The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-13
THE DEMOC RATJC PARTY.
Two SOutherncrs Describe Its State and
Point TO the Causes OF Its Failure.

III oNerlng q feWAsuggpstious on the sub
jet for dlscussion-to wit. The Future OF
the Democratic party"-I shall not consciously
speak A. partisan No citizen should habit
ually sn"er AT party. or course, no can be-
a party all by himself. and queer party"
he would be | do not mean to advocate u
mere blind party obedience. but | do mean
to Impress the absolute necessity of party
organization and mutual surrender in order
to accomplish results.
Indivdualism is grand thing. but. too
exclusively cultivated it ef'iorescas az the
top and goes to seed The Democratic party
In sol 'nu forecast Of its futusr needs 70 give
this consideration. and Will doubtless do so.
|, has too many leaders going 10 seed II
has not only a reason for being. but 1t has
many reasons. LIS work Is by no means
finished and it, destiny accomplished
As to party leaders. one is expected now
20 mention Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Bryan
There are elements Of greatness in both, Ger.
tainly. Both are acknowledged to be men
Of honest conviction a we'll as great ability,
and Il speak respectfully. not OF 'nsIvely'
both are confessedy men OF intense self
appreciation. They mean no N nee by IL.
but II is part of the grain of the men. Mr..
Cleveland. in his leadership. rode his party
to the devil: Mr.. Bryan. in his. into the deep
sea. In the supreme srlf-appreciaton of the
former the total OF Democracy's potentials
seemed to have reached Anal evolution
aud apothcosis in himself; and as 20 the other.
after four years Of accorded leadership, he
was overcome Il think in unconscious hon
estyl by the fancy that he carried the destiny
Of the party in his hat do not attack the
integrity of purpose or dotract from the
Al present the Democrats seem not To
realiz" that mere necations are not living
policies. criticism constructs nothing. i'll
humor is never moral teacher and does
not even reach 10 satire; and rhetorical word
@y nS' 6 nf of r RSre Sns s Of
certain respect for dignities, ] dislike 20 say
Il myself. but If some one else should say
that the obstinate sticking in the bark of
things by many leading Democrats when
they discuss the existing situation "a 20 new
territory is close akin to absolute stupidity.
b oldest hypocrisy 10 make the professions
We are making as 10 oar conduct ond inten-
and the Philippines. but also as TO Cuba
(which is our dependency at last. notwith-
have dressed herr, say. 10 make these pro-
LESSONS and then act az We are doing in our
business relations with them So also, on
quont word play INDUCED in by the Demo
Gratis when they stick in the bark of Wash
inrton's Farewell Address and the Declara-
ton OF Independence and the Bill OF Rights
Is most amazingly absurd He that sticketh
In the bark NOT only never reaches the sap.
his back. ALBERT T. McNEAL.
In the first place We will consider the So
called Bryan Democrat" who believes IN
free silver" lie would, If his party were sue
ces-ful in getting into power change the
basis Of the currency. plainly, II the opposi-
ton at this time is in difficult position
merely because il represent, change. and
commercalsm abhorS change. then an OPP
position that demands such a change is in q
hopeless position
Next consider what Is called the "Cleve-
land Democrat He would not tamper with
the currency but he would revise the tariff:
and that from the point of view We are now
considering, would upset the conditions OF
trade second only to change of currency,
and such an opposition would be as bitterly
fought ! am not discussing the good or the
evil efIects in the end OF either of these ours-
tons; | merely wish to point out that the
policy Of Understanding which is so potential
a factor in the national life at the present
time must for the present demand as the
price Of success the stability at home Of con.
ditons that vitality affect trade II my analy-
sis is 20 far correct then two things are @ ,tah-
lishcd First, that ~ present, whom our eyes
are turned not on internal cord tons but
principally to foreign l7nd-, when the para
mount idea of the nation Is the winning of
markets economic conditions must be stable
at home. and any opposition, since OPPOSE
zion spells change, IL at a Disadvantage
secondly. that when the opposition stands
primarily for changes that vitality affect
the turin, 1t g. at still greater disadvantage
The conclusion seems to follow that, unle-.
the paramount quest ion should change or
the dcuqud- of the opposition should change
such oppo ,ition has no future except as an
opposition TO keen the dominant party from
becoming too radical
But there l. another issue. one on which
Mr.. Brynn and MIR Cleveland gree. and which
therefore need not be distinguished by n.y.
phcn1tton with the mn ines OF cit her OF those
gentlemen, but may hc taken TO embodv
Democratic doctrine pure and simple I
mean ant-inp"ripli-m. rnd this too must he
con id"rcd from the point Of view of 90 nlirei-
ctalism. Bif' Ia win foreign markets, one OF
the most approved methods ia to annex the
foreign market and max" II domestic II n
Nus 80 arc winning trade in Porto Rico rs
the Philippines. and may IN the ncar future In
N IN" way OF commercial progress ns seen
ron tn" mol k"i-e"ttlug rolnt OF view and
hence l. trshlv damned ~
lie would b. a bold prophet Who would
prcdl't ~ future. ana u Consiiera Ion Of
me Hrowinc power and orgguiZttion of labor
~" enormous growth Of manufactures in
IN" south. the rapid changing OF economjc
conditions, POSSIBLE Revision from a coioni,l
policy, nNord pos-i1ilitic- from wi ich tho
rrtN' di.organi1od uS II ia, might snatch a
victory. hui that such victory should n.
NOR" man temporary one will rrouiro
az "lIliNdtiou OF tGo forces mn King for IA ilur,
'"''dN SCI Ior'h WILLIAM T. MIkHIL