Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-03
DEMOCRATIC CHANGES
BRIGHTEN.

The belief grows that, IL the Demo-
cratic National platform is uneQuivocal
in its declarations and is framed with
due sense of the relative Importance
of issues, the Democratic party will win
this fall both the Presidency and a ma
jority of the House of Representatives.
1t is perfectly abvious that for the past
six months the Republican party
has daily grown weaker before the peo-
pie. Apart from the series of astound-
ing plumbers it has made in both domes-
tic and foreign policy. it's appontees
have overwhelmed 1t with scandal, and
have made any other than a defensive
campaign, on its part, impossible.
The Washington Post publishes n let
ter from = Republican OF the middle
northwest. who served ten years in Con-
gress and has been prominent in his
party since its formation. The letter
abounds in acute and pertinent obser-
vations, and makes most uncomfortable
reading for Republicans. The writer
declares that nine tenths of the social
ed gold-Democrats will support Mr..
Bryan this year. He summarizes the
antiRepublican influences thus:
Il think that the Republicans have
fight before them this year to which
that of 1896 was merely Il skirmish. The
war in the Philippines: the shameful
flop on Porto Rico; the scandals in the
management OF the war with Spain; the
dominance of the trusts and Combines
and the failure TO do anything of n sub
stantial character to curtail them; the
rise of the cost of living without CORE
spending increase in the incomes of the
people, save those who are in the com
bines;' the hostility of organized labor
or worklngmen. and Il great many other
things too numerous to mention are
working together to turn over close
and doubtful districts and States
Continuing, he declares that the Dem
ocrats are practically certain OF ma
5ority in the House. Indiana, he thinks,
would go Democratic on the Porto Ri
can issue alone, while the treatment ac-
corded the Beers will cost the Republi-
cans thousands of votes in Michigan.
In that State the publican party is
rent by factions, while the feeling
against trusts and the Porto Rican in
fanny is strong. The Democrats, on the
contrary. are united and aggressive. If
the Democrats make good, clean
nomination of Il State ticket on ma
tional platform, the chances are de-
cidedly in their favor"
OF the Porto Rican business. the cor
respondent says: "It unsettled the con-
1idence and respect of the people moro
than anything that has happened" since
Mckinley was inaugurated. The belief
Is widespread that McKinley's flop"
was due to Sinister influence" which
has been at work to change the entire
program; that attempts have even
been made by the Executive and Con-
gress 20 force the hand of the Sill
preme Court" Members of the House
uhe writer says) admitted to him that
they were under duress" and voted
against their wishes.
After pointing out that n change of
10000 votes in California, Delaware. In
diana, Kentucky. Oregon and West Vir
ginia. would have elected Mr.. Bryan in
1896. the writer predicts a radical
charge in these States in favor OF Bry-
an. He cannot. he says, vote for Mr..
f.ehinley. and gives his reasons:
AS 10 the question of duty, am
quite clear. Attachment to my old
party for which 1 have worked and
fought for forty-four years. is very
strong with me- The general clements
of the Democratic party repel me. but I
am not afraid of Bryan, who has broad
ened and grown immensely in the last
four years. The great mass of the Re
publican party is honest and patriotic.
but the leadership Is absolutely con-
trollcd by the plutocracy. Greed is their
controlling motive, and they wonld go
to any length to accomplish their OBJ
jects, which is to swell their already ill
gotten gains. l have no doubt but that
the great bulk of the Gold Democrats
will vote for the Kansas City ticket
this year. and that they will be re-en-
forced by the votes of at least 100000
Republicans, who. like myself, cannot
longer stand for what Hanna and Nc
kinley represent"
And this is said not by n Democrat.
but by Republican. who has worked
and fought for forty-four years" for his
party. 1t needs no other emphasis.