The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-26
DEMOCRATS NEED
NEW ISSUES



Walter weiiman's Washington Special to
Chicago Record Herald.
!. Fair, not free trade, sound money. no
monopolies and fgirt to finish In the
Philippines" This is the terse platform
has prescribed for his party. Colonel J.
H. Estill Of Savannah, man OF infsu-
ence In Democratic councils. as Ii attest
ed by his service for dozen years as
member of the National COMMITTEES for
his State, has written to a friend here his
ideas Of how the Democratic. party can
the next Presidential election Colonel
Estilps remarks are sure 10 anract the
attention OF the editor OF The commoner
TO the mass Of people. says ne
and fenced in, ana the average politician
is afraid 70 glance at the inscription on
the monument
what our people should insist upon"
money, anti-trusts. anti-monopoly. fair,
not free trade. a reasonable tariff and
fight to the finish in the Philippines.
LET US take Bryan at his word" says
Colonel Estiil. for may be he recognizes
put up the bars against his ambition to
become President of the United States.
In so far a. the rank and file Of the
party are concerned, they are convinced
that 1t is useless trying to revive a,. q
into such belief Il Ii the politicians and
not the people. We Of the South want
no more Of Bryanism, but we do want to
see our lands titled, mineral deposits de.
trade such as they deserve to be. These
desirable results cannot be accomplished
by rakips UP the ashes of the past, but
we must enact new era such a. the eA-
igepcies Of the situation demand"
According to this wholly competent wit
ness and Democrat Of Democrats.
change is creeping over the spirit of the
Southern people. THE prejudices and
isms OF the past are being sent to the
.s. sy the bs sas en DB.moerae
masses are independent. and therefore
muck more diff1cuit to discipline and Lead
than the Republican masses. But they
have been thinking serioustysof late ana
leaning toward the best money and best
government on earth. Progressive Dem
ocrats favor prosecuting the war In the
philippines until every armed foe expires
and there can be no middle ground taken
on such proposition as NOV eo %rested
from Spain at the cost OF many lives ana
expenditure OF 30 much money.
I'VE are In the Philippines to stay, ana
II makes the blood Of an oid soldier boil
TO hear any other idea advanced. 1t
would BE sounding a retreat In the face
OF the enemy, and that no brave man
would even consider under such eircum-
stances. no matter how desperate may De
the outlook what say on this subject
/ have learned from personal contact
with the people, and have not trusted to
hearsay evidence In framing my opinion.
All over the south today the spirit, of
progress 10 paramount"
Colonel Esttli thinks the Democratic
party should raise the battle cry Fair
trade. The danger to Democracy. IN
his opinion, in that the Republicans will
convince the masses the Democratic party
stands for free trade, and free trace Is
something which the party does not want
Fair trade 1t Is favorable to, ana the lead.
srs of the party should rise and insist
on the distinction, he says.
An We need now remarks Coroner
Estiil. is aleader who has the courage
of his convictions, I believe the right
man Is In our ranks and only awaiting
an opportunity to take up the standard OF
q united party and wage an aggressive
warfare against the party now In power;
OF course IL every man who is supposed
TO be eligible Is to be attacked by Mr.
Bryan as soon as his name is mentioned,
the situation seems hopeless. In order
to succeed we will not only have to poll
the full strength of the Democratic party.
but we will have to gain recruits from
the independent and conservative forces
who are prepared to give their support 20
the man who will come out boldly ana
take the position on q fair trade, sound
money, antitrust platform. There are
such men in our party, and they owe II
to themselves and to the country to
make personal sacrifices if necessary in
the Interest Of good government.
ARhere are many Democrats who believe
their party Is going to come into power
again In 1905. They are hopeful despite
the ominous attitude of Mr.. Bryan, and
notwithstanding the terse statement. of
Mr., whitney that the Democracy has
no leader and no issue" The issue is rap
idly making itself. President Roosevelt
having Joined the other Republican lead
ers who are determined there shall be
no tariff revision at this time, 1t Is GER
tain that the Republican party will be
compelled to 60 into the next presidential
campaign with the Dingiey law fol.
platform. No matter what may be the
result of this falls Congressional cleo
ton, there are plenty of Democrats in
Washington who believe that the leader
viii be found to 1T the issue. and that
the party will he able to wage valiant
battle in 1904. Colonel Estills epigram-
matte platform may be of great use in
that campaign.