The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-31
WHAT is TIE REMEDY,

cy" points out one of the reasons
why, in his opinion, the Democratic
party does not show greater strength.
This reason is that the party is not
united. Mr.. Bryan names three prom
inent papers, one in New York City,
one in Louisville and one in Chicago,
all claiming to be Democratic, which,
he contends, did more in the cam
paign of 1900 for the Republican party
than for the Democratic party. He
does not wish to be understood as say
ing that these three Democratic pa
pers were the only ones that did lit
tie or nothing to assist their party.
There were many others, and they did
not agree as to the course that the
Democratic party should pursue in re-
spect TO leading issues of the cam
paign.
In the course of his article, Mr.
Bryan says;
Is 1t strange that the
Democratic party has made slow prog
ress when ii is remembered that for
five years the leading daihes. which
claim to be Democratic, have given
more assistance to the opposition than
to their own party? Between cam
paigns they have been condemning
the platform of the party and disered-
ting those who Endorsed the platform;
1t is impossible for such papers to
repair during the campaign the dam
age which they do between campaigns.
But for the weekly papers which have
for the most part remained loyal, the
Democratic voters would have had lit
tie opportunity to read Democratic
literature. The Republicans on the
contrary, have all their daily papers,
all their weekly papers and a consid-
cradle portion of the so-called Demo-
cratic dailies continuously explaining
and in whole or in part defending the
course of the administration. The
only wonder is that the rank and file
of the party should have shown itself
as steadfast as it has. If those who
call themselves Democrats will defend
the Democratic platform for the next
three years we can win in 1904; but
it is difficult to win when a numerical
ly small, but financially influential, por-
ton of the party is constantly COM
promising with the Republicans.
Would not the foregoing indicate
that there is something the matter
with the leaders of the Democratic
party? Is it not their duty to so shape
the declarations of the party as to Sc
cure party unity? The Democratic
party has won victories and it has
been united when it won them. There
was then enthusiasm from the head
of the party to the humblest voter.
Is it not possible to bring about
harmony and enthusiasm again?
There is reason to think il is. But to
wise and strong leadership. There
must be strict adherence to what are
recognized as Democratic doctrines. If
for the sake of getting the assistance
Of another party the principles of that
other party are substituted for those
of the Democratic party there is bound
to be dissatisfaction-a lack of har-
mony.
1t is a safe assertion that if 1t had
not been for the purpose of capturing
the PoDulist vote for the Democratic
ticket the last Democratic National
Convention would not have put the 16
to 1 declaration in the platform. AS
it was. it was only Mr.. Bryan's per-
sonal influence that secured the inser-
tion of the declaration in the platform.
The judgment of some of the ablest
men in the party. if not of a majority
of its leaders, was that il the party
made that declaration it would be so
win the election.
But nobody doubted Mr.. Bryan's
sincerity. and nobody doubts it now
when he insists upon adherence to that
declaration in the next national cam
paign. But there is doubt about the
wisdom of his leadership. The is to
l declaration eXcites no enthusiasm
now. In most parts of the country
the Democratic voters care very little
about it. However much they may
have thought at one time that the well
fare of the country demanded the UNI
limited free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 16 to 1 they Go not think so
sist upon giving prominence to the
silver question?
Mr.. Bryan says that the Republican
party is united--that it's leaders and
newspapers stand together. But is not
that condition of affairs largely due
to leadership? When Mr.. Mckinley
said it was "our plain duty" to give
free trade to Porto Rico, there was
bolt among the Republican leaders.
But there was no permanent breach.
MIR. Mckinley yielded, and submitted
quietly to a great deal of criticism.
But his policy finally prevailed. Porto
Rico has free trade. and, that too,
without break in the ranks of the
Republican party. If Mr.. Bryan and
those acting with him insist that their
leadership shall be approved, although
ii has proven to he disastrous in two
campaigns. it will be impossible to
harmonic the party. One of the quail
tiles of successful party leadership is,
the ability TO see what the party wants
what declarations will command its
united support.
The Raleigh News and Observer calls