The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-03
Thinks Party Reorganization
 Means Party Retreat.
He Inquires Whether the "Prodigals'' Have Repentsd or Demand Re- z pentance of Those Who Voted
 For Him in 1900.

We are almost upon the threshold of another presidential contest. The main issues of the struggle can even now be defined. The party in power will stand, as in the past. for a high protective tar if. will oppose all attempt sto tighten the burdens of enormous tariff taxation. It will stand for the trusts. The unlawful combinations of capital. which today threaten the destruction of legitimate business enterprise. will find its only de- tenders in the Republican party. The ex- travagant appropriations by the recent Congress will find justification. and win pave the way for greater extravaganza yet to follow.
 Controlling all departments of the government, no honest effort has been made to make good the pledges of their last national platform. With large sur plus in the treasury drawn from the channels of trade by unnecessary taxa ton. no reduction of the tariff will be permitted. It will stand for foreign con- quest.
 1uo 0euocratlc ntau0.
 Tn unrelenting hostility to all this, the Democratic party, true to the teachings of Jefferson. will favor the abolition of all unnecessary and unjust taxes; will demand a reduction to the minimum of the cost ofaevsry needed astieie of con- sumption. It will stand in reality, as well as in its platform, the antagonist of trusts.
 Believing that wherever there is a wrong, there must be a remedy. it will favor such legislation as will seek to curb the spirit of monopoly and place an effectual check upon the unlawful combinations of capital which are ob- stacles to legitimate business enterprise and investment. Believing with Jefferson in an economical administration of the government. 1t will oppose unnecessary and extravagant appropriations of the public money. Confident that the expe- rience of a century has demonstrated the wisdom of avoiding foreign complications and entangling alliances it will oppose imperialism 'Ghs spirit of empire.' In a word, 1t will be the high aim of the party of Jefferson and Jackson to supplant dan gerous experiments, reckless extrava- gance and corruption, with economical and constitutional methods of adminis- trauon in all departments of the govern ment.
 "Is 1t too much to believe that with these issues in the forefront there will be no divided councils in the Democratic party? Whatever differences may exist upon questions of less moment, there can be none upon the political issues indi- cated.
 Tn the approaching struggle for po- litical supremacy appeal will be made more earnestly than ever before to Dem- ocrats to present an unbroken front"
 MT. Bryan Speaks.
 Responding to the toast Democracy" MT. Bryan spoke in part as follows:
 Harmony, like happiness, is not se- cured by seeking for 1t; it comes as the reward of right doing. The mere men, ton of harmony suggests differences that need reconciliation. and the vociferous talk about harmony among those who disturbed 1t. left the party and lent their influence to the enemy, naturally recalls the issues that created the disturbance and naturally suggests the inquiry whether the prodigals have repented or demand repentance of the party.
 The difference which existed on the money question still exists. for while the Republicans are boasting that the
 
 in the great financial centers. and the financiers of this country are resorting to methods to get enough money into circulation to carry on busl- ness.
 "on the trust question the same line of cleavage appears. The men who threat ened a panic If silver was restored, now threaten a panic if the trusts are dis turbed, and the trust magnates are cast ing about for Democratic candidate so much like Republican that the trusts can rest easy no matter which candidate Is elected.
 Reorganization means retreat, and re- treat means demoralization and disaster, From the low standpoint of experience retreat could not be justified. The party boiled nearly a million more votes in support of the Chicago and the Kansas City platforms than were poued by MT. Cleveland even before his political crimes were exposed. What would be the result today If the standard were put in the hands of men known to be unfaithful to principles or even in the hands of those that are known to be 
 ''To say that right principle must be dropped because the party has suffered defeat In support of the principle Is as ridiculous as 1t is cowardly. The Dem ocratic Party has been defeated more often on the tariff issue than any other issue. still that is the issue that the re- organizers would make the paramount one.
 While circumstances determine the em- phasis that should be placed upon par ticular issues. no party can afford to abandon a righteous position once taken for fear that to maintain 1t would be unpopular"
 Mir. Bryan referred to the stand taken last fall by Governor Cummins of Iowa, and said that the Governor. by advocat- Ing tarif reform, acted as a Democrat