The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-05
WHIT WILL 1owA DEMOCRATS DO

WHIT WILL IOWA DEMOCRATS DO 4:
In the action of the state convention
OF Maryland many Democrats will find
additional assurance of the determina-
zion of the party to make new depar-
ture such as was inaugIrated in Ohio.
AS but single issue was raised by the
Maryland platform this te'ief may be
either well or ill-founded The fact that
no adherent of the free silver cause in
the convention made any effort to revive
lost issues, it may be safey assumed
that the same disposition exists in that
state to rearrange the party's declara-
lions Of principles and conduct future
campaigns on questions of current inter-
est and Importance.
The approaching Democratic state con-
vention in Iowa VIII offer a good oppor-
tunity to the members of the party in
that state to promote the prevailing dis
position to set the party once more on
the path which viii lead to success. If
the opportunity is awaited of in Iowa
the example will be of nca}cuable
value
There is no thought of repudiating or
putting indignity on the gentleman who
has been the recognized leader of the
party and it's presidential candidate in
the last two campaigns The effort to so
represent the prevailing movement to-
wa rd marty, ,aorera ,,S,. +io,, 3. ,,,,u.,
Republican device. Mr. Bryan will re-
main leading personality in the party
and his advice and influence will always
win a high measure of respect The ig-
noring Of the policies identified with
his two presidential campaigns cannot
be regarded as a population of him UNI
less he is to be regarded, as so many of
his immediate assoc:a es have regarded
him, as embodying all the wisdom of
tie Iarty and its devotion to the popular
cause.
If the Iowa Democrats decide to con-
tnue welded to their fallen political
idols, it will be all the worse for them.
Generally fighting losing fight, they
viii thus render more remote than ever
the prospect of their success. The only
man whom they have succeeded in this
generation in electing governor of their
state was at the outset a de-
voted adherent of free silver. His
judgment and experience led him after
wards to repudiate that doctrine. As
with him, so with the body of the party
throughout the country. Democrats
everywhere have outgrown the free sill
Yer deluson. 1t will be decided during
the present month whether it is true of
the Democrats of Iowa that they never
learn and never forget
In every Western state, Iowa included
as in every Eastern state, Democratic
defeat has been complete and disastrous
in which the free silver issue has been
fought out, except in those alone in which
silver mining has been the dominant in
dustry. Pride of opinion may continue
to prevail among the adherents of the
principle; but no reasonable view of the
situation will sustain the theory that It's
disregard involves the Reputation Of true
Democratic principle nor the humbling
of those through whose influence it was
made a dominant issue in two presidential
campaigns.
Democrats can get together in Iowa
and elsewhere, as they did in Ohio. on
other sound principles o. party policy,
and Mr. Bryan and those who represent
him in the party can throw their energies
Snto the scale of party success as they
ere now doing in Ohio.
The outcome of the approaching Iowa
Democratic convention is important. But
It is not so important that if it should
Involve an effort to resuscitate the dead
ISSUE of silver there is any substantial
fear that it will influence unfavorably the
prevailing current of Democratic thought
away from the errors of the past. 1t
will be gratifying if Iowa follows the
example of Chic and Maryland, and leaves
the dead past to bury its dead. If it
does not, Iowa Democrats may well be
left to enjoy the legacy of party defeat
which has been theirs for so long