The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-06
THE PARTIES AND SILVER.

Some of the western Democrats and ,
good many of the western Republicans arr
; worrying themselves into high feyers over
The probable action of the national conven-
tions next year with reference to silver
Two OF Nevada's newspapers are out with
articles of peculiarly novel and originaI
character. Thsy urge the people of that
state, in the event Of the two great parties
either rejecting the free coinage proposition
or ignoring it altogether, to meet in conven-
ton, nominate free silver men for Presi-
dent and Vice-President, without regard to
their party politics, and all vote for
them. 1t is childish suggestion and
to carry it out would result il the
politicians and voters of the Sage brush
state throwing away their ballots and ask
Ing everybody to laugh at their exhibition
OF pettiness. Montana and Idaho are al
most as wild as our western neighbor over
the matter, though ii is not likely that
either of them will be so reckless as 20 kick
Itself In vain effort to get revenge on
somebody else. Utah, of course, earnestly
desires Tree coinage, less because she has
silver mines than because her thoughtful
men believe that the reconciliation OF
silver will benefit all the people of
the nation, her own no more than
others. With our citizens, the question
Is one OF principle, and not matter
OF whether or not few mine owners shall
DC paid more for their products. But tab
VIII have no voice in the case beyond the
expression of her opinion in the conven-
tons in each of which her votes will be
limited to two.
But what we want to refer to particularly
at this time is the threat which the press
and politicians Of each party 10 the west
are proclaiming, that they will repudiate
the party which does not come out souarely
In favor of free coinage. We don't believe
That either the Republican or the Demo
cratic conventions next year will put this
plank IN its platform, nor do we think the
failure to do.it will in the slightest degree
affect the result of the election. We say
TINS because the silver question has not
oeen made party issue, and will not be-
IN tae last Congress more Democrats than,
Republicans chaIpioned free coinage. and
IN the coming Congress free coinage Demo
Gratis will be much more numerous than
free coinage Republicans, but the issue will
be one DIS to geographical sections rather
than as TO political parties. Western and
southern members viii favor the PROPOSE
ton and eastern members oppose it, the
respective parties taking no decided
stand. Hence what will the western
threats amount to? Certainly nothing so
lar as the Democracy is concerned, and
very little If anything as to the Republican
party. The Democrats neither hone for
nor expect single electoral vote from any
western state with the possible exception
Of the three from Montana which will cut
no hgUre in the electoral college. No COM
oinstion that is probable will give Mon
tana any influence in the presidential con-
test, much less make it controlling factor |
All the other western states are what NAV
De set down as solidly Republican, and no |
position which the Democracy might as
sumo towards silver would change
the status of one of them: nor
would the frank declaration by |
the Republican convention against free
coinage turn single so-called western |
state into the Democratic fold. Think of |
California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Aausas, minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada,
the DRkoias, Oregon, Washington and
wyoming, and ask yourselves if we are
not right. Wisconsin may be set down as
doubtful, but the doubt does not hinge on
silver. Tariff reform, school control and
Ihe liquor problem are the issues there,
and not the question of free coinage.
Then how vain and idle is ali this talk
about what the west will do if the parties
refuse to stand up Tor the white metal,
The west will do nothing beyond keeping
up the agitation until the country has been
converted and convinced and silver restored
TO Its rightful place in our monetary sys-
tenn; and that restoration viii not be
brought about by the efforts of one party
though we hope and expect that Democrats
VIII De foremost in the matter ust as thew
have led in the struggle up to this time.