The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-14
Harmony and Harmony.

tiers are usually misunderstanding
why Mr.. Bryan is not willing to work
for democratic harmony" why he
does not make an effort to unite all
men believing in democratic princ-
Pies" why he keeps up a war in
the democratic camp" This I'M
known correspondent insists that
success" and suggests that Mr.. Bry-
all ought to try and rehablitate the
democratic party and bring it into
public favor" AS clincher he asks
who is to be the proper judge or
judges of genuine, sound and sterl-
ing democracy"
There are other things in the let
ter which indicate that the writer's
sympathies are really with those who
bolted the ucket rather than with
those who supported the party in re-
cent campaigns, but an answer is Civ
eE for the benefit of those readers
who have to meet these inquiries.
Mr.. Bryan is interested in securing
democratic harmony, and certainly
has more personal reason to regret
a lack of harmony In the party than
the men who, after voting for the re-
publican ticket, now clamor SO loud
ly about letting ''bygones be by
cones" Mr.. Cleveland was elected
no one will seriously dispute the fact
that he proceeded at once, knowing
ly and wilfully, to misrepresent the
people who elected him upon an is
sue which his own conduct made
paramount for the time being. Waiv-
ing for the present the right of a
party nominee to betray those who
nominated him and to barter away
the suffrages that he had received, it
is sufficient to say that Mr.. Cleveland
was the great disturber of party har-
mony Of the present generation.
Never before in the history Of the
party did democratic president I'M
dertake to change the partys atti-
tude upon great public question,
or to force upon the party as a party
measure a bill identical in purpose
iiid etiiilooe IdSHCISal III
with bill drawn by the leaders of
the opposing party. This Mr.. Cleve-
land did. The bill introduced by
Congressman Wilson in August, 1893,
vas almost an exact copy of a bill in
troduced for the same purpose by
Senator John Sherman year before.
The presidents action was made
issue in the fight for delegates to the
national convention of 1896, and in
spite Of the influence of patronage,
the influence of money and the influ-
ence of all the great corporations,
the rank and file of the party by a
large majority repudiated the presi-
dents policy and adopted platform
that in effect condemned his course
and pointed out course directly OPP
posite.
This was the most democratic con-
vention held in fifty years, and prob
ably the most democratic ever held
in the United States. Seldom, if
ever, before had battle been waged
between the voters at the primaries
on a definite principle, and never be-
fore did convention more perfectly
reflect the sentiments of the voters
o: the party. What was the result
The administration and all who could
be influenced by the administration,
the great financiers. the great corpor-
alton lawyers, and all who held their
service to corporations above party
allegiance, joined in an effort to de-
feat the democratic ticket and elect
the republican ticket. Some of these
boiling democrats went directly into
the republican party and have been
there ever since; some stopped half
way and tried to organize new
dc mocratic party. Having failed in
republican party and some returned
to the democratic fold. OF the prom
inent ones who returned, nearly all
bcasted of what they mad done and
few have ever announced a change
of heart or change of opinoion on
public questions. They now demand
harmony. And at what price, The
complete and abject surrender OF
those who made the fight in 1896 and
1900. And this surrender is not con
fined to the party's position on the
money question. It means that the
party must stop its opposition to the
demands of organized wealth on al
questions. must nominate ticket
cOmpoSed of men who are in the con
fderce of the money magnates. and
the trust magnates, and then allow
the party to be so organized that il
can collect an enormous campaign
fund from the men who are enjoying
SPECIAL privileges and lmmunities a
the hands of the government. Reor
| ganizers do not stand for any rea
| or positive reform.
This is the harmony program, ant