The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-11
PARTY REORGANIZATION.

Much is being written now on the re-
organization of the Democratic party.
A wise Democrat, who is seldom in
the public eye, sends us letter upon
this subject that is so full of wisdom
and good sense that we make room
for it here:
II was pleased with your editorial
on the subject of the proposed confer
ence at New York to re-organize the
Democratic party. The party is now
entirely organized, and any proceed
ings on the line of REORGANIZATION
would be INSTRUMENTATION" But it
is plain that the majority of voters in
all the North and West is against the
Democratic party and favors Republic
can policies In a general way that
has been the normal condition of the
North and West ever since the war,
and we are quite used to it. While,
therefore, we may deplore the present
situation, we need not despair; for
looking back at the past, we can see
that occasionally great masses of citi-
zens at the North and West have turn
ed against Republican policies and
given Democratic leaders an opportun-
ity to control public affairs.
1T is altogether proper for the
! Democratic party to seek strength
through the aid of patriotic citizens
who have heretofore not voted with it.
Indeed it is only through their aid
that we can gain strength, but it would
be ridiculous for persons outside of the
organized Democracy to make any an
nouncement for the consideration of
| Democrats. And under existing cir
cumstances and conditions, it might
| be worse than ridiculous-verv harm
full and prejudicial. A great fact that
| should not be overlooked is that the
voting Democrats are bitterly preiu-
! diced against former leaders. who for
| any cause abandoned them and went
over to the enemy. This natural pref u-
| dice exists and all the consequences
| that attend it should be borne in mind.
| Among those consequences are the
| fact that the Democratic voters will
not tolerate that such men should he
their leaders. Ittis impracticabie that
! leadership should be accorded to men
who deserted their party.
Another proposition is also plain:
Mr.. Bryan cannot win voters away
! from the Republican party. On the
| issue of Imperialism any Democrat
who did not stand so thoroughly as
| Mr.. Bryan does for the Chicago plat
form, could probably have drawn
many Republicans to the aid of the
| Democratic party.
"A third proposition is that for the
! Democratic party 10 win voters. to
gain strength, SO as to be of positive
use to our country, there must be
some departure by il from its present
moorings. The work of Indicating
what this departure should be is neces-
sarily to be performed by leaders who
have the ear of the masses of the par
! ty-such men in the various States as
Simmons, Jarvis, Waddell, Carr. Lock
hart, Clark, Avery, etc, in North Caro-
ina. 1T is altogether proper for such
| true and tried leaders of thought and
action to confer with patriotic men
who are not now within the Demo
cratic organization, and to suggest
such alterations as they may see fit to
propose. The Democratic people will
listen with patience to the voice OF
| such men. Leadership, however. is
/ largely a matter Of circumstance. of
! opportunity. and of. development. No
| one can predict who will DO the De-,,-
] ocratic leader four years hence. We
| can only Ieel assured that the Demo.
cratic masses will naturally be indis.
| posed to accept as leader any mar
! who has detached himself from his
party on the one hand; and on The