The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-15
WaTrERsox,s ED RREAK.

WatterSon is a great journalist, we
use the word advisedly. He has been
greater than he Is today. Age has not
impeded the flow of Southern eloquence
with which he has been wont for many
Years to FIJI the editorial pages of the
CouTier-Journal. but it has impaired his
judgment, if we may take his recent
comments on the Ohio Democratic con-
vention, and incidentally upon the Bryan
wing of the party, as fair sample of his
latter day Efforts.
Vinegar seldom catches flies. Mr.. Wat
terson may believe that the Populists and
Bryanites who have controlled the Dem
Ccratic party for the last six years are
fools, but if he has the good Of the party
and the state at heart he will keep that
opinion to himself It is true that the
millions whom Watterson so characteriz-
es do not agree with the Kentucky editor
on all things; they may be wrong on
most of their political tenets, but when
it comes to applying the term fool. it is
question whether it will fit the as
sailed or the assailant the better
In every political contest the first OBJ
ject of a minority is to become q ma
jority. This can be accomplished only
by securing from the ranks of the ma
jority sufficient number to turn tho
scale. The individual members of any
party do not agree on all the Items Of
their acknowledged confession of faith.
No man or set Of men have a right to
say what is an absolute test of party
allegiance. These platforms are always
compromises. Men get together as near
as they can, each agreeing to sacrifice
something for the common good Tais
is the condition in which the Democratic
party now finds itself. There is d.
vision of sentiment on many issues. The
division is not so marked. nor so vital
as the division in the Republican ranks.
SO far as the Chicago and Kansas City
platforms are concerned they are both
back numbers. They no longer represent
the opinions of the great bulk of the
of the St. Louis and Philadelphia plat
forms as to Republican opinion Plat
forms are temporary affairs II this
were not so, there would be no necessity
for building new ones every four years.
New occasions teach new duties; time
makes ancient good uncouth." The OBJ
1ect of all patriotic men should be to
unite on issues and within party which
Will come the nearest to maintaining the
honor and prosperity of the country.
Mr.. Bryan and his followers may be mis-
taken on many points of party policy.
but they are not wrong on everything.
They are not fools, but intelligent citi-
zens of the United States with rights
and opinions which ought to be. and
party to bind itself with the chains Of
the Chicago and Kansas City platforms
in our Judgment would be suicide Doubt
less Mr.. Watterson thinks so too. but
it does not follow that all VINO worship
at the shrine of fools" We also be-
lieve that the Republican stalwarts who
refuse to modify the Dhgley tariff
schedules are digging their own grave,
but they are not fools"
Mr.. Watterson is brilliant and enter
tanning, but his gospel of truth has a.
suggestion of personal intolerance in It.
that will not make for success.
The CT be has never been a sup
porter of Bryan. This is we'll known
but we recognize mis- ability and his pop
ularity. while we can not agree with
many of his economic theories. Such
an exhibition of intolerance as that of
Mr.. Watterson can have but one result,
and that is to defeat the movement for
unity or action which is at this time
so much to be desired