The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-27

THE DEMOCRATIC WAY.
There are times when Democratic con-
v~entions are impelled to express something
closely akin to genuine patriotism and
quite different from the ordinary platitudes
of unalterable devotion to the Declaration
Of Independence and the Constitution.
This. however, only happens under some
unusual pressure or excitement. 1t requires
the expulsive power of a great emotion to
lift the Democratic party or a Democratic
convention out of the traditional rut of OPP
position to everything progressive. and
especially to every act of a Republican adj
ministration. no matter how beneficial and
patriotic 1t may be. Even the firing on
Fort Sumter was not enough to prevent
the Indiana Democratic convention of 1862
from declaring its unalterable opposition
TO "a war of conquest or subjugation,"
and that the Democracy OF Indiana will
never consent that the war shall be waged
for the purpose of interfering with the
rights or overthrowing the established in
stitutions of any of the States" From a
Democratic point of view the fact that the
duty Of maintaining the Constitution and
preserving the Union devolved upon a Re
publican administration made the war for
that purpose as "cruel and causeless'' a
war as they now regard that In the Philip
pines. and every act of President Lincoln
as deadly an attack on the Constitution as
the so-called 'dictatorial powers which
President Mckinley is now exercising.
Nevertheless. there are times when DEM
ocratic conventions come very near ex-
pressing a generous and patriotic emotion.
This was the case with the Democratic
state convention that met in this city on
days of the war with Spain. less than two
months after Dewey's great exploit at Ma
Mia bay, and when the whole country was
aglow with patriotic fervor. The convention
caught something of the spirit and de-
clared that 1--WE. the Democracy of Indi-
ana. now. as always. loyal to our country
and our flag. affirm that the cause for which
the United States is engaged in war with
Spain Is just and righteous No Demo-
cratic convention that meets this year will
have a word of approval for the admins
tration that prosecuted this lust and
righteous" war to a successful conclusion
or that courageously grapplal with the
difficult problems which its conclusion cast
upon us. Democratic spasms of patriotism
do not last long. Under excitement the
first instincts of the grand old party are
sometimes generous and patriotic. but with
recovery of its second breath IN resumes
its normal condition and begins to arraign
and denounce things. In the state conven-
ton OF 1898 there was no suggestion of anti
expansion or anti-militarism. The platform
demanded "the most vigorous prosecution
of the war until it shall have ended in vim
dication of the national honor and the alb
solute REIMBURSEMENT by Spain of posses
sion or control OF any part of the western
hemisphere" She must not only be driven
out Of Cuba, but out of Porto Rico. Neither
did the bugaboo of militarism alarm the
convention, for 1t said: 1--WE urge the i'm
mediate increase of the volunteer forces
of our army and navy to any extent neces-
sary to assure speedy and decisive results"
But times change and men change with
them. The Democratic convention of 1898
met at a time when Dewey's guns were
still echoing round the world and when a
convention of dead men could scarcely
have refrained from some expression of
true Americanism. Now it is different. The
uprising of the people has subsidized, the
war is ended; Colonel Bryan. who was
then wearing a uniform and willing to
help in vindicating the national honor, has
resumed his profession of politics; an cleo
ton is approaching and there is urgent
need Of new Democratic issues. Therefore,
instead of congratulations over the sue
cessful ending OF the war and the expul-
sion of Spain not only from all her posses
sions In the western hemisphere, but from
an important one in the eastern hemi-
sphere. we have anti-expansion, anti-im-
perialism. naturalization and protests
against usurpation and military rule. Pa
triotism has given way to partisanship and
a brief sDasm of Americanism has been
followed by a revival of Bourbon Democ-
racy. 1t is the Democratic way.