The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-25
THE FU1U R OF
THE DENOCR|.A CY
What Some Prominent Party Men
Think.
EDITOR MAcK's PLATFORM.
senator 1illman Says. Nall tho
collars 10 the Mast"
Kerry Scores
Dcsrrters.

NEW YORK. Now ea.-EEtor Norman
Mack. OF Buffalo: Senator BENJAMIN
n T;,aman. of South Carolina. and Senator
Ha-nes IA Berry, of Arkansas. give at our
-eo,,est their views as 10 the future Of
me Democratic party, as follows
A PLATFORM FOR 1904.
The orca rlization OF the paIy-properly
so-caiied-is in better condition at this
lima than at any like period OF our history
4, mas never bsiore risen from defeat
WIN s,,ch evidence of cohesive power and
sorceful purpose.
.Thos. who left their party or voted
against its candidates should and no DOUBT
will find warm welcome back to its folds,
and IL ought, in my judgement, 10 be enI1.e-ss
az possible for them TO find Conscientious
place in its Councils but DO not thihh
that they should return with Inc eNpec-s
fatioa of directing the party policy and
action to the exclusion of OTHERS VINO
have remained faithful to the regular
party organization. / take it that tnis Is
tine position OF many, ii not ali, OF lilose
who suggest reorganization, Tor any
other idea would seem to me likely 10
produce further discovd and greater party
disaster rather than an improved conol-
tion of party unity.
Honorable contest within the party lines
er and necessary to its life, but do not
think that those who choose to- leave
their party, if only for time, Should ex-
fect to play the role of Il political prodl-
gal son.
do not bellows that the definition of
the silver issue, as upon the basis OF l6 TO
q. for instance viii become a duty OF the
,aeN Democratic National Convention,
ana am free to say that the result of the
~ ,a ~. ny ylr
settling the question OF the ratio OF silver
coinage upon ensuing sessions OF Congress
and that it will hence not become a
function Of party platform, as it has mere
tofore been. by no means look upon the
recent election as condeInnatorS OIL ol-
1netailis1n, though it may not be DOUBTED
that the Misrepresentation by the Kepub-
1ican party press of the Democratic posi-
zion upon this question led to much mlsap-
prehenSion and popular error. think the
case of hi-metalflsm will be rsstatsd by
Congressional action and that the Dem
ocracy of 1904 will again make successful
combat upon the three issues Of anti-iIH-
,,eriaIisrn- antitrust legislation and the
bi-r1et a!!ism Of our history. The double
standard must find its proper exposition,
however. hereafter in the legislation OF
Congress rather than il. the direction OF
party conventions.
In regard TO the likely canQIdale Oi III
party in 1904 for President it seems 20 me-
that may be left for the exigencies Of that
period to determine, but whether it shall
he Mr. Bryan or some one else he should
be known as a loyal party man and faith
fun Democratic statesman.
The result of the election of 1900 faces
us as a command for the consolidation of
the Democracy that the paramount issues
of the day-imperialism and the piracy of
capital-may be met by the natural enemy
OF such hereses-tlle Democratic party
There should be no such thing as a gold
Democrat or a silver Democrat in 1909,
and / believe that the plain trend of events
is making for a definition of Democracy
at that time which Will present an un-
Broken line of party force.
The Platform of Democracy for 1904 would
hence seem to me at this writing to be:
The regulation of trusts by Federal law
the halt of imperialism and colonial pol
icy; the bi-mefa tlism of the fathers as
defined by Congressional action: the adj
justment OF The tariff upon the lines of
Democratic teaching and with especial
reference at this time to its relation to
The trusts and the election of United States
Senators by he people. Basic Democratic
principle commands party action upon
these questions OF plan and vital public
concern and the impressment OF our polit-
ical faith upon our government pelity
would surely end the GENERALIZATION and
plutocracy of Republicanism, which are
making gradual subverEion Of the Re
public. Believe me,
Faithfully yours,
NORMAN z. MACK.
Buffalo N Y Noy 81