The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-03
WILL THEY GET TOGETHER?

The object of the Manhattan Club, OF
New York, in sending out invitations to
prominent democrats throughout the
country to come on Washington's birth
day, and put their legs under the clubs
mahogany, is stated in the invitations to
be the REVIVAL Of the interest of the peo-
pie in the fundamental doctrines upon
which our democratic government was
founded" The gathering, doubtless, will
prove to be an attempt to find way by
which the antagonistic elements within
the party may be reconciled, and to dis
cuss the subject of a democratic presl-
dental candidate for the campaign of
1904.
There are not only wide differences IN
sae democratic party as to what the
Fundamental doctrines" alluded to really
are but the party is divided on present
questions of national policy, and as to the
acceptance of facts accomplished and in
wrought in national policy. The divi-
sion in the democratic rank was illus
trated at the caucus of the house demo-
Gratis a few weeks ago, where there was
such disagreement that the resolutions
were referred ito a committee to report at
another caucus, to be held on January
10. One element wanted the Kansas City
platform adopted as it stands; anot her
offered a gold standard resolution, and
there was noisy presentation of divergent
views, which threw the house leader, Mr.
Richardson, into despair.
The only apparent agreement OF the
party is on the policy of opposing every
thing proposed by the republicans, re-
CARELESS of it's merits, just because 1t
comes from republican source.
.~~ Just what the minority will do at the
. caucus of January 10 it is impossible to
say It is evident that what the demo-
Gratis are realizing that they need is,
not only a leader, but an issue. They are
wide apart Oh presidential candidate.
Schley, Dewey and Miles are advocated
by some democratic papers, and rejected
by Others, notably the st. Louis Republic,
which predicts that the party will be
'ruined'' by a military or naval presi-
Dental candidate. The names Of Hill,
German, Daniel, Stone, Garter Harrison,
Congressman Richardson, Olney, Perry
Belmont, are prominent in the field and
the public seem unwilling to believe that
Bryan has heroically crushed his little
buzzing bee, and means to retire from
the field, because he says in the last
number of the Commoner: 81 expect to
own and edit the Commoner during the
remainder Of my days" He has notified
each democratic congressman that the
,,,;1 No qroo oF oh -
him until the fifty congress ex-
pires in 1903. He tells them to keep up
the great fight for the principles Of true
democracy" OF course. the idea Bryan
has Of 'true democracy" is very radically
different from the idea on that subject en-
tertained by Cleveland and Olney. The
Commoner emits weekly mass Of "dem-
ocratic principles" which would bring
upon it the curse of Thomas Jefferson, if
he were able to drop in at the Commoner
office and peruse the files in the flesh
Bryan, however, could not by anything
short of a miracle get the presidential
nomination in 1904
Both Hill and German apparently be-
1ieve themselves to be men of DESTINY.
of the two, but he is bitterly antagontzed
In his party. There does not seem now
to be any one of the 'possibilities' who
can command controlling number of the
voters. In congress the democrats are
not even able to unite against the Phil
ippine tariff bill, which they declared
was a good material for an issue. The
last decision of the federal supreme
court practically legitimated the position
OF the government, and removed expan-
sion from the field as debatable issue.
1t is Interesting, in this connection, to
mote the joyousness of the Memphis Com
mercial-Appeal, one Of the most interest
ing and progressive of southern demo-
cratic papers. 1t says:
Altogether, the democrats have every rea.
son to felicitate themselves. No party ever
fought against such overwhelming odds. Nc
such strain was ever put upon the courage anc
fidelity of party men. 1t is true that the
democracy has won victories excepting ir
the case of Kentucky and, perhaps, OF Mary
land; but it is evident that the stout ole
party is alive, that its vigor is returning am
that freed from the false 1eaderships and the
impracticable hereses that have so fatally
Handicapped it during the past eight or ter
I SCdlo, ~ udS DelOIe IL d career OF uSeIulnoSS
and incalculable possibilities The democracy
may we'll take heart.
It is evident that such transcendent op.
timism explains the continued existence
of the "stout old party which, durins
the last forty years, has been whaled sc
emphat ically. Still, it is evident that the
"stout old party has not relieved itself
of the handicapping referred to- When il
does, it will be a much stronger antag.
onist of the republican party than it is
under present conditions. It would be
better for tho republican party if it ha6
modern and progressive opponent.
While every patriotic American will flint
satisfaction in perusing the story Of prog
ress in Porto Rico, recited by Governo
Hunt in his message to the legislature, it
most important feature is the recommen