The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-12
THE TRAITOR COMBINE.
Some Remarks Concerning the Pre-
sumPtiOus Proposition of Messrs.
Iaa..,ocrnfic BnriN.


To the Editor Of The Times:
l note the interviews published in your
evening edition of November on the SUD
ject of the reorganization of the Detno
cratic party from alleged leading Demo
Gratis" who. so far as their names occur
have little right to be considered Demo
Gratis at all. let alone to be admitted &c
the councils of the party. You have con-
sistent1y supported the party in the cam
paign just passed without apologizing ioi
your course and trust you will allow an
expression of opinion from lifelong Dem
ocrat. who has neither asked nor received
any favors from the party. but who en-
dorses its principles as announced in its
platform from n conviction that they are
right and ought to be maintained.
1t is well to remind these gentlemen that
several million voters have recorded their
honest convictions in favor of that plat
form and that they are to be reckoned with
in any revision of it. These voters were
not, as rule, taken from either the very
wealthyeor from what is sometimes called
the laboring class. Neither the plutocrat
nor the rabble was with Bryan. His sup
porters had no self-nterest to serve, for
they were voting on the theory that the
against anybody else. They were under no
compuisicn to vote as they did, and cast
their ballots from pure motives of convic-
tion They constituted the largest array
OF intelligent and independent voters that
ma; ever been marshaled in any campaign,
and are themselves responsible for the
platform, and not Mr.. Bryan alone or any
other one man.
The statements of William c. Whitney.
formerly OF Mr.. Cleveland's Cabinet. call
Tor special remark. as they afford an eX
ample of the spirit with which most of
these would-be reorganizers approach the
SUBJECT OF compromise. Speaking Of tkc
silver issue. he says:
But Mr. Bryan. catering to the false senti.
trent IN ere certain locality forced it upon tine
party. 1t would be questioning his intelligence
to. credit him with believing it,
Mr.. Bryan in no sense forced the liver
issue on the Democratic party. and the
imputation of dishonesty in virtually as
serting that he promulgated doctrine he
dld not belieye. Is an insult to every
member of the party entertaining opin-
ions in harmony with his The platform
was adopted by debates duly ms tructed
Tor the most part, by State conventions
which had endorsed this issue. Mr.
Bryan had no special power over these
the delegates should obey the wishes of
their constituents: if they had not there
would have been severe reckoning vi h
them when they returned to their homes
Nor do | believe that the silver issue
contributed in any appreciable degree to
defeat. Mr. Bryan's greatest gains were
in the East. where that question ,ould
naturally work most strongly against him.
ana MS losses occurred in the West and
in the Pacific Coast States where the sill
yer sentiment is strongest. 1t will be
noticed that his losses were greatest
where the people had most recently re-
covered from the effects of the financial
disaster of 1893. and his gains were made
in places where the revival of business
first began. 1t was some time after the
panic had reached its climax in the East
before Its effects were felt On the Pacific
Slope, and the revival of business follow
ed the same course. The principal cause
of defeat is not far to seek The people
voted under the prosperity" influence
without regard to the issues or the men
The Democrats under the condition of
affairs could not have won, and probably
could not have made better showing en-
any other platform or with any other
candidate. This is not post election
conclusion. 1t was privately admitted by
many prominent delegates at Kansas City
who were favorable to Bryan and the
platform as adopted that the conditions
of the country were against them. / at
tended that convention. but not as a dele-
gate. and heard much foreboding along
that line. Indeed the feeling of depres-
sion over the probable outcome was very
general among the best informed until
it was observed with what enthusiasm ,he
platform was received by the convention
The big wheat crop. it was said. would
probably give the State to the Republic
cans, and the wheat crop bore about as
much relation to the issues as did pros
perity in other matters. Secretary Root
very generously admitted that the Repub-
lican party had not caused our prosperity
adding the axiom that without good gov
eminent we would not have had it. and il
is quite certain that that party had moth
ing to do with the Kansas wheat CROP
But people, fearing to disturb present
conditions with which they were salts
fed. silently voted the Republican ticket
while differing from that party on every
vital issue. Bryan had honestly won the
election in that the convictions OF he
majority of the people were with him. but
these convictions were effectually sup
pressed because voters of this class lacked
the faith in our system of government to
believe that prosperity is the normal con-
PIE may at any time exchange a right
policy for wrong enc with benefit to the
business of the country, and not with
disaster.
\ new statement of issues Will be nee
cssary 10 meet the new conditions of each
campaign, but this will only be the appli
caticn of established principles to the
new conditions and not change of former
issues. The Democrats cannot stultify
their previous record when it has been
right and was the expression of the will
of the masses of the party. fair spirit
of concession should be INDUCED in adj
justing honest differences OF opinion among
those admitting the fundamental princi-
pals of our party. The silver issue must
be settled with "a reference to the condi-
tions that have grown up under the gold
standard and after the country has. after
a period of much tribulation. had its bust
ness adjusted TO that standard The evils
of establishing that standard are now in the
mast: the evils inherent in the system it
self are to come. Certain minor provis-
ions Of the present platform which did
not com. prominently into the campaign,
and which may have been made the basis
of the cry of populism against the party,
might be omitted as not essential.
If the !aboring man does not want
Cabinet officer or arbitration, as he has
twice indicated by his votes. let him be
accommodated. The Democratic party.
as in duty bound. when opportunity of
fers. will endeavor to secure him his full
rights. but II he does not care for the
methods which We propose let him choose
his own. Nobody believes in government by
Injunction but that term is indefinite and
unknown to common language. Laws
ought to BE- enacted, doubtless. that
would prevent the abuse of the power of
the courts in furnishing for contempt for
violating injunctions. fer that power may
somet ines be used for oppressive pur-