New-York tribune., 1899-06-14
TIE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Lovers OF mOrtuary STATISTICS "ie p'si""o
TO speculate upon next years Democratic pia'-
form Opinions concerning IT are Deing Ireeiy
EXPRESSED by those who will have no RESPONSE
bllity for IT, and somewhat less freely by those
who are in authority. The two classes are in
pretty close accord in one significant respect,
TO wit their diversity of counsel. There are
those who declare that the sacred cause OF
free silver at 16 to / must again be In the
forefront Others say Down with the trusts.
will be the battle-cry. Others, again, assert
that antl-expansicn Is to be the winning issue
Some are talking Of "anti-militarsm.' and some
of ti-Anglo- American alliance" We have
not heard Of an "antI-supralapsarian plank,
but doubtless ii will come In time.
We have said there Is general agreement
In disagreement There Is agreement also on
this that the Chicago platform OF 1876 must
be reafirmed TEGt as matter OF course
Just ns some still keep on voting for Andrew
.Jockson. II does not matter on what issues
the campaign is actually to be fought. They
will doubtless vary. according to place ana CIR
cumstance. In the Silver States they VIII say:
Yes. the l6 TO platform Is readopted; and we
mean 1t. every word"' In States where repudi-
alton Is not popular they will say Yes, the
Chicago platform was reafiirmed as a mere
matter Of form. But II doesn't count we
"are fighting this campaign on anti-militarism
Thus they will strive to catch the voter com
ing or going 1t Is a programme by no means
unique in Democratic history.
But il will not work. The American people
do not object TO lghtning-change artists Dut
they want them on the variety stage, not In
the National Government. If the 1G to l plank
Is readOpted-nay II it Is not emphaticahy re-
puda ted-by the Democracy the monetary
question will be the issue Of the campaign IN
every State in the Union. II will be no more
possible TO hold 1t in allegiance by putting other
issues forward than 1t would be to conceal
case OF measles by talking about the weather
In fact any such dodge will intensity atten-
ton upon that one issue, for II Will indicate
that the party is trying to smuggle free sill
yer through under n mask So long as the
party stands on the Chicago platform 1t has
70 face the music on that one particular
plank. no matter II 1t piles up a whole lumber
ward OF other issues all around 1t. And so long
as this Is Nation worthy to exist. every cam
peign fought on that issue must have the same
result as that Of 1896.
II may not be inappropriate, however, In
passing to observe the deliberate Judgment OF
n member Of the Democratic National Commit
toe from a Western State Referring TO the
plank against territorial expansion, which the
great majority OF his colleagues are certain Will
be added to the platform, he says plainly that
"If the Democratic party opposes the retention
"of Porto Rico and the Philippines under the
control Of the United States, the party will
"be defeated at the polls We believe he Is
right. If the Democracy wants to put into Its
platform a plank disappearing the work or
Dewey at Manila and demanding that IL be
undone, and wants TO appeal to the American
people on that issue. we have not the shgh'es'
objection. We should as soon fight them on that
as on 16 TO 1. And campaign on the TWO
combined would be Just too lovely for any
thing"