Evening journal., 1901-07-06
pEMoCRACY,s FUTURE

! OGMOOhhO 4 y 4 u M
Never In the history Of the Demo
cratic party has there been so much
discord in the ranks of the organization
as at present; in fact It can scarcely
be called an organization, but rather
the party Of disintegration. During the
last two campaigns, while there have
been desertions by many Of the ablesl
leaders. the DETECTION did not extend to
the rank and file, since the average
voter is apt TO be swayed by loyalty
TO The panty name, no matter what its
principles may happen to be.
That was a new element which cap
mred the organization, wrote the plat
fom and nominated the candidates in
1896. The old doctrines aud the old
leaders were repudiatcd But the
masses followed the new banner, leay-
ing the old apparently without a
qualm, since the new bore tho name
Of Democracy.
Ia 1900 there was even greater dis
content; many did not know what ID
the pale OF the party gave n reluctant
support TO principles they abhOrred;
others frankly voted the Republican
ticket The new Democracy. which was
poIu'sm under a thin disguise. went
to overwhelming defeat and Mr.. Bryan
saw his cherished ideas overwhelmed
and himself buried under an avalanche
of adverse votes,
This is history; what of the fumrc2I
An earnest offcrt Is being made to re-
habilitate the party. but as yet there
Is no leader strong enough to command
respectable following, or to inspire
courage for future contests. Mr.. Bryan
evidently regards himself as the chief
party oracle, and since he dictated the
platform Of the last campaign, requlresI
that that task should again be en-I
trusted TO him. But his authority is dis
putod, for n prophet who has so sig
nally failed cannot inspire confidence.
IL will be difficult to frame plat
form unless 1t is made up of opposl-
ton principles, and a platform OF mega
ton does not create cn,husasm states
rights died n lingering death, but the
obsequies have taken place at last. The
tann straw was threshed out O. the last
particle several years ago, and since the
Republican party has taken stand
for reciprocity and the country has
been so prosperous, It is not likely TO he
revived as an issue. In fact, what IS
called the cid Democracy is only a
myth. since its principles have dc
parted long ago, leaving only senti-
ment.
II is possible, but hardly probable
that the vagaries which constituted the
platform Of 1890 may be made to do
service again. Mr.. Bryan still shouts
imperialism! at every convenient op-
portunity, but the American people as
whole are not in accord with his
sentiments denunciatory Of our own
people They believe the people Of this
country are honest and intelligent and
that they will conduct our relations
u MNttl NNA INV lNaoN1elUAa III hAAAlA-
ance with the most humane ideas
They take no stock in this talk OF an
empire founded by a president wi,h
only three more years to serve
What then is TO be the Democracy
OF the future? Either reorganization
WITH the wild men eliminated or dilso
luton. The welfare Of our country de
trends upon the continuance nf tw,
great parties, each Of which shall act al
a check upon the other There is NJ
organization which, unopposed, can re
tain the full measure OF virtue. BE
sides we want something to fight,
foeman worthy Of our steel, and there
fore, all citizens are interested in IN
future Of Democracy.