Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-09-10
Harmony, How It Was Brought About
and the Price That Was Paid.

AoSOaSAAosAOA WAsA Iuo MolJ VIII bluCc
1896 have been estranged from the par
ty on account of their alleged opposi-
ton to the 16 to feature, of the Chi
cago and Kansas City platforms. 1t was
contended, that without the assistance
of these men, the defeat of every demo-
cratic, congressional candidate in the
state was foregone conclusion; with
their assistance, it was possible for
Iowa democrats to have representation
in the next congress Confronted by
such conditions, the re--.fation of party
friendships seemed like a political duty.
To bring about the much desired re-
suit, @. A. Walsh, secretary of the
democratic national committee, and
several other promine members of
the regular democratic organization,
offered to support a conditional, reaffir-
nation plank worded as follows:
The democracy of>Iowa in conven-
tiOn assembled endorse and reef1irm the
principles Of the last national platform,
with the further declaration that inter
venfng events have 80 changed condi-
lions that the silver question is not
now an issue.
This compromise declaration, while
not satisfactory to the extremists on
either side, voiced we believe the de-
sires of majority of the delegates.
The situation, however, called for some,
thing that would do more than salts
~ the desires of bare majority. What
was wanted was statement sufficient
ly comprehensive and general to make
1t satisfactory to all. Horace Boies it
was thought solved the problem, and
demonstrated anew his ability for party
leadership, when he presented the fol-
lowing:
We, chosen representatives of the
democratic party In Iowa, in delegate
convention assembled, hereby resfiirm
the fundamental principles of democ-
racy, as proclaimed by the fathers of
the republic at its birth; promulgated
In long line of national platforms of
our party, and interpreted by its great
leaders from the foundation of our
government to the present time.
There was certainly room enough on
this plank for all democrats, and it had,
we think, the cordial approval of every
delegate from the third district. At
any event, Mr.. Boies was unanimously,
and enthusiastically elected the third
district member of the committee on
resolutions. And later, when it was
known that he had been made chair
man of the committee, the hope was
generally expressed that the long de-
sired harmony was near at hand. The
hours, however, dragged along without
any report from the committee, and
then came the disappointing informa
ton that an agreement upon the Boies
plsnk'was impossible.
While the disagreement between the
members of the platform committee
was not all upon one side, the refusal of
some to accept either of the compro-
misses offered, made 1t quite clear that
their objections to Mr.. Bryan, and the
two last national platforms of the par
ty, extended far beyond anything
connected with the silver question.
The men, whose sympathies were on
the side of the monopolistic tendencies
Of the times, wanted nothing to do with
any part of the Chicago or Kansas City
Platforms, because they considered
every part of those platforms unfriend-
~ to monopoly. In this they were un-
questionably correct, for taken as a
whole the Chicago Platform was force
full protest against monopoly. A pro.
test which will be given place in the
worlds history of protests which have
fixed their grasp upon humanity. 1t
was protest which induced more than
six millions of men, to not alone refuse
to acknowledge allegiance to the EN-
pire of wealth, but to resolve that they
wouldoso curb and regulate the NAM
moth as to prevent it from trespass.
ing upon the rights Of mankind Such
protests stand like guideposts all along
the history of the race, and they never
point backward.
Every great advance in the worlds
progress has been heralded by remark
able protest of some kind. The tragedy
of Prometheus, centuries before the
Christian era, was protest which
helped the heather mind to something
better than anything contained in the
mythology of which it was a part. Jobs
protest did much to prepare the way
for the Saviour and New Testament.
And here in this country, who can es
innate the effect of one woman's pro.
ut upon most notable portion of our
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