The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-11
FRIDAY, MAY II. 1900.
Mr,. M,LEaN,s QUESTIONS.

One of the most interesting contribu-
tons to current political litera-
trre is an article which we
print elsewhere from the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, whose editor and owner
is Mr. John Il. Mclean, brother-in-law
of Admiral Dewey. The article is writ
ten In a series of questions which MI
Mclean does not answer in so many
words, but the answers are implied. 1t
is very clear that he wants the Demo-
cratic party TO break away from the
Chicago platform of 1885, if not indeed
from the nominee of the Chicago Conven-
ton. William j. Bryan. The article
speaks for itself. and we shall not dis
cuss that phase of it. but there are one
or two other interesting questions in
volved about which We would submit a
few remarks.
What are the principles and policies
of the Democratic party in this closing
year of the nineteenth century, asks
Mr. Mclean. And we ask why should
there be any doubt TO the principles
and policies of the Democratic party?
Mr.. Mclean goes out of the way TO
make a fling at the "rnalcontents who
followed the absurd and pitiablc Palmer
and Buckner ticket But if the Dem
ocratic party in 1895 had adopted the
same platform that the Palmer and
BucIsner Democrats adopted in their con-
vention at Indianapolis, there would have
been no occasion TO ask the question to-
,rin and rlp1iaiRs
of the Democratic party?" Never was
there a clearer or a more courageous
expression OF Democatic principles than
was contained in the Indianapolis plat
form, and every declaration in that plat
form has been vindicated by subsequent
events Ii was just such a platform as
Democrats had been standing on from
The beginning. and those Democrats who
formulated the platform and who stood
by ii in 1896 have no cause to regret their
course
But Tie Chicago platform was the
platform Of the New Democracy and
il was new declara ton of principles.
1t was conceived in a spirit OF Populism
and framed for the purpose of capturing
The Pcpulist vote. / drove thousands
and thousands OF Democrats out of the
party. and retired the true and tried
leaders, putting in their places men like
Altgela and Tiliman. II brought lot
and SO completely revolutionized the
party-we do not use the word in any
offensive sense--as that at the beginning
of this campaign Mr.. John r. Mclean.
who was one of the most active party
leaders IA the campaign of 1896, now
finds il necessary to ask the questions.
where are we2' and what are the
principles and policies of the party?''
II is indeed a sad state of affairs. The
Democratic party has had its chart Srom
the beginning, and there never was d
time until after the Chicago platform
Was made when il was difficult for any
member TO stand up in public and de-
clare its principles and policies But To-
day no man can say with any degree
of certainty what is the test OF Democ-
racy. No man can forecast with any de-
gree Of certainty what will be the plat
form Of the party in the campaign of
1909 Nc man can tell whether it viii
be Democratic platform o.. Populistic
platform. Indeed air. Mclean intisnates
that the platform adopted by the Butler
faction OF the national Populist party two
days ago at Sioux Falls is forecast
of the platform 10 be adopted by the
Democratic Convention at Kansas City.
some of The Sioux Falls delegates
stopped al a4iacoln few days ago says
he @io participate in j public desaonsfra-
ton, .in which Mr. Bryan was the central
figure Did they carry away with them
the Democratic tables of stone. to be
inspected and rechiseled By the Popuiists
before being submitted for ratification
at Kansas City 90 Yet The man who
asks this question Is. as much as any
other man. responsible for introducing
Popnlists and Populism into the Demo
cratic organization.
But MIR. John NoI.esn has seen his