New-York tribune., 1891-05-22
THE CryCrSyATT CONTENTION,

"a new party with whoop" the dispatches
from Cincinnati announce. Things worth DONG
in this world are not often done with whoop'
The earnest thoughtful, prayerfuf men DO not
whoop when they decide. In the Ohio cam
paign of 1875, on which actually turned, as
the result proved, the Presidential election OF
1876, the swift-running tide of soft-money en-
thusiasm broke and went to pieces against q
solid wall of deep and thoughtful conviction.
We'll it is remembered by some who were active
in that memorable contest how the doxology
was soemnly sung by thousands at the close OF
a political meeting Saturday night; how grave
and earnest men in one town after another came
to speakers and managers, saying: " L have
tried to know my duty about this question OF
more money, and have thought much and
prayed about it, and | am going to vote for
honest money for my country and my children"
The managers who heard these personal dis
closures were not surprised that Hayes carried
the State and afterward the country. The new
party is of different stuff. 1t whoops where
other men pray. 1t has fine enthusiasm for
ideas which promise personal gain But he
who seeks tsr trace of patriotic devotion in
the doings of the Cincinnati Convention will
seek long. There was agreement about the
platform, going further toward wanton wildness
than friends had feared or foes had hoped. But
there was no principle or purpose enunciated
which was not selfish, narrow and dangerous
to the country
revolution is dawning, the platform says
Possibly, with Senator PETER, ex-Congressman
Donnely and State Representative Taubeneck
at the head, but genuine revolutions rarely
move that way. The Alliance plan adopted at
st. Louis and Ocala and at Omaha by another
body is made the vital part of the new plat
form, and its only essential feature is unlimited
loans both on land and on products. No mem
Der of the convention has thought out these
proposals. or there would at least have been
preference for one form of loan over another.
Every sane man knows that both cannot be
tried at once, and most men can see that either
would ruin tho farmer But the crazy enthua-
asm for a new party and the desire to draw
into line the Solid South, which procaims that
it is Democratic and nothing else. have brought
men who see the fooishness of this declaration
to accept it, in the hope that power may come,
and after it common-sense. Self-govenment
would be poor reliance if the people did not
demand sense before giving power.
The resolution for free and unlimited coinage
Of silver is dangerous enough, but it is simply
an attempt to snatch part Of the Democratic
platform for the use Of the new movement The
other resolution, proposing to pay to all former
soldiers as debt the difference between the
nominal value of the greenbacks they received
and the amount of their pay in gold, would in
fate the currency enormously, it is true, but il
the farmers are to have two thousand millions
Of deprecated dollars, why should not the old
soldiers also have one thousand millions? The
labor resolutions are singularly impractical and
vague, but possibly will satisfy those men who
want Office more than they want any better
ment of the condition of labor
1t is proposed that the convention next year
shall agree, if it can, with a committee chosen
at Cincinnati, in some States one delegate choos-
ing three members. But if it cannot the CON-
mittee shall call convention to nominate can
didates for the Presidency and Vice-P Presidency.
No great gift of prophecy is needed to disclose
that in this single provision lies the seed OF
rupture and dissolution The committee ap-
pointed on Wednesday, unless its character is
entirely Inexperienced, will not be content
with acting as tail to the Democratic kite. The
conference in 1892 will be controlled for Dem
ocratic purposes. In the meantime voters who
have not been Democrats will consider whether
they are ready to shoot Niagara, politically
under the leadership of the men who came to
the front at Cincinnati.