The Washington times., 1901-08-23

inant. and II is of the most militant
character. The average Iowa Repub-
lican is ironclad and rock-ribbed in his
political views. and to very great ex-
tent they are the views of a past his
toric era. Iowa Eepublicanism is still
fighting the battles of the civil war. and
aiming valiant blows at the ghost OF
the Southern Confederacy. The State Is
essentially agricultural. and It's inter
ests are Numerically opposed to the
economic and commercial policy of the
Republican party. But the Iowa Re-
publican cares nothing about that. he
would rather be robbed every day of his
life by the operation of some Repub-
lican law than to have the legislation
of the country affirmatively touched by
the Decorating hand of one VINO par
tic;pated in the civil war on the Con-
federate side. and still holds in kindly
memory the cause in which he staked
his all. and for the time being lost it.
To all intents and purposes Iowa Re-
publicanism stands today on natonai
issues lust where il stood twenty years
ago. except that it has abandoned the
advocacy of bimetallism. and is now
singing the song of gold. Ideas travel
slowly among Iowa Republicans. ana
whatever ideas they may possess on
questions Of national policy are alto
ryether subordinate to their haunting
fear of the spirit of Jefferson Davis. 1t
is not strange, therefore, that Iowa
Democrats should also change their
IDEAS in sIow-g going fashion, although
being in the minority and seeking to be-
come a majority, it is but natural that
they should be more progressive than
their Republican neighbors.
These reflections have been suggested
by the circumstance that the Iowa
Democracy. in convention assembled
has lust reafIirmed the Kansas City
platform. There was nothing wrong IN
such action The reaffirmance was in
general terms and was quite in keeping
with party presidents. There was no
specifc reiteration of the demand for
the free coinage of silver. which was
the bone of contention between the eX-
tremists and the conservatives at Kan
sas City. TIE most pronounced GOLD
men who attended the last Natlonal
Convention of the Democracy were
willing to accept general declaration
in favor of the Chicago platform. WITH
out any direct reference to the silver
issue. So the Iowa Democrats nave
done lust what the Gold Democrats at
Kansas City were willing to do Hence
the action is not To be taken to indl-
cate a purpose once more to force the
Il, n
IT suggest that the Iowa Democracy
intends again to champion the candl-
dacy of Mr. Bryan. The endorsement
in general terms. of last years plat
form does not mean an endorsement for
denomination Of last years candidates
AT the same time this action is not
entirely without significance. When
ever a Democratic convention has ig-
nored all national issues. and confined
itself to state affairs, both the Repub-
lican press and that portion of the
Democratic which rejected the free sill
yer idea have at once assumed that
the action was a slap at Mr.. Bryan. ana
they have never tired OF proclalming
their exultation over it. Wteh the
Iowa Democrats reaffirm the Kansas
CITY platform, il may just as fairly be
argued that they have especially under
taken the work of championing Mr..
BRYAN. But neither view is sound.
There is nothing in the political sit
uation to make it necessary either to
repudiate or champion the former Dem
ocratic candidate Twice he was hon
ored by his party with the Presidential
t,.a hon ton
although upon each occasion he re-
ceived many more votes than any other
Democratic candidate had ever re-
eeived. But he was defeated-no mat
ter now, how or by whom. 1t was clear
at the close of the last campaign that
the silver question was dead, as po-
ntical issue. and Mr.. Bryan himself de-
clared that he was not candidate for
denomination in 1904. This disposed of
both the candidate and the specific is
sue. Clearly. then, there is no point in
constantly striking at Mr.. Bryan per-
sonally. or kicking at an issue that is
now a thing of the past.
1t was not necessary for Democratic
convention to say anything at all con-
corning past issues. upon which they
had been to some extent divided. In
SINE States where local questions
doomed up big with Importance, IL was
wise TO avoid national questions en-
tireIy. 1t might have been well for the
Iowa Democrats TO do the same. Per
haps they would, had it not been for
the feeling that it would be construed
in certain quarters as a kick at Bryan
and the principles for which he stood.
However that may be, IL is certain that
there are many Democrats who are
nor admit that they were wrong in 1895
and 1900. There are far more of these
than there are of those Democrats who
directly or indirectly aided in the cleo
ton of Mr. Mckinley. There are, in
fact, millions OF Democrats who are not
willing to admit that the sixteen to one
proposition was wrong in either of the
last two campaigns. but who are willing
to coEcede that changed conditions
have killed 1t as political issue. 1t is
not well or wise for Gold Democrats to
hit these millions too hard, for it may
lead many OF them to resent 1t In a way
that will jeopardiz. Democratic success
in 1901
The Gold Democrats set a very per-
with conditions toe severely reversed
In 1904 there may be all too many Silver
Democrats ready to follow the example