The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-15
KEEPING APART

KEEPING APART
There is not very much to be gained
for the Democratic cause by engaging
in academic discussions such as are i'll
progress at this time, and which Mr..
Bryan's general attitude on the questions
of the hour in their relation to true Dem
ocratic policy seems to have most to do
with.
The national Democratic party cannot
be said to be in particularly hopeful
situation. 1t finds the ground being cut
from under its feet in many directions
by the progress of events. Funston's
capture of Aguinaldo holds within it the
ultimate settlement of the question Of
what to do Immediately with the Philip
pines. The grand sweep Of popular pros
perity which prevails today must result
naturally enough in placing the fortunes
of the opposition for the time at a low
ebb.
The disagreements among individuals
in tine leadership of the party which Mr.
Bryan, in the columns of his Commoner,
seems to have a mission to perpetuate
must. of course, have a reacting effect
upon the people and draw popular conf
dence away from the opposition to the
domination of IIannaism in federal gov
eminent.
There was a time not so long ago when
a good Democrat hesitated at express
ing hostility toward avowed populistic
theories Of governmental relationship.
because he did not care to appear in OPP
position to the prevailing sentiment
among those who We're in control of
the machinery of his party. Mr. Bryan
and his immediate following in Demo-
cratic politics may as well understand
that that time is past, and that it will
not return in this generation. The philos
ophy and party creed Of these men to
the contrary, rich man is not neces-
sarily an enemy Of popular right because
he is a rich man. The time, too. has
gone by in the progress Of Democratic
party affairs when any such theory will
receive liberation among the masses of
our Democratic people
Tom Johnson ana Mr. Altgeld and
Mayor Jones are all rich men. But lit
tie If anything was ever heard of them
while they were in the process of ac-
curing the fortunes which they are now
possessed Of. Like world-wise men they
gave up the promotion Of any theories
OF government or social life which they
entertained to the days of their leisure
when the stress of making money was
not present to usurp control over their
mental and moral activities. Democracy
Is not Democracy which sets one rule of
public treatment for the man without
money and another for him who has It
in plenty. And the apostles Of such doc
trine within the Democratic party win
have to find other party political fellow
ship if they care to carry out their
predictions in this regard through po-
litical conduct.
All good Democrats should lend their
mental energies toward getting on a
common platform. The same diversity
of opinion might be found to prevail in
mems minds which Mr. Bryan and his
friends are forcing the expression of to-
day. when Mr.. Tilden made his memora-
BILE campaign for the presidency on a
Democratic nomination, or when the mass
of the honeSt-minded American peopIe
stood for Grover Cleveland against the
doubtful record of James G. Blaine.
Both Tilden and Cleveland were elected
without the aid of Bryan, Altgeld, Jones
or Johnson, and by the aid and the vast
sacrifices Of time, money and effort in
every direction of the same men who
have been driven out of the Democratic
party and who we are told must be kept
put If necessary through the use of the
lash of culumny and vituperation.
When the next primaries of the Demo
cratic party are held in, the selection of
Democratic representatives in the several
local, congressional and state conven-
tons of the party it will be found that
the mass of Democratic voters have lit
tie sympathy with the policy of abuse
and negation represented by prevailing
personal controversies within the party.