New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26
DEMOCRATIC FUSION.
THE PROSPECTS OF COOPERATION WITH
POPULIsTs AND SILVER REPUB-
LICANS IN 1900


LICANs IN 1900.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The fusion Of Democrats, Populsts and
so-called Silver Republicans in Nebraska, ef-
fected in Mr.. Bryans presence and with his
personal direction, shows what Is intended TO
be the form OF the next Presidential campaign.
What pretend 10 be distinct parties. with dlf-
ferent objects and beliefs are to be united on
one ticket, with platforms contfived to har-
monze az much az possible In order to catch
many votes of each sort as can be caught. II
is evidently intended to let each pretended
party manage its own campaign, select It's own
speakers. distribute literature supposed to be
best adapted to the class Of voters it represents
and keep up to the end the show OF having an
independent existence and object. On the face
OF things this scheme is intended 10 deluds
and defraud some OF the voters since 1t will not
be possible that ALL should be equally satisfied
with the exercise OF the governing power which
It is desired TO capture Yet 1t is expected that
the voters of each party will be so cyncally in
different to everything but share Of the spells
that the fusion be worked without much
loss Of votes
It will hardly answer TO take 1t for granted
that the palpable trickery OF this scheme will
wreck it. large proportion Of the voters
whose cooperation is needed did work together
after much the same fashion in 1895, and II 10
open TO question whether the various forms Of
opposition did not gain in the aggregate more
votes than they lost through the dspleasure Of
voters with the indecency OF methods chosen.
Mr.. Bryan did actually receive nearly as many
votes had been cast in 1892 for the Demo-
cratic and the Populistic tickets. There were
lost as many voters as the silver men took from
Republican ranks. and as many as the natural
increment Of the forces in four years, but tho
Frustrated condition Of industries and OF bust
ness, and the fear Of Mr.. Bryans revolutionary
programme would have turned away several
hundred thousand voters in any
The people who were capable OF working to-
gether on such scheme in 1896 must be ex-
pected to do the same in 1900 with less difficulty
or friction. The voters who are naturally
allied with one or the other Of the combining
forces will not be Of such character as 10 be
very generally repealed by the offensive features
OF the plan The Gold Democrats who have
been giving all the aid they could in various
States to the candidates put up by the Bryan
ties. must be expected TO follow that course to
its logical end, complete surrender 10 the silver
wing the pretext that the silver issue is dead
and cannot be revived. In the elections Of last
year the combined opposition cast 100000
fewer votes than in 1896 but the Republicans
cast 10000 fewer votes than in 1895, and II
the loss through mere apathy be reckoned about
the same for both forces, il might be inferred
that about 100000 Democrats who refused 10
vote for Bryan in 1896 were last year supporting
the party under the same leadership and practi-
cally on the same platform.
1t remains TO be considered what change Of
voters has been caused by restoration Of great
prosperity, or by the and the operations IN
the Philippines The future cannot be pre-
dicted Before the campaign Of next year ends
the situation In the Philippines may be SO
changed that it will not affect the result. The
conduct of the war has unquestionably drawn
many voters to the Republican side. and II II
has offended some they are not largely Of the
class who would delight to help Free Silver
Populist fusion. So the prosperity Of the coun-
try has strengthened the party in power. and II
the multiplication of Industrial con1bina-
tons has inclined some to opposition. as II the
Republicans were responsible for II, these also
are not largely OF the class who would be
attracted by Free Silver Populism. II is in that
direction, probably in repelling voters who
might otherwise be attracted, that the proposed
fusion is likely to prove most hurtful to Demo-
cratic chances. Yet the party could not have
escaped responsibility for It's allies in 1896 It's
probable candidate and platform, even II II had
resumed a straight course Of it's own and kept
aloof from its allies. @.
New York Aug 25 1899