The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-10-09
VOL. VIII.
THE DEMOCRACY. SENATOR
COKE AND THE NEXT PRES
IDRNCY.

COKE AND THE NEXT PRES
IDENCY.
The policy of party leaders in Con-
gress has tended, mainly at Washing
ton, To the continuance OF the mastery
of bondholders and of Eastern capi-
tslists. Eastern Democrats, allied to
this Influence, with many Southern
Democrats Cooperating, we regret to
say, have been willing tools in direct
ing popular interest from questions Of
vital importance in government to those
Of personal interest and private gain.
Eastern politicians have been uncom-
promising In their demands, aud the
West aud the South have been hood
wink ed and deceived and led by the
nose until escape seems almost impos-
siblo. The STATESMAN has persistentlS
inveighed against this condition of
things since the last presidential elec-
tion, when it was developed that the
East had abandoned principles for the
most selfish purposes, and when it for
got or, more reasonably, repu1iated
every demand and every necessity of
other sections. Senator C-.ke, the Tel
ephoHe says, acted wisely when he re-
belled against the domination OF these
Eastern "gold bugs" in which he In
cluded Bayard, and when he declared
that he was done with effete issues and
useless chickering's of the past, and
that he would hereafter endeavor
to bring the people to the con-
siderstiOn of questions in hsr-
mony with the spirit of the
times. In saying this Senator Coke
only took the position maintained by
the STATESMAN, even before he occu-
pied an honored seat in the United
States Senate, but the Telephone mis-
takes when it applies this revolution in
his purposes to one not affecting the
question of national currency. The
volume OF paper money should be as
great as can be safely ioated when
based upon the silver and the gold of
the country, and these metals should
be so related to one another on the
weight and valuation of coins that one
will not drive the other because
of the difference in real value
out of circulation, while Mr..
Bayard would have nothing but gold
deemed the basis of currency. But
the time has not come, unless New
York ard Ohio elect Republicans, when
we can do better than select Mr.. Bay
ard. A half loaf is better than no
bread. We must take him because we
cannot, just now, elect statesman en-
tertaining different financial views,
and we must take him or Tllden.
Many prefer, like Senator Coke, Gen.
Hancock. But he Is rich, very rich,
Pennsylvania. He has kept his mouth
shut. He doesn't even talk like Hen
bricks, who still says nothing, and we
have deemed 1t best to accept a de-
Oned and Lcomprehended candidate
rather than doubtful one. We prefer
Bayard, whose theories of government
and personal qualities are faultless,
eYeu if he be q monometalist, to one
like Hancock, who may differ from us
in matters of infinitely greater import
than this silver question, which
is speedily adjusting itself. Sen
ator Coke, it is stated, while
he properly co-operated with his
party and voted with it in Washington,
would not willingly have either Tilden
or Bayard made the representative of
the Democracy. He sought to prevent
the creation of issues designed to force
upon the country this protracted or
ever-renewed conflict of the sections.
He sought to unite the South with the
West that these two sections, bound
together by %, 900 miles of navigable
rivers and so, 900 miles of railways con-
verging at New Orleans and destined
to make that city a mighty commercial
emporium, should coslesce politically
as they must commercially. Our Fed
eral interests, Senator Coke ever insist
ed, are identical with. those of the
West, and it is time that we were CO.
operating and using the central govern
ment for the promotion of Western, as
in all former years, for that Of Eastern
power and opulencs. Is it too late and
1880 is too near, and we cannot accom-
plish these sectional purposes2 II,
however, Ohio and New York follow
Maine and California there should be
new deal and q reorganization OF par
ties and an instant transfer of the seat
of Democratic ascendancy to the West.
Tilden will be no more If Robinson be
overthrown, and then we may go West
in search of proper candidate for the
presidency. II We may not, then Bay
ard is to be preferred.