The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-12-11
A DIVIDED HOUSE
and Bryan Democrats Never
VIII Work ia Harmony-0na Must
Control and the Other Get Out

Editor Independent: The late elec-
ton demonstrates-what some or us
have believed ever since. 1896, and
what everybody ought to ave known
that the two elements OF the iemo-
cratic party will not be harmo li1ed
so that they will ever operate togeth
er. 1t is house divided against =.
self, and il the nature of things can
not stani. If the Hill-Cleveland-Go'- =
man-Olney Mclean -Watterson-tfa-
tional Bank element have at any tim3
really expected that they could induce
the element represented by Mr. Il yam
to give up their belief in the declara-
tions in the Chicago and Kansas Guy
platforms, the expectation was ridl,-
ulously absurd. That expectation WIS
not, however, whit more ridiculous
or more absurd than was the expectt-
ton of Mr.. Bryan's democratic friends
that the men, VINO pretended to hr
democrats in 1896, but caused his De
feat, would be true to him in 1900.
One of two things must occur and
will occ r. Either Mr.. Bryan's demI-
cratic friends must take possession o.
the party organization to the absolute
and complete exclusion of the othe!
element, or they must abandon the Or
ganization and the party name to the
Cleveland crowd, and get away fro Il
them entirely. If the first is to occHH,
then it Is not only question of cO1'
troll of the party organization, but
how best and most effectually to driy.
out and keep out every one of thu
traitors Of 1896 and 1900. There Ough'
to be no room, and must be none, in
the counsels of the party TO-. any ma,
who, in 1896 or 1900, pretended to b.
a democrat, and yet openly or secre ~
supported the republican ticket by q
direct vote, or supported it indirectly
by voting for Palmer and Buckner.
can respect the man, however mucl,
may disagree with him, who aban-
dons his party because it's declaration ];
OF principles and purposes are not in
accord with his convictions; but the
man who remains with his party un 1e'
such circumstances and demands rec
Ognition as member of it, is entitllc
to no respect from anybody. The nal
who in the last two national cam
paigns claimed to be a democrat acd
the same time assisted in it's defeat.
directly OF indirectly, was traitor not
only to his party, but to the rig t.
Such nan is wanting in the fund6
mental instincts Of common honesty.
During the campaign of 1896 the !
were in a certain precinct ir the Sc ::
ond ward of this city 0ndianapo'iel
nineteen men who made tnemsel yr;
very conspicuous by their pretende
earnestntss in advocating the PalE.rr
and Buclner ticket. They were we'll
known, so-called national democrats
who were exceedingly anxious abb II
the honor of the party and the pre-
servatiOn of democratic principles. h &.
cry one OF them voted in the precil,
TO which | refer. There was but one
Palmer and Buckner vote in the box
Before this fact was known, mem
Der Of the election board interviewed
each one of the nineteen separately
and every one claimed to have vo Il
the Palmer and Buckner ticket. Som !
OF them expressed a willingness to
swear to it. Whether any one of the
nineteen cast the one vote that Wa !;
in that box Is very doubtful. Without
question eighteen Of these men voted
the republican ticket | know every
one OF these men. In 1900 and again
this year, they were conspicuous as
democrats, processing a self-sacrific-
ing loyalty to party, Notwithstanding
the great mistake (?) the party made
at Chicago and at Kansas City. In
1900 1t was blunder to put any re-
lance in the professions and prom
ises of such men. 1t was worse than
blunder to take them into the coun-
sells of he party, and give them con-
spicuous places (as was done) in the
party organizations, and in the man
agement of the campaign. By confess
sion thev were untrue to themselves
in supporting declarations of principles
that the| did not believe to be right.
By confession they were traitors to
their own convictions, with 20 excuse
but pretended loyalty to the party
name. What nonsense it was
to expect men. who confessed disIov-
atty to their own ideas of tight to be
loyal to name. The nineteen men to
whom have referred, and many 9th