The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-26
THEY ARE DISTURBED.

rueful miscalculations of the Republi-
can press on the subject of the inde-
pendent vote, both Republican and
Democratic, in the campaign now on.
They know that there were many
thousands of Democrats in 1895 who re-
fused to vote for Bryan, preferring a
temporary severance of Party ties to
an endorsement of policy which their
good judgment taught them would be
hurtful to the country. They know,
further, that many of these Democrats
refused again in 1900 to lend their aid
| to Organism. That they voted for Mr..
Mckinley may be matter for which
they are condemned by some. but they
did it because they thought him
safer man than Bryan.
These Republicans also know that
there were many thousands of conserv-
alive Independent voters who care lit
tie for party names but who were OPP
posed to the dogma of free coinage and
voted against it and it's representative.
All this is well known to the Republic
can leaders and newspapers, but where
! they make a grievous mistake is in
thinking that all these Democrats and
independents who voted for Mckinley,
will vote for Roosevelt. and that all
who refused to vote four and eight
years ago will again euIK in their tents.
There was never any sound reason
for supposing that this detection from
Democracy would be permanent or that
it would continue after the cause was
removed. The dissatisfied Democrats
formed no alliance with the Republican
Party. They voted with 1t, but they
did it because the necessity was forced
on them. 1t was a disagreeable alter
native, but 1t was n choice between
patriotism and partisanship. On all
the vital questions except the single
one of finance these Democrats were
never in accord with the Republicans.
That there could be a permanent alli-
ance was impossible, unless the Demo-
Gratis persisted In their ruinous finan-
cial folly. Now, as The New York
Post argues, there Is no occasion for
put beyond the troubling of the wick
ed. the Republicans should promptly
lose the allies they won upon that is
sue. There was never any conceal
ment about the nature of the alliance
The Democrats who left their party
because patriotism commanded 1t, and
the Independents who believed that the
money question for the time outranked
every other, were entirely frank about
it all the way through.
The strong thinking and patriotic
men in the Democratic Party never
gave the Republicans any reason for
believing that their policies were en-
dorsed or condoned. To quote The
Post again the Democrats said to the
Republicans:
We do not like your methods or your
: doctrines any better than we ever did
We think your style of government
: lavish and wastefui. your economic
theories bad, and your protectionist
practice scandalous. Nor do we es
TEEN your Quays and your Platts one
whit better than Croker or Hill. More
over, we count upon an era of corrup
ton when once you are entrenched II
| power. since your theory of Away!
4 legislating for special interests pu..
all your politicians "on the make" anc
leads them to think the treasury fail
game. Still, with our eyes open. we in
wife all those evils as preferable Il
having the standard of value broker
+ | down.
That Is the way the best Democrat,
n viewed the situation. and that is VIII,
a they temporarily sub. rdinated every
thing to their devotion to a sount
standard of money. II. as before re
| cd ha
/. st. Louis had re-atfirmed the Kansas
. City platform and had nominated ;
e man in agreement with 1t, the defec
e tion would have been much create
/ than it was four years ago, and i
= would have been permanent. Their
|. would have been re-alignment o
n parties, and the old kind of Democrat,
e would have become little else than
y memory.
g Fortunately for Democracy and 70
/: the country the danger has been re
. moved and the cruel necessity whicl
l drove Democrats off no longer con
q fronts them. Our party has plante
> itself as irmly on the solid ground o
u. sound money as the Republicans have
= 1nCre is no longer excuse or reason TO
+ any Democrat failing to vote the tickle
:, and labor for it's success. The differ
= ence between the two parties on othe
c issues is as great as ever. The Re
= publicans falsely claim that they wer
}, the originators of the gold standard
9 On much better grounds they have 70
: some years boosted that they were 1t
: only defenders. They can no longe
sustain either claim. Democracy ha
reinstated itself before the countr
> and all, whether Democrats or indie
IS pendents, who oppose the ruinous rul
;, of the party in power and who fear it
q leader can vote for Parker and Davi
&c with the fun assurance that they ar
, thus serving their country best. Gu
L. enemies may as well make up thei
- minds that there are no Democrat
e votes for them.
e. -&-oS
e. Some things are difficult and som
e are impossible. Some are only dan
gerous. while others are not to b
thought OF by man of ordinary sens,
For example. the Mayor of Pittsbur
, was requested to select and designat
typical Pittsburg girl for a St
n Louis exhibit. but did he? Not much
e lie isn't prepared to he offern6 in =