The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-02-07
PARTY PROBLEMS.



free coinage has been largely strategic
The measure has twice been used to
get the odiOus Force Bill ont Of the
way. 1t has also been taken as facile
and effective means of sowing the
seeds of diseerd among the Republi-
cans. For both these purposes il has
been successful. But the movement OF
last year was essentially different from
that Of this in one important regard
II did not make free coinage national
issue, as this years movement may
After the Legislation of last July
wild and foolish, as 1t was, fraught
with immediate ills and threat
ening disaster, the Democrats were
still able to enter the national
canvass on an entirely differ
ent issue. They were able-and
this Is the real point of importsnce-to
appeal to the business community ON q
business question. aud to command q
degree and kind of confidence that ha:
not been accorded to them from that
source in this generution. Here, then
Is the question of to-day: Can the
Democratic party afford to take the
risk of going into the campaign Of
next year ON the issue of free coinage
That the affirmative side of that issue
is wrong IN our judgment we do moi
need to say. But we do not now press
that consideration. We appeal to the
Democratic leaders who differ with u;
on this point, but who agree with Vi
on the issue of tariff reform. On the
latter issue they have made great
advance in popular strength. They
have drawn to their support large
class Of active, sober, able, solid bust
ness men who have come from the
Republican ranks. BY the conserva
tive and sagacious policy Of the last
four years the Democracy has con
vinced a steadily-growing number oI
this class that the future of the bust
ness of this country, its prosperity. it'
development, its extension to the walt
ing markets of the world, its power &c
use Its great resources, depend entirely
on Democratic success. We ask the
Democratic leaders whether they car
afford to throw away these gains
They cannot keep them on the issue o
free coinage. Every State east of thu
Mississippi, where they have won ol
come near winning control, will be los
to them on that issue. Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New Jersey, New Iork
Itself, would no more vote for any
Democratic candidate for President OF
that issue than they would vote for thu
ghost Of Vallandigham. That is thu
question the Democrats have now tt
face. II may be that the Republican,
will not force that issue, but II may bt
that they will. And If they do, there
Is no name, none whatever, that ih'
Democrats can inscribe on their banner
by which they can win.--N. Y. Times
These are grave questions, pertinen
aud vital, put by the Times. But arr
they not already answered. is DE
mocracy In state of volition, TO &C
in this emergency upon sober ant
sound convlctionsf Z Let us sec. With th,
breaking up of the Republican party
in the East through the very madness
of protectionism and the genera
abuse of power, and in the Yves
through the agricultural distress, |
seemed as though the South had II
choice of allies. But while held I,
both through grievances in common
against the Republican party, anc
with the same ends of correction o
its abuses, oil observing minds realized
what the N. Y. Times says In effect
that both--the East and the West
the South and Democracy could no
hold with politically when the TIM
came for the declaration of a part,
platform.
Our section is apparently more nea
to the West, than TO tho East, through
pursuits of population, trade Interest,"
aud transportation lines. But there is
strong leaven of agrarianism in th'
political body of that great and grow
ing section which will act as a repellan
upon the conservative South. Their
Is more of the attraction of affinity
with the new growth Of manhood il
the East, which is SO rapidly absorbing
the Democratic party. It Is true tina
the reinforced elements of New
England Democracy are little bount
with Democracy as 1t Is in the South
by either training or tradition. Blu
it Is intellectual and patriotic, fre,
from sectionalsm--couragcous o
conviction upon Democratic princi
pies. Hence upon questions o.
economic policy, of the tariff
finance and currency, under nor
NAL conditions, the South leani
more congenially toward the East
than toward the West, with its extremes
and isms. But fate has not permitted
Democracy TO weigh its determination
of a crucial--probably decisive
measure in the scales of sober judg
mcnt. Events have hurried Dcmoc
racy to the parting of the roads before
Its choice could be matured and ex
pressed through the customary form
and usage-a National Convention-o
the party. It's no more sole question
upon the measure of the merits o.
free coinage-but also whether or no
the South shall show gratitude
for deliverance from deadly peril
The sword was put TO our throat
by the Eastern representatives, ant
the Western Senators-those wht
favor free coinage-reeased US from
its stroke. Free coinage, IL SEEM
to US, can but find its way and plac'
in the Democratic platform, even If !
should send Cleveland to join th'
ghost of vallandigham.