The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-26
AN APPEAL ron HARMONY.


The appeal which Hon. Henry Wat
terson made on Monday night. at the
banquet of the Virginia Democratic
Association. for a union of all the
forces of Democracy in opposition to
! imperialism in all forms. was a strong
and an eloquent one. Mr.. Watterson, in
/ mis- efforts to bring about harmony in
the Democratic party. is doing good
woodwork that is sure TO be produc-
tive of beneficial results. He realizes
that it is impossible for Democrats to
get together as long as it is insisted
that all the issues contained in their
platforms of 1896 and 1900, shall be re-
tanned. and therefore he says, as he
said on Monday night, let us have
done with dissention. Let US turn our
backs on the past, our eyes to the fu-
ture. calling the old fight off and the
old scores square"
1t is evident that if one part of the
Democratic party insists that the figh-
for the free coinage of silver shall be
continued, and the other part holds to
the gold standard, it viii be impossi-
bic for Democrats to get together t5
fight arbitrary power and absolutism,
towards which the government, under
the control of the Republican party, is
tending.
Surely Democrats ought to be will
ing to drop an issue which caused their
defeat in two national campaigns in
succession, and which is not as popu-
lar now as it was during those cam
paigns, for the sake of party harmony,
especially as harmony would likely be
followed by victory.
The indications are that the Repub-
lican party in 1904 will take strong
er position in favor of imperialism
than it did in 1900. 1t is certain that
the Democratic party will be against
Imperialism, as it was in the last ma
tional contest, but as to whether or
not it will make a better fight than
it did then will depend upon its ability
to get rid of issues which prevent it
from putting forth it's full strength.
There is, no doubt, truth in the state
ment of Mr.. Watterson that the Pres
ident is reaching out after more pow
er, and that it would be gratifying to
him to play the part of despot His
treatment of Admiral Schley, his re-
buke of Gen. Miles, his desire to re-
tire the latter for criticising the army
reorganization bill and his anxiety to
have the army bill passed-a bill that
would enable him to put whom he
pleased at the head of the army-all
show his ambition to exercise greater
authority.
And Mr.. Watterson's statement that
the Republican party is a syndicated
party, that arbitrary power is it's mo-
tor and the almighty dollar its trade
mark, is not such an exaggerated one
as it might seem to be at first thought
1t is allied with the trusts for the pnrl
pose of perpetuating its power, de-
pending upon money to accomplish its
object, and, as Mr.. Watterson points
cut, it is preparing to wave again the
black flag of negro domination and the
bloody shirt, thus resurrecting section
al hate, with the hope of gaining a
few votes.
There never was a time when it was
more important that Democrats should
get together than the present The
congressional campaign has already
begun and the presidential campaign in
fast approaching. The issues on which
it can win should be pushed to the
front and those which are the cause of
dissensions should be put aside until
such time as the party can offer them
with a prospect that they will be ac-
cepted.