The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-11
DEMOCRATIC HARMONY.

DEMOCRATIC HARMONY.
The line of cleavage in the Democratic
party between the followers Of Bryan and
Organism and those opposed is becoming
more pronounced every day. For year or
so after the last presidential election there
was distinct subsistence of Organism, and
even he maintained a discreet silence. He
is talking now. During the period of the
subsistence Of Organism the Gold Democrats
took heart and became active. For awhile
II looked as IL they were going to have
things their own way and succeed in reor-
ganizing the party on the old lines and
with a fair degree of harmony. But the
situation has undergone a great change
When the time had expired during which
Mr.. Bryan thought it polite to keep still,
and especially when he saw that the Gold
Democrats were making some progress in
recognizing the party he began to talk
and make mischief. The embers of Bryan
ism were still smoldering and only needed
tanning to revive them. Mr.. Bryan is
successful tanner. No politician ever I'M
derstocd his personal following better. than
he does. Being the founder Of Organism,
he understands the cult and knows how to
play his followers and how to work
them. The result is that the anti-Bryan
reorganizers are being met at every point
by the Bryan disorganizers.- and the old
fight of 1896 and 1900 is being revived.
An interesting phase of the fight is the
struggle for control In New York, where
ha Rrxya mi in
to Hill An organization known as the Chi
cago Platform Democrats is establishing
branches and clubs throughout the State
Mr.. Bryan's famous defiance of the sound
money Democrats at Chicago in 1s96-"You
shall not cruelty mankind on a cross of
gold"-is the motto of the Chicago Plat
form Democrats. The headquarters of the
organization is at Albany, and it's executive
committee pretty we'll covers the State
territorially. The president of the organi-
cation is Thomas w. Cantwell, of Albany,
and In an interview published a few days
ago he said:
1t Is somewhat early to attempt to guess
what may happen at a time so far remote
national convention, but of one thing you
can rest assured, that gathering will be too
| big and democratically vigorous TO wear
| the collar of any artificial manipulation or
| construction, no matter how soon how
long they may be engaged In the weaving
or fitting of 1t.
The partys experience in the late cam
paign for Governor and state officers has
| taught it q very severe lesson-that self
| imposed and discredited leadership does not
go. Conditions and strong public sentiment
emphasized in advance the approach of
| upheaval In the political situation in New
York State then and pointed Enthusiastically
x.ob<. (N@ln c1D
| public record his support of the Demo-
| cratic national ticket in 1896 and 1900 made
| him an ideal instrument TO consolidate the
| divided party, and yet the "anything-to-
| get-ins' and doubtfuls who managed to
| dominate the Saratoga convention which
nominated him succeeded in destroying not
| only the partys enthusiasm and chances
| for success. but confidence in Mr.. Coler's
| candidacy as well. The same tactics by the
| same parties will not be tolerated at the
| gallery stunts, no matter how well ar
| ranged in advance, will have to be practiced
| either in the rooms of the acrobats or on
| the lawns outside the convention hall.
| There is no indication of repentance or re-
traction in this When Mr.. Cantwell was
asked if he had heard that Indiana had
fallen in line with the reorganizers he said
| he had, and added: 1.-The convention which
nominated Palmer and Buckner was held in
Indiana. at Indianapolis. Some of the germs
are still scattered around on its soil.
think Indiana Democrats are all right; it is
outsiders who are talking for her voters"
| Apropos of the new Bryan movement in
New York and of some personal illusions
| by the Nebraska statesman to itself the
Brooklyn Eagle pays its respects to the
peerless leader" who 1t says has led the
party twice into the bitches. In a vigorous
editorial arguing for the salvation Of the
Democratic party by purging 1t Of Bryan
ism the Eagle says:
A word with Mr.. Bryan about avoiding
| cant is in order. He is very free and, TO
himself, almost fatally fluent in talking
| about organized wealth." ''plutocracy,"
| the surrender of Grover Cleveland to them,
that pushed their shoulders above the level
| OF mediocrity. Jefferson's, Jacksons and
| Cleveland's, the latter ranks with either
| of the other two. A merit of it was it's
| commendability to the sane prosperous
| and stable interests driven by Mr.. Bryan
. away from the party. Till those interests
| are reattracted by the party II will num-
| Der exactly the forces to which the people
will never give national power. Property
| Is not crime. Neither organized wealth
| nor organized poverty" controls nor ever
! can control either party. Union Of both is
the bulwark of each party. But were the
country forced to choose between them it
would side with the forces OF thrift intelli-
! gence knowledge and capacity Mr. Bryan
| a man of some means, rants like Euro
pean red" Part of the fault is due 10 a
bad education part TO vanity fed by adula-
| ton. part to fanatical temperament. He
| asperses better, truer and wiser men than
his adherents when he defames the reor-
| ganizers. He suggests not Paul. but Peck
| sniff, when he patronizes the virtues which
he claims he and they monopoliZe. The re-
| suit is bad ethics and bombastic writing
| on his part.
| p......ox, ouch nar,ocrats n O. ,ha oho;rr.or
| of the Chicago Platform Democratic organi-
cation and the Brooklyn Eagle there is a
wide gulf and no present prospect of it be-
ing bridged
| After serving twenty-four years in the
United States Senate, during two-thirds of