The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-12
Tuesday July H., 1904.
THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.

While the sentiment of the demo-
opposed to Mr.. Bryan and his ideas he
seems To have had much influence with
the committee on resolutions n plat
form. He carried his point in more
than one nstance-in so far at least
as to force the other side to abandon
its wishes in the forming of certain
planks and to make a compromise. 1t
is true he gave in to some extent TO the
wishes of the majority, but he prevent
ed its carrying out it's ideas on n or
more points. The platfrom as finally
drafted and adopted was a compromise
measure in several particulars. espe-
cially as regards the financial question.
The members of the convention realiz-
ed that no financial plank could be sug-
gested that would suit all factions; so
they decided to say nothing on his
subject. We think it would have
been better to retain the plank
as reported by the Subcommittee.
The striking out of all reference to
this question was a concession to Mr..
Bryan which we do not relish.
1t is true that Mr.. Bryan in giving
up his contention also made concession,
but we think that as the majority Of
the committee and the larger part of
the convention were in favor of a de-
c~laration along the line of the plank
proposed h minority should have been
required to give in to the majority.
But, perhaps, it was better to 60 this
far in ~placating the Bryan element in
the party. The idea was to conciliate
all factions in hte party: and with this
idea in view, we suppose h conyen
did the best thing for the party.
1t may seem presumptuous in us to
express an opinion differing from that
of the great party leaders who framed
the platform and nominated the ticket,
but we cannot help feeling that had
the convention nominated Messrs.
Cleveland and Williams and given them
a sound money plank in the platform to
stand upon nothing could have prevent
ed their election. These two men On
such a platform would have swept the
country. Mr.. Williams as second man
on the ticket would nave insured for
it the electoral vote of every southern
state and Mr.. Cleveland's popularity
with the business interests of the north,
to say nothing of his popularity at the
south, would a W carried enough of
the states of that section to insure
democratic success. We are not MAX
ing objections to Mr.. Parker's nomina-
ton. We are satisfied that under the
circumstances he is the best man the
convention could nave nominated.
What We mean to say is simply that
IL our opinion the other ticket would
have been the stronger before the peo-
pl.
The Messenger is not opposed TO
Judge Parker n was not against mis-
nomination before the meeting of the
convention In fact, this paper some
time ago advocated hS nomination. as
the surest way out of the difficulties
which confronted the party by reason
of the conflicting party interests and
the partisan differences. AS far back
as March 18th The Messenger, realiZ-
ing the danger to the party from the
factional animosities within it edi-
toriaIly advocated the coming together
Of the different cliques and factions in
the party and the nomination of some
man on whom all could agree-not eX-
actly q compromise candidate, but a
man of such broad and conservative
views that he could be considered the
representative of all members of the
party-From that time up to the meet
ing of the convection The Messenger
a repeatedly declared it's opinion TO
be that Judge Parker was, under ex-
listing circumstances. the most availa-
BILE man the democrats could nominate
and has urged the party to unite on
him. We do not claim to be the orig
inal Parker man, but from the time his
name began to be urged for the nomi-