Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-11-28
Southern Democrats Confer.

10 confer upon matters Of expediency
concerning the party welfare. 1t is
not often that our Southern colleagues
meet, for either advice or protest
They have shown a devotion to the
party Of their choice that is remark
able for steadfast and united support.
This is probably owing to peculiar en-
vironments which leave little choice
but to side with the party that was OPP
posed to the carpet-bag rule inaugu-
rated at the close of the war, and
which has left its imprint on the very
natures of the people. Southern DEM
ocrats have, in the last two decades,
never assumed to dictate, or even adj
wise party policy, as condition OF
fealty. On the contrary, they have
exhibited more than ordinary human
patience in accepting the policy pre-
scribed by their Northern allies and in
naming candidates for them to sup
port at each national contest in all
that time.
But to 60 down to repeated defeat
and to awaken animosities which pre-.
sage further disaster, it seems have
oroused in Southern leaders desire to
take counsel together, and decide upon
some aid in shaping the policy of the
party in future contests.
At the late conference, no Northern
man was present. 1t was simply q
Southern conference, called to consider
the relation of the South towards inn
pending conditions. 1t seemed to be
the concensus of opinion that this for
bearing disposition had not been met
in the spirit it deserved. In other
words, the charge was implied, if not
outspoken, that the Northern leaders
had not accorded to the South any.
thing like its rightful prestige in the
party councils.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, who
could not attend, wrote q letter in
which he very forcibly expressed the
discomfort of his State. He declares
that "the time is most opportuue for
directing the attention of the young
men Of the South to the relation they
hold towards the political destiny OF
the Southern States and to the ma.
tional Democratic party" He claims
attention to this friendly protest, for
the reason, among others, that the
South has supplied the Northern De-
mocracy with the strength for obtain.
ing the Federal Offices on two occa.
sions, and it remains the only hope OF
success for the party at the present
time.
The Senator advises q return to the
fundamental principles. and fails to
define just what they are; but we infer
that he means by the implied depart
ure from the old.time creed, the advo.
cacy of bimetallism in the Chicago
and Kansas City platforms. If this
be 20, it is unnecessary to raise point
OF discord on that question. While
not abating jot OF belief in the wis.
dom and justice of that principle, at
the time it was advocated, nor confess
ing that it would not be for the best
now. conditions and circumstan nee.
have made it possible to relegate that
issue to the rear, At least for the pres
ent. So what Mr.. Morgan assumes to
be ian irrelevant and unnecessary
declaration of q new and false princi.
ple." need not stand in the way Of
harmony, unless the matter be persist.
emily Haunted in the faces of the sev.
eral millions Of people who believed in
something more stable than . one.
legged financial policy. There was
absolutely nothing in tho platform of
1895, aside from the financial plank,
that could be considered a departure
from time.honored principles. The
old-time declaration Of tariff for reve.
nue. and the Monroe doctrine, with
condemnation Of trusts, were about all
that was left OF the creed then adopted.
In 1900, the only additional planks
incorporated were, opposition to the
imperalissic tendency manitested by
the party in power. condemnation OF
abuses in the Philippines aud Of mill.
tarism, censure of government BY in.
junction, and expressions Of favor for
Chinese exclusion, election Of U. s.
Senators BY the people, sympathy for
the Beers, construction Of tho Nicar.
aguan canal, repeal Of war taxes, irri.
CATION OF arid lands, and few other
matters. all OF miuor importance. It
is difficult to see wherein any Of these
avowals conflict with the cardinal
or" fundamental" principles, and they
oil seem necessary for a party which
seeks to keep abreast OF the times.
If it can be shown that any OF these
objects obscure the great creed Of the
Democratic party" - is claimed by
the Senator, by all means we say let
them 60, but We can see no objection
TO verbal expressions Of beliefs held by
every true Democrat.
Another gentleman, Patrick Cal.
houn, vigorously denounced labor
unions, but As they never have been
an issue in national politics. and prob
ably never will be, we cannot see it,
relevance to the subject. Very few
sensible people will, however, disagree
with him in the assertion that when
labor seeks to enforce the socialistic
d0ctrina that mn MAJ sholl l.bo. - .