Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-03
EX-SENATOR ALLEN AND HIS ALLIES.
His LuEUbriOus Forecast of DemOc-
racy Causes Comment in the East.

rRcy Causes Comment in the East.
Brooklyn Eagle dnd. dem.).
The Madison Mail does not take an en-
couraging view of democratic prospects. 1t
declares that the outlook was never more
discouraging, summing up the situation by
saying:
"A strange political blindness seems to
have fallen on many democratic leaders
just at the time when by the exercise Of
ordinary common sense it was possible to
bring about a complete coalition Of all the
elements that oppose republican success
This stimulates curiosity. The impression
sought to be created is that until recently
there was nothing the matter with the eyes
OF the democratic leaders, that they saw
clearly, that they have just become afflicted
with the loss of sight. AS a matter of fact
the party has been in a wilderness for
about seven years. This fact has been duly
and generously advertised. 1t is common
fame. DaLzled by the glitter OF a cross Of
gold 1t broke away becoming a wanderer
on the face Of the earth, since which time
1t has been wearing a crown of thorns.
The cross is not so radiant as II was, but
the thorns are just as sharp as ever. In
point of fact and in spite Of the impression
sought to be created by the Madison Mail,
the services Of an oculist were very much
In order at Chicago, where political oph-
thalmologists we're Unfortunately not con-
suited. So the blindness Is Of long stand
ing. However, there are encouraging symp-
toms. To those who take a subjective
view Of things a wilderness may not be q
wilderness. II may be a fools paradise.
To those who cannot or will not see, a
desert may be all oasis, but time is remov-
ing the bandages, and some day the dem
ocracy will return to its own.
This disposes OF one part of the Mails
proposition, perhaps not to it's satisfaction.
Worse remains behind. According to our
contemporary 1t was possible a little while
ago, by the exercise of ordinary common
sense, to. bring about a complete coalition
OF all the elements opposed to republican
success. Was It? The elements alluded to
are Of almost infinite variety. Though
some OF them have been stalled by custom,
they are in evidence yet. II representa-
tives OF all OF them were locked up in the
same room together for more than a min
ute there would be more than enough trou-
BILE. Not to be paradoxical. the longer they
were kept together the further apart they
would inevitably get. 1t would be a choice
collection. At the bottom Of the list would
be the opponent Of republican success, who
believes everything to be upside down.
Consequently. he would destroy. 1t is a
far cry from the Observation-Disclosures cry
to the other extreme, to the democrat who
does not believe that wealth can be ere
ated by legislation and whose opposition
to republican success has some sort of a
rational basis, and between the two are
many curious specimens. They will agree
on nothing but disagreement.
The Mail is mistaken. By no exercise OF
common sense, ordinary or otherwise, on
the part Of leaders, can complete coalition
come. How, for instance. would II be pos
sible to choke from the the
admission that dinner pals are not empty,
that the army has not been increased for
the purpose Of strangling liberty, that we
haven't all gone wrong or gone all wrong
and that we cannot possibly go right until
its editor and proprietor has taken the
oath of ONCE Of president Of the United
States? The Commoner will never print
any such admission. 1t will go on persist
ing that the money question is not settled
and that the only way to settle II is TO
turn on the minis. Its editor will coalesce
with nothing short of that. There are
others who have had much to say as ia
candidates and platforms and they are az
i~Ereconcilable as Bryan. They shy at COM
mon sense and they will have nothing "a
do with IT or with anybody who regards II
as a political commodity. With all due re-
spect to the Mail, nothing can be more
palpable than that excision rather thar
coalition is in demand. Parties and indi'
viduals are homologous. they resemble al
well as differ. There are times when moth
ing but a knife will save the life OF al
individual. A political surgeon might b.
Of service.