Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-05-25

made no reference TO the money question
would avoid mourning the hostility d
Mr. Cleveland and his followers?
Do You think that democratic plat.
form that failed to make explicit refer
enCe to the money question could com
mAnd the respect either + bimetalists OIL
OF single gold standard advocates?
In order to avoid mourning the hostility
OF Mr.. Cleveland and his followers, would
it not be necessary for the democratic
platform to explicitly indorse the single
gold standard, to confess to the world
that in the campaigns of 1896 and Of 1870
The democratic party was utterly wrong
on that question in spite OF the fact that
its position has been completely justified.
at least to the satisfaction OF men who
have become bimet,.ists after careful
study and investigation?
But having disposed Of the money qnes-
ton, either by complete silence o: by an
unequivocal Endorsement Of the single
gold standard, do you think it would lie
possible to retain for the platform OF
1904 other important features OF the plat
forms OF 1896 and Of 1900?
Shall the democrats abandon their posi-
ton on the Philippine question wherein
they promised not to make the Filipinos
either citizens or subjects and favored
declaration Of the nations purpose to
give 10 these people first, stable form
of government; second, independence /;
and third, protection from outside inter-
ference? -
What change would you make in the
democratic platform with respect to
trusts?
What alteration would you make in the
rency?
Would you declare in favor OF the in.
come tax?
What would you say in regard to prop.
ositions involved in measures like the
asset currency bill and the Aldrich bill?
Would you strike from the platform
the protest against government by in
junction, the condemnation of the black.
list, the declaration in favor of the cleo.
ton OF senators by the people, and the
proviso relating to the initiative and
referendum?
What would you advise as to the gen.
eral tone OF the platform? Should it be
framed SO that TO one man it might be
interpreted in one way while to another
nan its Interpretation would be quite
different, little device with which demo-
Gratis became quite familiar III 1892?
think democrats will very generally
agree with you that the presidential NOM
inee should have behind him "a united
and not divided army" But even a
united army must have something TO
fight for, and the soldiers must know
what they are fighting for; otherwise it
would very soon become dis ded army,
lis victories would be few and far be-
! tween, and those victories would be Of
! no Importance to the people.
When men like the editor of the Time S
call for harmony, democrats must recog-
nize the sincerity of the demand; ard
yet you will concede that harmony worth
establishing and harmony worth having
will be harmony that will endure until
the close OF the polls. 1t must be appar.
ent to every one that no genuine progre' s
has been made in the so.called effort at
harmonizing the democratic party. No
l.progress can be made on that line so long
| as the efforts relate solely to the identity
Of the candidate and ignore utterly the
character OF the platform.
| DELEGATES SHOULD KNOW FIRST.
| To be sure, the platform is to be written
by the resolutions committee, and yet
when genuine harmony on platform and
on candidate is so desirable, Ii is import
ant that democrats who choose delegates
to the national convention be informed
as to the character OF the platform that
is to be prepared in their name, by those
who say that they are willing to make
concessions in order that "a united and
not divided army" may do duty behind
the democratic nominee for the presi.
dency.
The question, then, is how many OF
their principles must democrats surren-
der, permanently or temporarily, in order
to avoid mourning the hostility OF men
who during two presidential campaigns
deserted the party with which they
claimed allegiance and gave open and
boastful aid to the enemy?
Perhaps no better illustration OF the
difficulties to be encountered when demo-
Gratis undertake to avoid mourning the
hostility Of Mr.. Cleveland and his fol-
lowers could be found than the we'll re-.
membered second administration. Mr..
Cleveland and his followers have never