The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-08-11
WHAT THEY WANT OF IT

Perhaps the most interesting question
underlying the present p litical situation
is this: What do the Democrats really
think they woul do with the government
If they were to get possession of 1t?
Talleyrand's oft-quoted observation that
words are used to conceal thought, has
application to too many political plat
forms; and certainly by the common
agreement of all men, 1t has especial APP
plication to the platform adopted by the
natl nal Democratic convention at 81.
Louis. That platform is too silent as to
some things and too inconsistent with the
party record as to other things. 1t does
not pretend to state the party position as
to money; it does say that protection Is
robbery, but the party had a chance to
live up to that sort of a representation
following the presidential electi n of
1892 and failed to do SO; it proposes to get
out of the Philippines, accepts Panama
with a grimance and approves inferential-
iy of Porto Rico. Guam and some other
outlying possessions. but has not general
ternai interests of the country. Possibly
the Dem cratic cand date for President in
his letter of acceptance may outline his
own position upon some of these matters;
but. as In the case of his amous tele-
gram and the conventions reply. such
outline will be essentially his own and
that he respects the status quo on the
money question. but the convention has
only confessed the party's defeat and no,
Its conversion upon the same question.
The general course of the convention
was towar the suppression of issues and
the reference TO the candidate of all mat
tiers of that sort with implied permission
to take any position that in his judgment
would conduce 70 the party's success; and
the course of the candidate has for the
most part been one of similar obscurity.
1t is inconcievable that there should be
anything in this program to excite public
admiration; but 80 far as one may juuge
it has the general support of the DEM
ocratic party. No one outside of tina;
party is moved to declare his fealty to
the program: but. on the other hand.
there are rather less than the usual num-
Der # items in the papers announcing
assertions from 1t. To hear Democrats
talk one would freely credit them with
believing in free silver or sound money,
In free trade or tariff revision IN
various policies respecting commercial
and territ- rial expansion; but such be-
i.efs cannot all be reasons for voting the
Democratic ticket. Even II 1t were be-
lieved that at all hazards something
should be done about the tariff. it woui,
have to be recognized that the surest or
all ways to gel the C untry absolutely to
stand pat" upon the tariff as it is would
be 10 bring about the election of a DEM
ocratic President with a congress that
should be Republican in one or both
branches, and a deadlock # this sort Is
the greatest achievement for which any
Democrat has been known to have hopes.
Clearly there must be in the Democrat
&c party somewhere a greater cohesive
force than is given adequate expression
in the party's platform. The party viii
this year have more votes in $ me places
and few woes in other places than II had
in 1886. when it was shouting itself hoarse
for a policy the reverse of that which the
party candidate now declares to be the
settled policy of the state: but the bulk
of the vie for Parker this year wiz be
cast by men who voted for Bryan In 1886.
or course, there are verious cheap ex-
plantations for the Democratic strength
in the nation; but the Democrats do not
all nope l. get office. and they are not
all d~isgruntled because President Roose-
Welt broke up the Northern Securities
company. or enjoined the beef trust. or
recommended a settlement of tue coal
strike. There will always be a people
disafec.ed for ors reason or another with