The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-26
MIR. KERN IN THE ROLE OF HAIR.
MONIZER.

Our highly esteemed and deservedly pop
is doing his best to pacify and harmonic
the Democracy. He ought to be we'll quail
fled for the work, because having divided
his time during the last few years between
being different sides of the fence and
on top of 1t he has been able to study the
question from all points of view.
At present Mr.. Kern is disposed to take
an optimistic view and to derive encourage
ment from the 'dissension that is rending
the party in this State. He thinks that on
the whole it is rather good thing. There
may be differences of opinion amongst u.s."
for President. 1t would be an unhealthy
sign If there were not such differences, for
it would indicate stagnation.'
If differences of opinion among Democrats
regarding candidates are healthy sign the
party must have been enjoying remarkably
1896 the difference of opinion regarding the
nominee for President was such that 1885,
600 Democrats voted for a sound money
Democratic candidate. and more than that
number voted for Mckinley. For this they
deserved a great deal of credit. Mr.. Kern
started out by being one of the protestants
but finding ii tiresome to stand for prin-
ciple he fell back into the party lines and
voted for Bryan. In 1900 the same differ.
ence of opinion regarding candidates devel-
oped, with the result that Mr.. Bryan was
again defeated.
In 1896 and 1900 there was no lack of diff
ference of opinion among Democrats re-
garding candidates to cause stagnation
in the party. The same kind of robust
health that was developed in the party in
those years still prevails With a majority
of Eastern Democrats favoring the nomina-
ton of Mr. Cleveland. but not daring to
nominate him. with those OF other sections
of the country trying to find any common
standing ground, and with Western DEM
ocrats divided Hearst and ant-Hearst
lines between anybody to win and any
body to beat Hearst" there are no indica-
tions that the party will die of stagnation.
On the contrary, it is in full enjoyment of
the kind or perfect health that comes from
an internal explosion of dynamite.
In further diagnosing the situation Mr..
Kern says: ION one proposition the In
| diana Democracy is practically unit. and
that is that the presidential nominee must
be a man who was absolutely loyal to his
party in 1896 and 1900 and supported Will
| liam j. Bryan for President in both these
| campaigns" Is Mr.. Kern sure of that? He
can speak for himself because he voted fol
Bryan in 1896 and 1900. but can he speak for
| the 2.150 Democrats in Indiana who voted
| for Palmer and Buckner in 1895 and the still
larger number who voted for Mckinley In
| 1900, increasing his aggregate vote I'm the
| State from 323. 754 in 1896 TO ss6.O6s in 1900,
/ There is reason to believe that a large ma.
/ jority of the sound-money Democrats OF
1896 and 1900 not only do not make supper,
| of Bryan in those years test of Democ
| racy now but that they regard 1t as ground
for distrust IL not opposition. Whatever
hunting for a candidate who supported
Bryan I'm both those years.
Is Mr.. Kern bidding for second place OF
the ticket with Parker or whoever may b,
nominated? He vouches for Judge Parkc
as "a man Of splendid character. emnen
ability and q Democrat throush ans