The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-20
A FACILITATING PARTY.
Democrats Have Not Now and Ncvcs
Had Fixed Principles.
Kansas City Journal.

Kansas City Journal.
But reputation and expurgation come
easy to the Democratic party. Within the
century there has been no great public
question which did not enlist the Demo-
cratic party at different times on both
sides, and with most Of them II has been
on each side several times. Jefferson anc
Jackson. whose names are invoked in the
same breath with the Chicago platform
believed in high protection and the gold
standard Jefferson stopped the coinage OF
the silver dollar. and jackson was elected
on a platform which declared that 1--WE
deem that adequate protection TO American
industry is indispensable TO the prosperity
Of the country" And this. BY the way
was the first platform ever adopted by the
Democratic party. no conventions having
been held until 49,. the date OF Jackson's
second election. In this platform, too. II
was declared that internal improvements
ought 10 be sustained and supported by the
general government. a position that was
fatty contradicted by the Democratic ma
tional convention of 1910, when Jackson's
high protection policy was also hung on
the fence.
In 1852 and 1856 and 1850 the Democratic
party had national expansion in it's plat
forms. In the first year II Endorsed the
taking Of territory from Mexico without
the consent OF the governed In 1856 n de-
manded such an expansion that our Nation
would be made paramount throughout the
Gulf OF Mexico. In 1S6o ~ demanded the
acquisition of Cuba and had no aualms
about taking in a people mot fitted for the
exercise or suffrage" Indeed. whenever I'm
the past the Democratic party has made
expression on questions Of national progress
IL has been ~outspoken for expansion. and II
must needs eXnurRatp "A LOT 0f its n1affo-no
before IL can claim consistency in its atfi-
tude OF to-day. I'D A--4
IL doesn't make any difference in what
direction we look for Democratic mcon-
sistency. 1t is everywhere and all-encom-
PASSING. In 1860. for example. II took two
planks TO express the Democratic party's
high veneration for the courts, and es-
pecially the Supreme Court. X said I'm
Plank ] that the Democratic party had
everlasting faith In the decisions of the SUI
preme Court on constitutional law. In
Plank Z II marked the duty OF all good
citizens to accept the holdings of his court
and TO aid In their enforcement. Compar-
ing with the denunciation OF the courts
contained In the platform OF 1886. IL is all
most beyond belief that the two sentiments
could have emanated from the same
source. rfs
This country practically went on the gold
standard in 1856, under a law passed by a
Democratic Congress. Not only this, but
every Democratic platform from 1S32 down
10 1896 espoused a system of finance radf-
caily diHerent from the scheme or free sill
yer. The free silver plank OF 1896 was a re-
pudiation OF everything the Democratic
party had stood for from the DAYS of
Washington. 1t then and there ~expunged
ninety-one years OF Democratic financial
history.
At times we have seen the Democratic
party holding that the federal Constitution
was a rope OF sand. not strong enough TO
hold the States together. At other times.
as when the party was seeking 10 extend
slavery. the Constitution became the SUI
preme and far-reaching power OF the land.
At times the Democratic party has held
that the inhabitants Of a Territory had no
political rights whatever. as when Clai-
borne was made dictator over Louisiana
and Andrew Jackson was king OF the Flor
idas. At other times (and this IS one of
them) the inhabitants OF the Territories
have been held TO possess rights almost
transcending those OF citizens Of States.
and greater than those assigned 10 them in
the Constitution.
But why multiply the instances of De-
mocracy's self-repudiation2 Or why COM
plain at the pettifogging that Democracy
must practice in order 10 defend fits vacii-
iating policies? Since the time of James
Buchanan IL has stood for nothing but pre-
tense and humbug. and IL will probably
stand for nothing else until the end OF
time.