The Portland daily press., 1900-08-30
CURRENT COMMENT.
DEMOCRACY AND POPULISNT
(AIemphis Scimitar (Dam. }.


Democrats who have a sincere regard
for Mr.. Bryan and who are intelligent
enough TO slit his sayings with some de-
gree OF fairness, will not be pleased with
his Topeka speech of acceptance. He
shows too eager a desire to assure his
supporters OF the hirsut9 and wild eyed
variety that he isn't Democratic Ito
hurt" Indeed, he gives the Populists
credit for 1naugurating the great quas-
lions OF economic policy which are now
before the country, and leaves them to
infer that he regards them as the lead
ers OF political thought and relegates the
Democrats to the place of followers. In
a practical sense this is true, since the
POpUl1sts have dictated the second nOlnl-
nation OF Mr.. Bryan by making 1t plain
that they would support no other Demo-
GRAFT, and 1T is also true that the reafilrm-
alton OF the 10 to one Issue at Kansas
City was forced by Mr.. Bryan because he
realized that he owed the Populists and
Silver Republicans that much In return
for their contribution to his personal
strength as a candidate Tor the Preslden-
cy. When they nominated him in adj
vance of the meeting Of the Kansas City
convention, they forced the hand Of that
body and practically dictated the finan-
cial plank OF the platform.
In his Topeka speech, therefore, Mr..
Bryan only recognizes the facts of the
situation when ne gives to allies OF the
the way for that organization. Besides,
he takes it upon himself to assure them
that the Democrats are at one with them
in their demand for ''diIect Legislation, -
which term, being properly interpreted,
means the Initiative and referendum;
feature of the POpulist demands. The
Democratic platform does not 50 declare,
but doubtless Mr.. Bryan is convinced
that he can bind or loose the party as he
pleases. At any rate he gives the POpu-
lists to understand that he is with them,
and will If elected, shape his executive
politely to fit their wishes.
He also 1ntimates that In his opinion
there Is no 1rTecOnc1lablo difference be-
tween the Populist demand for an ire
deemable greenback and a greenback re-
deemable in ''eo1D, - which IN Organic
parlance signifies silver.
In fine, the whole burden of the speech
is that the dividing line between DEM
Ocracy and Populism is ''Of no conse-
quenoe,' as Mr.. TOots would say.
This is true of Organism and POpulism,
but are Old-time Democrats prepared to
admit that Democracy is now Identical
with the oracles of Ocala? Ana If they
do agree that the two revelations are one.
how can they satisfy themselves as to
which is the one?
PURELY A BUSINESS QUESTION.
brunswick TeIegraph.)
The political outlook in this county
seems to be entirely obscured by the sher-
If fight. It may be said right here that
there is no possibility of defeating Mr..
Despeaux who from a business standpoint
has made better sheriff than we have
had for many years. This IS the point
that is expected to control the vote and
the argument is divorced Tr0D senJ1-
mental and moral grounds entirely Mr.
ingalls, says the decaIogue has no place
In politics, neither does the sermon on
the Mount. In other words, politics has
come to be matter Of dollars and cents
and the case is being argued on that
ii anybody seeks to convert
the people Of Cumberland county to the
cause of temperance by their vote on the
sheriff question they VIII fail of their
purpose. Some OF the Portland papers
have been discussing as to whether Mr..
Despeaux said he never said be would en-
force the prOhib1tory law. But that
doesn t seem to be material. Ihs record
OF the Republican sheriffs stands for the
last dozen years. 1t doesn differ very
much from year to year, and the people
who vote don't appear to be very much
dissatisfied. When there shall come q
moral earthquake to change the wishes
ma desires OF the wicked people of Port
and and the wicked people outside of
Portland, these things VIII be different.
But we don't look to see any sheriff to
win for a number of years bearing a
temperance banner. This is q very sad
state OF things, but it is a fact.
mn