The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-08-11
A NEW PLATFORM NEEDED.

The Nashville American poiA,s Il
political fact if it does not adoru n
political tale when it says that ---
The impression is growing through
out the country that If the democrats
expect to make anything like win
ming fight against the trusts and the
national convention. mnst lay down a
definite line of policy regarding them,
snch policy as will command the re-
spect and enjoy the confidence of the
voters. There ia nothing NOR. certain
than that the Republicans will denounce
the trusts in their platform, but their
declarations are likely to he little more
than string Of glittering genernlhes
made to catch votes The democratic
party must do better than that"
The outlook now is that opposition to
trusts will be leading plank in the
next national democratic platform, and
that the financial question will play
only a secondary part If, indeed. 1t is
allotted to even that position in the
platform of 1900 Even the most ar
dent free silver advocates in the last
presidential campaign are. to all ap-
pearances. handling The financial ques-
tion as though 1t was babe suffering
from political curvature of the spine
They have not forgotten the 1896 les
son and while they are douhtl.ss still
sanctiiied in the FREQ and unlimited
faith they evidently do not believe that
the democratic party can achieve vi.to
ry in 1900 upon that question. 1t may
he, and no doubt is, just as dear to that
element of the party M when they rob
bed the popnlist party of the chief
feature Of its creed. bnt to follow It mp
in 1900 wonld insure inevitable defeat
~ certain as thsy met defeat In 1895,
and the political signs Of the times In.
dictate. therefore, that the platform OF
1900 Will be bnilded from quite differ
ent timber than that out Of which the
Chicago platform was constructed.
1t Ia worse than sheer folly to talk
sbont the main body Of the .afottng
cl"sses at the north supporting anatfon.
al party whose avowed purpose 'is to
disturb our present financial 'syste.n,
for they will not. to any great extent,
lend their support to such movement.
That class at the north are largely stu.
dents OF political economy and to hear
them shont or see them march in the
parade OF this or that party ~, not in
the least indicative that they will snp-
port the nominees Of the party at the
polls, Their action issfar too often a
matter Of self fpreservati{s1. as freouent-
y their situations upon which they de.
pend In order to provide their wives.
md babes with ttifir dsklyibrsad would
De jeop"rlized wsaeT&fy5 not hot thus de-
'eptivs politically Th. Anstralisn
ballot System;%tsa 9Izlyenr4o the lab.
ring classes q tns s6geehd since fits
induction 1t. his I'd demonstrated
hat thakAieas, eled yhr presidents.
'orcefnl illartratipos Irs fact were
'iven in a, 'ss sgAjy well as in
%. ~ a@lNS>
Hence.lifth emp~t,tM pAx IS to
"r"eed ii loN IT l'g-NsA> >diitsxd6
imber than that to te iMN>Ac.Ns
free and ""'imi'e1 Nc'fS,V>pNASal.
'rpst froy' which Y lqtilt 9aApM,iosn
nat will ~ inviting A hAAtsraE
asses or hoatiyyyo,f f-at1ieIliSiIK
II po4siibleto Enststhp!Jd.,, ,7ieikade
ne man i'aieiyur,Ids,n q pnrty
the eomihk ht4tidtntiMx - (ajrp II
more thaasse stsksk DEMOCRAT.
president VII kted, bat n JSr5t.
re"d"pt tha NicakJbhtform of 1895
ou'c simply to inxitsa defeat with.
It waiting 'Ghavss gGrpnyht to the
rty on a sllssf tray. .,-43
A 4. ne" p'"tte'" i needed; ,0tyss4ass
W. = y. q
The Best for she Lea.t sioaey
= Il. :