National Democratic Party (United States)
National Democratic Party | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | John M. Palmer William F. Vilas Grover Cleveland Simon B. Buckner Henry K. Douglas |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Dissolved | 1900 |
| Split from | Democratic Party |
| Preceded by | Bourbon faction of the Democratic Party |
| Merged into | Democratic Party |
| Ideology | Liberalism (American) Classical liberalism Anti-imperialism Pro-gold standard |
| Political position | Center-right |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Colors | Gold |
The National Democratic Party, also known as Gold Democrats, was a short-lived political party of Bourbon Democrats who opposed the regular party nominee William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 presidential election. The party was then a "liberal" party in the context of the times, which is more of a fiscal-conservative or classical-liberal in the political context of the United States today.
Most members were admirers of Grover Cleveland as they considered Bryan a dangerous man and charged that his "free silver" proposals would devastate the economy. They nominated the Democratic politicians John M. Palmer, a former Republican governor of Illinois and Union general; and Simon Bolivar Buckner, a former governor of Kentucky and Confederate general, for president and vice president, respectively.
They also ran a few candidates for Congress and other offices, including William Campbell Preston Breckinridge in Kentucky and Edward S. Bragg in Wisconsin.