The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-04-29
WHY REORGAN|ZE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
If We Were Right Before, We
Are Right Now.
NO CHANGE IN ION
Can We Succeed by Turning Our Backs
Upon the Country'sW Wants.
SILVER ISSUE WIGHT Be SUSPENDED
Danger We Should Now Most Guard Against is
Swinging Too Far From Oar Former
Position. Can We Win by
Trimming Platform?

Trimming Platform?
To the Editor: Why all this clamor
about the reorganization of the Demo-
cratic party? And from what source
does it come? Is it not because the
short-sighted selfshness of a few, who
once affiliated with the Democratic
party, were led by the spirit of CONNER
cialism and mammon worship, to desert
the party of the people, of liberty, Of
even handed justice and Of high spirited
American manhood, in 1896 and 1900?
Being charmed and dazzled by the
tinseled banners of Imperialism. and the
gilded ewgaw of wealth. extended trade
and commerce and the dream of being a
great world power, they grew tired of
their devotion to honest truth and plain
justice, and sought congenial fellowship
in the Republican party, or joined its
secret service organization, by allying
themselves with the 1876, 900 who voted for
Palmer and Buckner.
Does not all his agonizing cry Of re-
OISdulZcllOu, anu d1lAlOuS SOlICltuoC "
Democratic success in the future. come
from those 1870, 600 who voted for Palmer
and Buckner and helped defeat the party,
for whose triumph they now yearn, With
grOaningS that are unutterable.
How would the reorganizers have us
succeed? l will tell you. BY deserving
the principles of the party; by turning
our backs upon the wants of the country;
and stopping our ears to the cry of the
people for relief. Can we hope to win
by trimming our platform until there is
not left in it even a shadow Of the noble
principles for which we have cOntended
for the last decade? Can We win by Of
Tending and alternating the 5000, 600 who
stood firm for the party, the platform
and its principles and voted for Mr..
Bryan, and whose loyalty cleaned With
increased b%rilliancy even in the gloom
of defeat. in 1896 and 1900. in order to
please and win back the 130, 600 stray
glers, whose allegiance to party was SO
weak as to desert the cause OF the peo-
pie in the time of its sorest need, and
whose respect for party majority rule
has grown weaker and weaker ever since
by their feeble arguments and vain eff
forts to justify their party perfidy and
betrayal. Can we ever succeed by
changing our position upon the great is
sues between the two political parties in
this country without a change of condi-
tions? [ see no change in the conditions
in this country that would justify a
change of position on any of the great
principles for which the Democrats have
contended, except the financial question.
And in my opinion this is only a tempo
rary change, caused by the war disturb-
q ,an Of homo ny ahrnnI nn1 thn fai1upn
Of crops, and by no means effected by
the policy of the Republican party, ex-
cept in so far as by these circum-
stances it has been forced, to a limited
extent, to adopt and carry out the Demo-
cratic idea of finance, to-Wit: To in
crease the volume of the currency and
distribute it among the people. And this
it has been compelled to do by the pay
ment Of government contracts and the
vastly increased number Of government
employees.
Whatever the cause may be, we do see
farm products, and the creations of Ia
Dor, IN almost every department Of bust
ness, bringing better prices, at least for
the present. So l think this would justify
us in suspending for the present the agi-
tation Of the silver question and change
of the financial system-not an utter
abandonment of the principle, but a
mere suspension of agitation, such as We
have adhered to in regard to the tariff
for the last two national campaigns.
Only this and nothing more" We al
never inspire the people with confidence
in the tenets of Democracy by clinging
to the enemy, nor by abandoning the
position We have taken on the great
questions of government.
If we were right four and eight years
ago we are right still. If the Republic
cans were wrong then they are wrong
still. If they We're right then, we We're
wrong, and we are wrong still. Can We
stimulate zeal in our own hearts and
gain recruits by adopting their views?
Will we not lead our forces over into
their ranks? Is not this where all who
think We were wrong and they We're
right will go? l believe we were right
then, and l believe we are right now;
Notwithstanding a majority voted against
us-majorities are not always right.
The danger We should now most guard
against is swinging too far from our
former position.
1t has been said that the face of man
IS easily turned from the grave of the
dead to the home of the living. It is
equally true that the adulation and
praise of man is easily turned from the
defeated champion and patriot to the
victorious traitor and trickster.
we have evidence of this in the abuse
ana calumny attempted to be heaped