New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-13
FACING BOTH Way.

Is the Democratic party calculating to run IN
tbe next campaign as doubie-ender! us och-
ators and Representatives in Congress appear
6iSnosod n commit themselves and the party
fpllv and uneuulvocally to free coinage OF
silver. But most of these same Senators ana
REPRESENTATIVES appear to favor the nomination
of ox-prosidcnt cleveland. and in his letter to
the Reform Club meeting on "Wednesday mSh'
Mr. Cleveland said
The greatest peril would be invited by the adoption
n, the scheme contained in the measure now pchu'nH
in Conrress for the unlimited coinage of silver Dy our
minis These conditions fall far short OF ihsur-
ing ms against disaster If in the present situation we
orter unon the dangerous and reckless experiment OF
free unlimited and Independent silver coinage.
The phraseology may be criticised. The eX-
President does not always write with eSpccaI
torseness or lucidity. and in this case his mental
sIoppiness is more than usually conspicuous
Nevertheless. what he has to say Is so sald thd'
nobody can mistake it, and 1t puts an era 10
the minors which have been circulating 1or
some months past that Mr.. ClcyeIandS friends
were Going to get him into line with Western
sentiments on the silver question, and secure
from him some new and fayoring declaration
in order TO promote his success a. cdhuludie'
Evidently he has been advised that the ON!
chance for him as a candidate and the ohl!
chance of his party with him, Is to propltlate III
some way those in the Eastern and the com
morcial and manufacturing States who desire
a sound currency.
Rut If would be curious spectacle if can
didato open!v making such declarations OF
opinion, should nevertheless he nominated ny Il
Marty whose members OF Congress almost with
out exception take part in the dangerous an i
reckless experiment Of free, unlimited ana Iii
dcpendcnt silver coinage" Perhaps only one
party that ever has existed in the whole history
of the country has been equal to q performance
80 audacious and 40 defiant of moral obilga-
tons. If the Democratic party. after voting
for the free coinage of silver proceeds to nom
mate and support candidate for the Presi-
dencv whose public declarations are hostile to
that measure. it would be only the elimination
Of long career of dupicity and dcmagogSm
such as no other party has ever followed
Nevertheless, there seems 10 he no other III
terplctatiOn of passing events. me hcprc-
sentative, Of the party in Congress, who really
control its action there and will to great cX-
ten, control its action in national convention,
declare for free coinage Of silver in order to al
tract anu VIII III lDtN YAH tllt support VI
in the Silver-prOduclng states But at me
same time and with their cOnnivance ana con-
sent. the candidate whom most of them intend
10 nominate and for whom they intend to vote
comes forward with strong eXprcSsioEof opin-
ion against the coinage Of silver, obviously IN
the hope that he can thereby hold some of the
Eastern States which the frce-coinage policy
would drive away from his party.
1t never has been possible hitherto TO conduct
great National campaign with success in such
a manner The Americans are "A practical and
shrcwd people, and do not often allow them
selves to be taken in, even if the political de-
vice is particularly ingenious and well CON
coalcd But in this case the deception would be
opcn. ia grant and on the very surface OF things.
1t would he rs obvious as possible that the party
intended to seek the support Of silver fanatics
hy pretending most earnest support OF Hier
| plan and at the same time to seek the support
Of those who resist the silver craze, by nom
mating candidate openly and strongly OPP
posed to it. 1t is hardly conceivable that, in
these days of newspapers and telcgraphs, any
party can succeed in such "a country as this with
plan Of action so repugnant to the moral
sense of the community.