The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-26
&2GsMsass2
| WHAT SHALL IHE DEMOCRACY Do TO B SAVED? |
@ NEz9Ey2szE

BY Henry Watterson.
me circular letter, addressed by Chair
man Jones'. ofsdhei National Democratic
committee, to The members of the New
York delegation'to the last national Dem
ocratic convention coupled with the sig
nif1cant passage Of /, words between the
Hon. William I, Bryan and the Hon.
Perry Belmont, throws a flood of light
upon the serious difficulties by which the
present Democratic party organization is
environed and assailed.
In view of the fact that the Demo-
cratic party in lyopr state in 1896 did not
give the Chicago platform unanimous
support says Chairman Jones, Il am
anxious to know what you think is likely
to be the attitude Of the party in New
York state on this, question in the COM
ing national convention and then he
adds:
MY own impression is that the feel
ing is overwhelming in the South and
West in favor of a practical reaffirma-
ton of the Chicago platform" Mr.. Bry
an Eliminates the words of Mr. Jones by
his Splenetic message to Mr.. Belmont,
who, having, president of the Demo-
cratic club, a powerful and representa-
tive Democratic society of New York, in
vited the Democratic leader to speak at
a Jefferson day banquet, is bluntly asked
for the credentials of his Democracy and
f1outed with his course in the campaign
of 1886
There is food here for a deal of reflec-
ton. Why should Chairman Jones raise
any question about the Chicago platform
II he were entirely sure that its replica
ton in 1900 will serve all the ends of a
great party organization? Why should he
limit his inquiry to the state Of New
York? Why should Candidate Bryan, as
a rule so discreet and courteous, return
Mr.. Belmont an offensive answer to
simple invitation to dinner? He who
stops to consider will see at once that in
cldents such as these. though seemingly
unimportant and belonging rather to the
realm of detail, have prime meaning
and portent, and bear directly upon the
main question involved-that is, the pos
sible union of all the Democratic ele-
ments in the next presidential campaign.
They imply a world of hesitation and toll
erance, Of wavering doubt and smolder
ing rancor. u
Mr. Jones does not leave his CORE
spondents In the position Of free agents
at all. He forestalls their judgment by
Tue IulOTIIldllOu ldC~eVeTyDOO else Is Ill
favor of the course upon which he asks
them to define themselves. Persuaded by
the light of the brand ignited and flour
ished over the head Of Mr.. Belmont by
Mr.. Bryan. it is not in the least difficult
for him who runs to read that what the
Democratic chairman actually wants to
know is not so much the attitude which
the New York Democrats will assume
next year, but what they think now, so
that in case they do not agree with him
and other managers of the party they
may take time by the -forelock against
any fair discussion meanwhile within the
party lines, or any contrary expression
by the national convention itself when
the time for it's assembling arrives. In
effect, this Is warning to all Democrats
who do not agree with the Chicago plat
form, and whose non-a agreement in 1886
effected the defeat that followed it, to
keep off the grass in 1900; a needless adj
mOn1tion, because, since nothing has hap
pened to change their minds it will cost
them less, both of effort and of feeling,
than 1t cost them before.
To sum up the situation In fe w words
as epitomized by Mr. Jones and ir1 adiated
by Mr. Bryan, Democrats are given to I'M
derstand now, without waiting for the
state conventions and the succeeding ma