Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-14
CHEER FOR DEMOCRACY.
Dismal Dismny Hailed as
Cause for COnEratuIatiOn.
Washington Post.

washington POST.
William Vincent Allen, populist, ex-
senator from Nebraska, sees no hope for
the democracy and that is one Of the
reasons why some millions OF democrats
do see hope and are feeling its uplifting
power.
The reason why Mr.. Allen utters his wall.
ing note is the refusal or neglect Of demo-
cratic state conventions, one after another,
a long and cheering list, to reafirm the
platform on which their party has been
able, with the assistance of Allen and his
brethren, to achieve two defeats in presi-
dental elections, to vacate many guber-
Material chairs and to slump from majority
to impotent minority In the senate.
And II is precisely that reason, the
abandonment of that fatal weight and the
alliance with the populists, that cheers
the hearts and inspires the hopes of all
democrats whose faith has not been vitiated
with the virus Of populism.
The sadder Hon. William Vincent Allen
gets and the louder ne laments the more
cheerful will be the countenances Of genu-
Inc democrats.
II is a palpably false theory that an ALI
ance with populists. purchased by conces-
sions to their cheap money doctrine, Is
essential to a chance of victory. The re-
verse OF that is the true statement Of the
situation. Only a small minority Of demo-
Gratis were friendly to 16 to l in 1900. The
delegates representing a large majority Of
democrats voted against it at Kansas City.
Many Of the delegates who voted for It aid
SO to avoid the complete disruption Of their
party that would AVE followed the ~rejec-
tion Of Bryan's ultimatum. It is safe TO
say tina at this time the free coinage con-
tingent Of the democracy is exceedingly
small and II is an equally safe conclusion
that many Of the populists who voted for
Bryan in 1900 would support a conservative
democratic candidate.
The shades OF oblivion hold no issue on
which a party would present more grotesque
appearance than on the issue to which Mr..
Bryan is irrevocably bound, but which Mr..
Allen accepts only as a step, a long one, to-
ward his ideal-the irredeemable paper dol
lar. The democratic party. MOUNTS again
on that old issue, would not know whether
the humor or the contemptibleness OF the
situation was its paramount phase.
Whether to laugh at or curse itself would
be a pressing question. Looking at all Of
its mistakes and their results. and finding
itself again repeating the worst Of its
plumbers and the one for which it has been
most severely punished. it would conclude
that It had survived it's usefulness and
ought to go hence without delay.
It is the fact that the democratic party
is showing that II has had enough OF
Organism that discourages Mr.. Allen and
simultaneously cheers the democracy. The
old party should go into the arena IN 1904,
not as a circus clown, with a repertoire Of
antiquRted Jokes, but with a message TO
the country that will command respect.
inspire confidence. attract young men and
win over to fits support a great many tired
republicans who are waiting for such an
arrival. And. as we have intimated. the
probability that IL will start on that hopeful
course Is aeeentuated by the despair Of Mr..
Bryan's friend and eoadjutor, William
Vincent AlleR-