The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-23
At the BE ginning of the New Century.

Senator JONES, the Chairman OF the
Democratic National Committee. which
adjourned Its meeting at Chicago on Tues
day, need not have gone to the pains to
explain that his committee had no power
to dictate the policy OF the party and could
occupy itself only with the arrangement
OF routine matters concerning the National
Convention, for that is obvious Only the
National Convention ITSELF representative
OF the whole party, can declare the Demo-
cratic policy for the next campaign. In
assuming that that policy will be the policy
Of the Chicago platform, with Mr.. BRYAN
rs It's logical candidate the Committee,
however, has proceeded on a knowledge OF
existing Democratic sentiment, which,
moreover, Is no secret to anybody.
Besides expressing that belief. Senator
JONES speaks with knowledge also when he
says that the present political strategy OF
the party engineers is to try to kick up
hubbub over trusts and imperialism. :"
This is to be done in the hope OF placating
the gold sentiment Of the Democracy, or
diverting 1t from opposition to the reaf-
flrmed Chicago platform by raising false
issue where 10 to is not popular.
That Is, tho scheme OF the Democratic
managers is to work up a humbug cam
paign. which shall vary in the character OF
the issues pushed into prominence accord |
ing to varying local conditions, or le to 1 |
In red-hot Democratic centres and trusts
and imperialism" where the gold senti- |
ment prevails. That trick OF avoidance
has been played at the State elections
since 1895; in New York, for instance in
1903, and In Maryland this year In
neither was there any declaration against /
the Chicago platform. for IL could not have
been made. but the subject was ignored. So
contemplate an evasion, however, will DO !
impossible in the Presidential campaign Of
next year, with BRYAN again the candidate
of the Democracy, nominated on the re-
affirmed Chicago platform. Thus. the silver
and gold issue will be made squarely and
no political tomfoolery can conceal 1t from
the people. Moreover, 1t will give life to
the Democratic campaign, which without
II would be inanimate.
Now, as to trusts. the mere reaffirmation
OF the Chicago platform will Of itself bring
them forward as n subordinate Issue; but
inasmuch as the Democrats will not go fur
Their than the Republicans in demanding
abuses neither party will have any monop-
oily OF that issu" and neither will he more
sincere than the other. Nor will practical
BILE legislation on the subject be more likely
to come from the one than from the
other. The trusts are combinations OF cap
ital and enterprise made in pursuance Of an
Irresistible modern tendency which Is no
more Republican than 1t Is Democratic, and
In them men OF both parties and all parties
are Joined as controlling factors. No rea-
sonable political issue, therefore, can DOS
sibly be made out OF them. The talk OF 1t
Is only cheap political clap-trap. Every
lawyer knows how impracticable, how mis-
chievous would be any attempt at drastic
national legislation against them.
Unexampled prosperity prevails through
out the United States, with the promise OF
It's long continuance bright beyond prece-
dent, and the Democrats will only excite
derislon by undertaking to hide from the
people facts and conditions which are
plainly before tho eyes OF every man. and to
bury from thci" consciousness blessings par |
ticipated in by all Of them after long period
OF distress and disbursement. "Imperial- |
ism" Is n humbug; everybody knows there |
Is no such thing. that it is a word coined !
for the purpose OF inducing the Anne rlcan |
people to throw away the rich gain won in |
war, with which they are to start out on n |
new and greater career OF progress in tho |
twentieth century. A campaign against |
Imperialism, therefore, would be against a |
universal instinct OF human nature.
The Democratic party In 1895 had Mt |
least the responsibility OF making q fight |
squareiy and honestly In defence o. openIv |
and boldly avowed principles, ruinous and |
dishonorable though they were. 1t did not |
try to evade them or conceal then, but stood |
up manfully and fought for them; and be- |
cause OF that headIong, desperate courage |
In bad cause II was able to increase the |
number OF It's votes by million over the |
number cast for GROVER CLEVELAND four
years before. Next year 1t will profess tho |
same principles and nominate again the |
candidate who represented them in 1906. ,
and 1t will again have to stand by them |
boldly or 1t will fall into utter
contempt They constitute now its sole |
animatinG force. 1t Ia the radical
party, and except as such It will have |
no excuse for being. 1t must, perforce ap-
peal to discomfort hut next year, unfor-
tnnately for 1t, it will have to make the an.
peal at time when the American people
wiz have moro reason for contentment, for
pride and for hope Of the future, than ever
before In their history-at the beginning OF
anew century in which their power in the
world their wealth and the dignity Of their
citizenship will be carried to an eminence
beyond that OF any other State Of cviliza-
ton DonuQSiation OF imperialism then
VIII Dc especially farcical. 1t will be bad