The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-02-20
Suppose, However, Mr.. CleVe-
land is Right.

Tina following strong letter, anent
Mr.. Cieveland's recent silver letter,
appeared in last Mondays american.
1t sounds very much like the old
time editorials if II. M, Doak, one of
the strongest writer's and bfainies.
men and bravest Democrats Tennes-
see has produced for many years. 1t
matters not, however, who it is by, it
is full of food for thought. The letter
reads as follows:
Mr.. HOOke', of Mi siesippi, was
right, beyond question, when he said
that no man could or should "bOss"
The DemOcI attic party. l would be
sorry to know that / belonged to a
party that could be bossed by any
man. Democracy is, essentially the
linal wisdom of many.
If Mr. Cleveland was wrong, il his
party is wiser than he, he will not
"bOss" anybody, Suppose, hOWev r,
{: rtain that his party, in the main,
Hr. Hooker included, will be with
him? L have viewed with deep
alarm the trend of Democrats towards
what 1 regard as a heresy on the sill
yer question. I speak with reserve.
do not know what is the absolute
light; all 1 have ever known or
earned teaches ME that free coinage
San only mean getting gloriOusly
financially drunk, with the certainty
If being compelled to get miserably
md dreadfully sober. L know the
Ieductiveness of cheap money, plenty
If money and the opportunities OF
nflation. L know that every man
feels that he will come out Dettered,
10 matter who gets left. Every
Trunk man feels that every sober man
drunk. Worse, every man feels
that, in such imitation, he will come
out all right and bettered no matter
who's left, just as every man feels
hat every mans mortal but himself.
But, had only wish to recall a
matter OF history. In 1874, Mr.. Til
len, as Governor of New York, with
lis party in the Senate, in the House,
throughout the country, as far off, at
least, as they are at present on the
silver question, wrote a message as
Governor which called halt. 1t
said: A dollar means dollar. The
apparent popular clamor was as much
against Mr.. Tilden's views of resump-
ton then, as it seems to be now
against Mr.. CIeVeland's view on the
silver question. The same question
was involved. Mr.. Tilden was over
whelmipgly nominated in 1876.
1 was in this one of the very few
tennessee Democrats who was not
sither caught by the "rag money"
heresy or silent under its power.
know that there were not then among
editors and politicians of Tennessee
fifteen men who were not either
positively, or by some ambiguous
,ttfnronnn aifnnRn with fha
greenback folly.
If Mr.. Cleveland is right, as Mr..
TiIden was right, his bold, manly
Itterance will, or may, call q halt,
bring about thought and reconsider
Ition, and then his party may be
ia accord.
So far as the matter of dictatiOn is
concerned, the apparent surface clam
)r of the hour is not always the
Judgment of the people. 1t is seldom
the judgment of the people. The
.irm, sober, thoughtful word of
serious remOnstrances is Often--is
generally-the first means of bringing
out the wisdom of the masses-that
wisdom which is demOcracy-which
is, when we have reached it, the last
word upon any subject.
1t may be well to reflect upon the
exact parallel between Tilden and
rag mOney"-people, Senate, House,
clamOrous-and Cleveland and the
silver dollar.
Tilden had this advantage, only:
the human foudness for cheap
money; and a wild delirium of cheap
money fought against him.
The gold-standard world, the silver
mine owners and the love of the
world for so cents for a dollar fight
against Mr.. Cleveland's views.
If Mr.. Cleveland has thrown away
nomination, in opposing a policy
that might temporarily help a few
and in the end ruin thousands, let us
at least honor him. H. NJ. d.
Nah NilIa Eah Ii