New-York tribune., 1909-06-21
"RTSTVG DEnOCR4TS." "

EININy DEIOt M =
Exchanges of compliments in the Senate on
Friday between Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Hughes. the
burden Of the exchanges being that every Dem
ocratic Senator nowadays has to work out his
own salvation as a tariff reformer give point
in an unexpected way 10 some remarks appear
ing in the current Issue of The Commoner-
The editor Of THE Commoner" refuses 10 he
wholly cast down because so many Democratic
Senators have repudiated the tariff declarations
Of the Democratic national platform of 1903,
Of which he is popularity supposed 70 he the au-
thor. He sees unity where others see discord
and hope where others see only discOuragement.
Says The Commoner" Of June IS, under the
pleasing caption Of Rising Democrats:
The times are propitious for the growth Of
Democrats. We developing men at
Washington While some Democrats are yield
ing to the temptation which the predatory in
terests are well prepared to offer and while
others are giving a tev protected interests pref
erenCe over the rest of their constituents.
number OF Democrats in the Senate and House
are making substantial additions 10 their repu-
tations by able and forceful defence of the pub
lie interest The cause Of the people IS
moving forward; even the enemies OF the public
are by their opposition making more clear the
distinction between democracy and plutocracy.
The darkness brings out the stars
The editor of The Commoner" unfortunately
fails to name the stars Of the first magnitude
brought out by the darkness just now enveloping
the party in Congress. He evidently wants 10
avoid the error which Mr.. Bailey and others
have charged him with making in the prepara-
ton of the Denver platform-that Of going
into details" Who are the "rsing Democrats
who are making more clear the distinction be
tween democracy and plutocracy," as that dis
tinction is understood by Mr.. Bryan and ex-
plotted by him in his political addresses: Ger
tainly the tariff plank of the Denver platform
was framed with a view 10 expressing the finest
shades Of that distinction far protective
and non-protective theories Of customs taxation
are concerned. Who are the Democratic states
men in the Senate who have shown so keen an
appreciation Of the niceties Of the tariff declara-
tons adopted at Denver as TO deserve 10 be
ranked as luminous fixed stars in the Jeffer-
sopian armament?
1t is the common impression that the ableSt
and most influential Democrats in the Senate
have been working in common TO annul the
declarations of the last national platform and
10 substitute for them entirely different tariff
policy. If there has been an expansion in
Democratic ideas at Washington the leaders in
that movement have not drawn their inspra-
ton from Mr. Bryan from anything said or
done at the convention which gave him his last
nomination for the Presidency The Democrats
who have grown and have given expression TO a
growth Of opinion among their constituents have
been men Ike Mr.. Bailey, Mr.. Daniel. Mr..
Money, Mr.. Simmons, Mr.. Tillman, Mr.. Bacon
and Mr.. Stone. They have broken with the
Mills-Cleyeland-WisOn programme Of tariff re-
vision. But they have broken equally with the
BTyan programme. They have become, in re-
sponse 10 a rapidly developing sentiment in the
Democratic party, partial protectiOnsts. They
are trying 10 accommodate themselves to
changed order Of things in the South under
which Southern industry is seeking a share OF
the benefits Of the protective system. They rep
resent the pressure of the new ideas which are
revolutionizing the tariff policy Of the Demo
cratic party.
We are not sure that MT. Bryan Will welcome
that sort Of growth. The Democratic leaders in
the Senate have almost without exception as
serted their right TO discard his leadership and
10 act according TO their own convictions. Mr.
Bailey was frank enough 10 say on Friday that
inasmuch as Mr.. Bryan had been defeated three
times for the Presidency each time by larger
popular plurality, he hoped that no future
! Democratic National Convention would invite
the risk Of a further arithmetiCal progression.
The new stars rising at Washington will not
fight in their courses for the editor of The Com
| moner." Their ascent will involve. his declina-
| ton as n perpetual Presidential candidate and
| party dictator.