The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-14
THE PARTY,s FUTURE.

Enough time has elapsed since the elac.
ton for mature thought on the results
to enahle any intelligent man, no matter
how strong his party predictions. to
reach correct conclusions on the forces
which operated to secure so sgeepine a
defeat OF the opposition candidates.
Throughout the entire campaign it was
apparent that the Republican nationai
candidates received the support of large
class of voters who acted on their choice
OF what they regarded as two evils. Dav
8 after day announcements were made Of
the aEowed intention OF men of more or
less prominence TO support the admin
tstration vino had been engaged in vto-
lent opposition to the accepted policies
of that administration Here and there
too men were heard declaring themselves
to be still in opposition to that admin.
1stratton, notwithstanding that they re.
fused to accept the financial and other
planks Of the Kansas City platform and
locked on Mr.. Bryan with doubt and sus.
picion
When the adkerents of the so-called
anti-impcriaiist administration policy
were confronted by the necessity of a
choice between Bryan and Mckinley. the
division of sentiment which prevailed
among the adhererts of the movement
showed plainly that the choice was IN
almost every case made unwilIinply.
whether in favor of one side or the
other. The apti-imperialist movement
which promised SO well Up 10 tie holdino
oil the national conventions resulted ac-
cordingly in substantial failure and was
In no sense a factor in determining the
result
1t aYailed little to Mr.. Bryan and his
sdherents that the iuaperiaIist or exnan-
sion policy was declared by them and
their convention to be the paramount
issue The people did net accept their
view Mr.. Bryan had put it out of their
power to do SO. His insistence on the
free silver folly worked the ruin of him.
SET and his cause. Democrats and Re-
pubiicans, as we'll as those who are gov
eTned In their party conduct by the
relative position Of the parties on given
questions in pending elections accented
that insisteEce as meaning that the bat
tie of 1896 was to be fought over again
such conclusion on the part of a great
body of voters could have but one re-
suit. That result has wrought sad havoc
with the prospects of the national De-
Tn0cracX and has Left II I,clo1
for all present ends plrposeless in The
immediate future.
Democrats are confronted today by the
gravest crisis which they have had to
meet stree the disruption of The party at
Charleston and Baltimore in 1860. From
the ruins there arose the Southern Con-
federacy; wEile Democrats like Douglas
and his associates. having suffered defeat
at the polls, contented themselves with
supporting Lincoln in his cndeayor to
preserve the Union. The response which
the rank and file made to the call 70
arns showed how little the national con-
ventions understood the sentiment domi,
rant in the breasts of the mass Of the
Democracy. But while the followers o+
stephen A. Douglas filed up the ranks
Of the Union regiments which marched 70
the front ttey still retained their devo.
lion to the traditions and real priraripi
of their party. and only awaited the time
when they could cooperate with chat
party under sane leadership They and