The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-08
SUNDAY. JULY S. 1900.
HOPE FOR DEMOCRACY.


Taking calm view of the Kansas City
Convention. we find much TO encourage
those who want to see the Democrauc
party purged of Populism and restored
10 Its former position. The Times believes
that the existence of the Democratic
party is necessary to the preservation OF
Republican institutions Therefore, The
Times is DESTROYS of seeing that party
preserved and to SEQ it walk in its intes-
city The party went wrong in 1886. but
there are now abundant signs that 1t rs
coming 60 :tself, and for our part VIC are
certainly disposed to do all that we can
to help those who are helping the party
TO recover from the evil disease OF Alt
seld!sm and Organism. As long as it SUI
Sers from this infirmity. 1T cannot be a
safe party to which should be Entrusted
the administration of our Government
We are not unmindful of the splendid
work done by John W. Daniel. David B.
Hill and many other Democrats from the
South and North. to have the convention
a, Kansas City mako a platform this
time that WAS Democratic to the core and
entirely free from the faint of Populism-
II Is said that out of $50 delegates. only
81 were in favor of inserting the free
silver plank, and everybody knows that
this plank would not have been put in if
Mr.. Bryan had not demanded it
AS we said yesterday, the major portion
s of the platform is the expression Of gen.
zine Democracy. and barring the free-sil-
money. there Is very little of Popuism
in It. The declaration as to trusts is ex-
reedingly guarded. being simply a. decla-
ration against private monooolies which
IRE fostered by a Republican tariff. and
there is very little In that plank that any
fair-minded Democrat can object TO.
There is no mention of an income tax
It is said that this was accidentally left
cut. bu; Harry West, the correspondent
Of the Washington Post. says that nobody
seemed to shed any tears when subse-
ouently the motion to insert the plank
! was lost.
Especially significant is the entire alb
sence of anything like calamity bowling
IN the platform. In 1896 the plat
form was saturated with calamity
end the people were told that the
country was going to the dogs and that
there would be no genuine prosperity until
the minis of the country were opened to
the freq coinage of silver. There is moth
Ing OF this sort in the platform of 1900.
TO sum It all up. While there was a
Populistic element In the convention the
dominant spirit of that convention was
very different from the spirit that domi-
mated the convention of 1895. The conven-
ZION OF 1896 was revolutionary: the con-
Vent!on Of 1900 was made up largely OF
true and conservative Democrats, and we
have no doubt that If the Bryan influence
had been eliminated the convention would
have adopted an old-time Democratic
platform without a particle of Populism IN
II. and would have nominated for the
presidency an old-fashioned Democrat
The conservatives labored under many
disadvantages and i, was impossible for
the party IN SO short time to have rec
tined entirely the mistake Of 1895. But
IT i. most gratifying TO note the Won
derfui change that has come over the
marty during the past year or two as
manifested In the convention All honor
to Hin and Daniel and the other unset
fish Democrats. who went to the convcn-
zion not seeking honors for themselves.
hui honestly endeayoring to purge the
party Of Populism and to restore 1t to
that honorable position which it had oc-
- s-.,,. the Machining until Altgeld
and Bryan captured 1t In 1896. We say
that tho efforts OF these men are TO be
discouraged. ana white we do not believe
mat the people Of this country are willing
ARA. Mr.. william ]. Bryan shall be Pres.
,a.n,. We believe that the Kansas City
cnnsentlea VAS great triumph for ths
.enserrasire Democracy of this country
and that the party is IN better standing.
that il comes nearer commanding the
reepscs and confidence Of the people than
8 .ay dine durtnS ths past s1ou1 yAzrs,
- - ~. gn.waee,affn 0aStU.