The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-21
The Gold Democrats.

| committee, was reported as Saying a rev
days ago that the Gold Democrats were
coming back to the regular Democratic
fold and that next fall they would be
found voting for Bryan. He was not
in favor of extending any particular
courtesies to them or offering them any
unusual inducements TO join the Bryan
forces hts year. The intimation was
that they had gone astray and should
take the consequences. Having seen
the folly of their course. 1t was proper
for them to return meekly and take up
the fight for Bryan Democracy as hum
bic privates in the ranks. There was
nothing else for them TO do, and they
might consider themselves fortunate in
being allowed to return without a Sc
verer reprimand.
This was the Jones version Of exist
ing conditions. A good many people
take a different view of the situation. II
is not unusual for some of Bryan's fol-
lowers to announce that nearly all of
the Palmer and Buckner Democrats
have repented and are back In line, but
1t Is seldom that any reason is advanced
for this alleged repentance. The fact
seems to be lost sight of that the seces-
sion from the Chicago platform Democ-
racy was brought about by an irrecon-
cilable difference of opinion as to prin-
ciples. 1t was not the result of a trifing
political disappointment, but came about
as the open and pronounced Reputation
Of a dishonest and revolutionary plat
form. Democrats with high ideas If
party responsibility could neither APP
prove the principles set forth at Chicago
nor support the candidate who fttingly
represented those principles. 1t was q
sacrifice to forswear allegiance to the
party which had taken the Democratic
name, but they were willing to make
that sacrifice when they realized that
in so doing they were contending for
that which is eternally right. The act
was performed not hurriedly and In a
moment Of irritation. 1t was done DELHI
tidttiS WIN "a iun dHpittiutfot VI tHe
consequences. II was a matter of con-
science and honest opinion, and the man
is yet to be heard from who regrets the
step he took or has not had his patri-
otto judgment confirmed by the course
of events.
When. therefore. the Bryan Democrat,
be he Chairman Jones or any other man,
consoles himself with the idea that the
National Democrats OF 1896 have for
saken the position they took four years
ago, he has but a ain conception Of
the motives which impelled high-prln-
cipled Democrats to put UP a ticket in
opposition to that nominated in Chicago.
II those men were right then. they are
right now in holding TO the same doc
trines. Neither academic gum nor
he logic Of events has demonstrated
that they were in error in Directing to
the vicious principles e%nunciated in the
Chicago platform. and party expedienoy
this year viii not wrest from them an
approval Of dishonest doctrines any
more than it did In 1896.
That such Is the temper OF the Gold
Democrats was shown last week. when
some 200 members Of that party in In
diana met at indianapolis for the pur-
pose Of deciding upon a course OF ac-
ton for the coming campaign. They
adepted resolutions pointing out the
probable denomination Of MIR. Bryan and
the readoption OF the Chicago platform,
and a ringing statement of their posi-
ton. cOuched in the following terms:
"Bsiug deeply impressed with the gray
tiy OF the situation, We conceive It TO be
our solemn duty 20 oppose with All our
strength the assaults made by the Chlca-
so platform OF 1855 ON individual freedom.
the right Of private contract, the indie
pcnaencc and Integrity 81 the federal fi-
dietary, the authority ~ the presg3ant 20
caforce the laws. and 70 a~enouncr is adj
vocacy az thc radically wrong and flnda-
mentally dangerous demand for the no.
unlimited and independent coinage Of sill
yer AMI gold by the UnIted States
az the ratio q Is 70 !. ami ne
reputation az The lnsticatiou o. Rapvb-
Ecan and FoPuiisf allies - the Democrat
81 doctrine ~ t0riH far revenue only
There can ba geo compromises with those
Who propose % support Mr.. Bryan or any
other candidate on the Chicago platform"
These ara the sentiments Of the lead
ing GOLD Democrats q Indiana and q,
U.s. probable they vin be re-echoea hy
members ~ that rslrty throughout the
Union There is 60 De- no compromise
with she hercsles Of the last preslden-
i!a campaign reiterated In thls, II nee
etsary. the nSht BE- 60 go on And there
IS m doubt it will be necessary. FOR the
platform adopted by the Nebraska Dem
oorats and Populisss q the direction
of MIR Bryan Is substantially the one
prepared for the Democracy at kansas
CITY, II Is the Chicago platform with
@H ~ cts dangerous principles reafirm-
ID. and 10 will De ABSOLUTELY reflected ~