The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-20
Too Late.
our care.

100 Ldtc.
Democrats of sound sense and more or
less reverence for principle are occupy
ing themselves these days with what
the poet called the saddest OF all the
sad words of tongue or pen. They are
chanting a common refrain, but the
burden of 1t all comes back, "too late
Witness the abortlve attempt to spring
Admiral Dewey upon the party and
country Witness the letter of Grover
Cleveland. deploring the weakness of
the party because II has not the cour-
age to do right Witness the speech of
Ex-Governor Campbell, formerly pos
sessed by a tenderness for free silver.
who speaks boldly against the continued
tyranny of IS to l. All these signs in
dicate growing restlessness among the
Democratic voters who have not yet
signed away their conscences into the
keeping of Populism. But their pro-
tests are just four years behind the
times.
The loyalty of Democrats four years
ago to their historic party was not great
enough to save it from ruin and dis
grace. What these men say now, they
should have said then. II they had
been bold and sincere and active, there
would have been a real Democratic
party In existence today. instead of a
feebly wiggiing tail that barely extends
beyond the Jaws OF the Populist dragon.
They see defeat ahead now. az they saw
II then. They also understand now what
should have been equally clear to
them then, that the only possible re-
source OF Democracy is to get rid Of
tebanks and cranks. and return to first
principles.
Such assertion by prominent Demo-
Gratis In 1896 would have been effective.
II would have cost them their Popuiist
allies. but 1t would have saved honor.
principle. organization, and votes. When
the Chicago platform was announced.
honorable Democrats everywhere
should have repudiated 1t openly, They
ganization In every state In the Union.
They should have headed formidable
movement instead OF lending chilly and
secret support to the Palmer and Buck
ner ticket For u was exactly as evil
dent then as IL is now what would hap
pen II the worship of regularity pre-
vailed over the love Of right.
The Rryanite populists have the ma
chinery and they mean to run IL. They
are making fairly good thing out OF
II. and they care much less for defeat
than they do for their grip on the or
ganizatlon. They will never let GO NJ
majority can disiodge them: for they
would bolt instantly and organize anew
Ia either state or nation the moment
they found themselves outvoted There
fore II II is party integrity that the muir
muring Democrats are SO SOLICITORS
about they may as well possess their
souls 60 All eternity The present lead
eushlp Of the Democratic party cannot
be got rid q by anything short 81
party revolution
This Is why the men who are sick as
death of the rs 20 ! business are too
late II do5s no good 10 exhibit their
IA asca now. -Four years age they
could have done something. They
Wuld have split the party. bat they
would have saved the only portion Of
u worth saving Now they are Al
d'sadvsntaSe even II they plucked up
enough courage TO revolt Why did
some of them Ike Mr. Cleveland. keep
SILENCE va 1887 Why dd Others. like
/ the New York Democrats, support
uck,t and platform ostensihlye WAY
did men Ike Mr Campbell openly al.
Novate free silver Ana Whist moral
. aSy an the> oner 60 the voters for
tlst apse from recutude Il they at
tsmpt now Go originate movement that
Is foar wears too late in getting borng
We Dc not believe that any regenera-
tive force can overcome the work of the
las, four years upon the Democratic