The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-19
ANrI-BRYAN DEMOCRATS

There was one passage in the excellent
speech Of Hon. James III. Eckels which
calls for special comment. After stating
that he was a Democrat from principle
and still preserved his allegiance to true
Democracy. he said:
But 1 support President Mckinley for
election because, taken by and large, be-
lieve he represents in government better
things than does Mr.. Bryan and that his adj
ministration in governmental affairs. de-
spite the fact that l disagree with him in
many things. would be better for the coun-
try than could possibly be the result of
the administration Of Mr.. Bryan, and be-
cause of that fact repudate the Demo-
cratic platform because of the heresies
which 1t teaches, because of the things
which are undemocratic. But / repudiate
the candidate standing upon 1T as the one
who. by his teachings. has overthrown the
best interests OF a great party and made
1t kissing and byword throughout the
length and breadth of the land. 1t Is be-
cause Democracy. as represented by Mr..
Bryan is not Democracy, but Is Populism.
that / oppose him and that / oppose it.
There has been no franker statement of
from their point of view than this. and it
is high. patriotic and commendable posi-
ton. 1t is always patriotic and commend
able in man of strong party convictions
and perhaps Iong-continued party rela-
tions to leave his party and vote against
1t on account of it's bad acts and leader
ship or desertion of principle. A great
many thousands of Democrats did this
four years ago, and almost as many will
do it again this year. 1t would be a mis-
take to suppose that all of these have be-
come and will remain Republicans. They
will continue to act with the Republican
party as long as present issues continue,
and some, no doubt, permanently, but
many will return to the Democratic party
when 1t is purged of Organism and Popu-
lism and gets back to old party lines and
mornings. Mr.. Eckels says he is still
Democrat, but he will vote for Mckinley
because Bryan is not Democrat and the
three platforms on which he is standing
are not Democratic. and because he con-
siders Mr.. Mckinley a safe man and Bryan
an unsafe one. These are good reasons,
and they reflect great credit on all anti
Bryan Democrats who act upon them
THESE Democrats who thus publicly declare
their intention of voting for Mckinley give
an exhibition of good citizenship and con-
scientious voting that should be initiated
by all Americans under like circumstances
Republicans have never been called upon
to give similar proof of their devotion to
country above party because the party has
never become the promulgator of such
vicious doctrines or the victim of such
dangerous leadership as those which have
disrupted the Democracy. But if the Re-
publican party organization ever places
itself in opposition TO American interests
at home and abroad and dominates for
President blathering demagogue like
William j. Bryan. the Journal will be
among the first to denounce it and Will
hope to see hundreds of thousands of Re-
publicans assist in defeating it and con-
tinus to defeat ii until ii shall abjure false
doctrines and return to the old ways
Meanwhile. all honor to the patriotic Dem
ocrats who are placing country above
party. The more independent 'yoters the
country has the better.