure since the dissolution OF
the free coinage coalition; but 1t has been
diminished greatly in prestige and numbers
since the disastrous defeats of 1896 and 1898
and TO a Democratic politician Of Governor
Stones stamp a renewal Of former relations
with this humbled ally seems both distasteful