The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-03-29
FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY.
THE VIEWS OF SENATOR STONE
OF MISSOURI
And Senator Carmack of Tennessee
Nominee for President Must Be a
Strict Party Man-Rejects the
Name of Grover Cleveland

The Washington correspondent OF the
Picayune in a special of recent date
says:
Senator William J. Stone of Missouri
has this to say about the Democratic
national platform for 1904:
Il can not anticipate the action of the
convention next year. This | will say,
however, that l discriminate between a
principle and policy. Questions which
concern the organic form of Our govern
ment, or which affect the personal lib
erty of the citizen, are questions OF prln-
ciple, while purely administrative ques-
tions-such, for example, as relate to
the currency or taxation-are ordinary
questions of policy.
Il never did see a Democratic plat
form which did not, in my judgment,
contain some things that ought to have
been left out, and which did not leave
out some things that ought to have been
put in But l always take the platform
and stand upon it, because, as whole,
have always believed Democratic plat
forms to be right, and because they rep
resent the concensus of party opinion.
L can not, or, at least, I prefer not,
to discuss these things or to make pro-
-phesies as to paramount issues for
1904" said Senator Stone:
Il shall favor a platform both pro-
gressive and aggressive. | want the
Democratic party to get in the front of
things and lead. Conservatism is not
without its value. believe in being con-
servative and prudent, but I want the
Democratic party to be more than a
mere restraining force. l want it to be
an affirmative, suggestive and directing
force. A position of mere negation does
not appeal to the progressive spirit Of
the age The world moves, and we must
move with it, if we would have hand
in directing the current of events. Our
party must be distinctively construc-
tive force. We must propose negotiations
to be done-great things that challenge
attention things that promise good to
the country. and an increase of natural
power and prestige We must command
the confidence of the great world of bus
mess and enterprise
This is commercial age-too much
so, no doubt, but it is a fact. Growth,
progression is what the world is striving
after. We must keep in touch with the
spirit of. the age, so that we may better
direct the course of events on lines as
nearly right as possible. This is no time
for slow coach. What we shall put in
our platform, or leave out, what poll
cies we shall, as conservative party,
attempt to develop, are things for think
ing men to think about We must move
to the front.
Il do not care to discuss individuals.
No, do not think Mr.. Bryan will be
nominated, nor do think he either ex-
poets or desires the nomination. Ii any
effort is being made to eliminate him it
will fail, for he is still undoubtedly the
most commanding individual force in
the party. He can not be eliminated and
any effort in this direction will recoil on
those attempting it. The business of
eliminating people from the party is not
the business | want Democrats to en-
gage in. It would be more profitable to
get men into instead Of getting them out
of the party.
I'VE have plenty of able men, who
would make safe, conservative presi-
dents, and govern well, although they
might not indulge in such erratic siren
uousities as would keep the country ON
the tiptoe of some dread expectancy On
this subject of men I make but one re
mark, and that is that the Democratic
candidate for president must be Dem
ocrat who always supported his party
ticket; he must be a party man, who, if
elected. would give lis a stalWart Demo-
cratic administration. That is the only
test Of eligibility for the nomination |
would apply. It is not necessary that a
man should have subscribed uneondi-
tionally to every declaration of the Chi
cago and Kansas City platforms. "
Senator Carnaack of Tennessee de-
clares for Judge Parker of New York.
He says that no man will be nominated
for president in 1904 who did not sup
port the ticket in 1896 and 1000
II don't think there is anything pro-
scriptive about that, explained Mr.. Car
mack.
1T is merely a matter Of party policy,
but an important one, and it has become
III the more important since some Of the
people who have been urging the noni-
nation of a man who left the party are
themselves trying to bar the nomination
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