Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-06-07
DEMOCRACY'S Big STRUGGLE.
Adoption of Chicago Platform
Was a New Birth.
NO TIME FOR TRIMMING NOW
The Rugged Integrity That characterized
tho Platform Of 1906 Must be Pre-.
served In the Platform Of 1900.

The adoption Of the Chicago platform
in 1896 reinstated the democratic party in
its right OF succession to carry forward
the work laid out by its founder, the i'm.
mortal Jefferson and made illustrious in
the administrations Of Madison, Monroe
and jackson. The adoption OF that plat.
form signalized new birth, veritable
regeneration OF the party, anchoring it
safely to the ancient landmarks which
guided the republic through, the expert
mental stage of its existence until it
reached the full stature Of mighty nation
Of self'reliant, self governing freemen.
The rugged principles and stern morals
that guided the fathers in carving out a
structure OF government under which
privilege and prerogative were unknown,
confirmed and strengthened by the ex-
perience Of a century and quarter, are
80 imbedded in the heart and conscience
Of the people that they are incorruptble.
The triumph of the masses of the demo-
cratic party over the corrupt and perverse
leadership Of the Cleveland Whitney
coterie vindicates the claim herein made,
and stands as the grandest achievement
to the credit Of man in the struggle for
popular government. The successful re-
volt Of the democrat masses against cor.
rupt party leaders in 1896 stands without
\ parallel in the moral achievements OF
man. The plain people who create the
wealth and pay the taxes OF the nation,
who seek neither special legislation nor
political preferment for themselves, DEM
onstrated their capacity to call to account
the men they had placed in position and
power, and, in defiance Of the power of
4Sralth, the great commercial press and
t-o hupsirSa ts'nusand ealArled Office
sr.lders in their party, to take possv~-s-..
81 the machinery Of the party and dismiss
I'LL unworthy and unfaithful agents and
recast the entire organization, placing in
charge of the party machinery new men
to give effect to their principles and
purposes.
The heroic work OF the democrat ic
masses spoke in thunder tones proclaim
ing the vitality OF democratic principles.
The adoption Of the Chicago platform and
the nomination Of candidates who fitting
~ represented that platform infused
hope into the hearts Of thousands who
had begun to despair, SO that despite the
combined efforts OF the banks, railroads,
corporations and the army Of petty Ameri-
cans that follow in their trail like the tail
follows the comet, the democratic candi-
dates received million and half ma.
iority OF the white votes cast in that
election.
Under the Cleveland administration
decentralization in the democratic ranks
reached such point that disintegration
had set in in many sections Of the coun.
try which, was only arrested by the heroic
efforts Of the people themselves in rising
in their might and seizing the organiza'
ton and bringing the party back on to
democratic principles. Following the
Chicago convention the party found itself
in astate OF disorganization that was de.
plorable. The men who had led the party
formerly, and had been elevated to posi-
tons Of honor and trust in the party, and
in the government, were arrayed against
the platform and candidates Of the party
and working for its defeat The Cleve-
land. whitney. Belmont crowd organized
a boiling party, and nothing was too
harsh for them to say Of the regular DEM
ocracy and its candidates, while many
thousands Of misguided democrats worked
either openly or secretly for the success
o: the republican ticket. But such was
the strength. might and power impaired
toihc regular organization by the honest.
intelligent and fearless declaration Of
truths in the Chicago platform, that the
party was made almost invincible, at
tracing to its folds intelligent, patriotic,
and brave men who appreciated the stand
it had taken. Tie political battle Of 1896
was the flercest in all our history. On
one side the banks, railroads, express
companies, telegraph companies, and all
forms Of organized wealth, including CO.
partnerships and individuals that were
demanding special privileges through
legislation, were united in support Of Nc
Kinley. On the other side disorganized
party that had just passed through the
most trying internal struggle in the his
tory OF politics. resulting in its former
leaders regulating the action OF the party
faced an adversary formidable in organi'
zetion, backed by unlimited wealth