Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-08
Senator Lindsay Discusses Democratic
Prospects.
RETURN r0JEFFERSONIAN NPRINCIPLES
Issues Upon Which Members Of
the Party Can Agree.
MUST SHOW ITSELF WORTHY

Senator Lindsay of kentucky is one Of
the democrats who refused to follow along
with the Bryan combination, and conse-
uuent1y will be retired from the Senate on
the 4th of March by the democrats of Ken
lucky, Blackburn having been chosen his
successor. Speaking of the situation of the
democratic party with reference to its pros
poets, Mr. Lindsay says:
'.Of course democrats, without respect to
differences of opinion concerning the issues
that have been prominent during the past
five years, would be glad to see such an
alignment as would bring all democrats to
the support of party nominees The reor-
ganiZation of the party, il reorganization
be necessary, must come from Within and
not through those who are. and have been
outside the breastWorks. :,
Must Drop Populism.
1.-The organization must rid itself of pop
ulistic leadership, reassert the fundamental
principles of democracy and tolerate liberty
of private judgment on current questions of
mere administration. The propriety OF Coin
ing legal tender money out of silver. and
the ratio at which it should be coined. ar"
not party questions and should never have
been made a test of party loyalty. 1T vas
so made for the first time in 1916. Many
who had been active democrats for more
than a generation were virtually excluded
from cooperation with the organization Dy
tests they could not accept, and many Were
driven into active opposition by the real
tionary spirit manifested by THE new lead
ers.
II am not in a position to offer advice or
make suggestions. with the hope of having
my advice accepted or my suggestions
adopted, therefore l propose to await the
action of those who are charged with the
rehabilitation of the party. and who see
as well as what is necessary to be done
If we are to hope for success in the near
future Whenever those In authority con-
clude to make Jeffersonian democracy the
test of party fealty, and in good faith to
lead an army of democrats, instead of a
coalition of discordant elements, the work
of organization will have been accomplish
ed, and the democracy, whether successful
In securing control of the general govern
ment or not. will again become a national
force in shaping public opinion.and direct
ing national affairs. -
Last Years Issue Settled.
THE paramount issue of last year, SO
far as it had a practical bearing. was set
tied at the polls in November last. The
progress Of business affairs. and the rad
ical changes in financial conditions since
1896 have relegated the paramount issue
Of that campaign to the dead past. 1t can
never again be made leading issue in
national contest. Many may continue to
believe that 1t was a mistake to go to the
gold standard, but there will be few If
any, who will be ready to stake an election
on that belief
'In establishing stable government in
the Philippines, the administration is en-
titled to the reasonable support of all
Americans without regard to party. We
can no more afford to abandon those
islands to disorder and permanent anarchy
than we can afford to announce our inten-
ton to keep them in permanent subsection
TO our imperial power, even though they
may develop recognized capacity for
local self-government. The administration
Is entitled to fair play for the next four
years In dealing with this difficult and per-
picking problem. If with fair play the re-
publican party does not succeed In substi-
tuting peaceful methods. for force, and in
setting up local governments in the admin
istration Of which the resident population
or the islands shall largely participate, the
American people can well be asked in 1904
to put the democratic party In power, pro-
Vided, always, that conservatism and mod
Grafton shall so far prevail in democratic
councils that the country can feel that the
old-time party Of the people may be safely
trusted with its business interests.
Issues on Which Democrats Can Agree
There are issues enough on which all
democrats do agree. Continued success is
likely to turn the heads Of the republican
managers. They are already Systematically
declining to keep faith in regard to their
platform pledges to mitigate the extreme
provisions of the Dingley tariff through
reciprocity treaties. They are entering on
the policy of subsidizing favorite industries.
OF reasonable economy tllCy have wholly
lost sight, and extravaganza and profig-
acy Of expenditure are likely to mark the
continuance of republican control.
If democratic managers will give promf-
nence to issues about which there are no
serious difference Of democratic opinion, We
shall not be long delayed in beholding a re-
habilitated party that will first deserve
and ultimately achieve success"