The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-10
A LUDICROUs THREAT.

Some Democrats and some Republicans
who did not see as other Democrats and
other Republicans in the House of Repre-
sentatives the other day did not vote for
the immediate passage of the free coinage
silver bill Party politics was not in
volved. 1t was not party question. In
our opinion silver never will be made an
issue between the two great national or
CARNATIONS. When the fight shall come 1t
will be between the debtor and the cred
itor classes, between the rich and the
poor, and not between Democrats
and Republicans. Why, right here
in Salt Lake., a city which de-
ponds so largely for prosperity upon sill
yer, there are money-lendlng Democrats
and .money-lending Republicans equally
opposed to free coinage" whilst the Dor
rowers, without regard to politics, are
earnest advocates Of silver. The question
is one of finance and not Of party politics.
But we note that some of the political
organs are endeavoring to give a political
phase to the vote in the House. This
threat is repeated in spirit, if not in Ian
guage, by good many of the far western
the mighty west on this question next
| November" There is not paper west of
the Missouri river which has been q more
consistent champion of silver than The
HERALD. We have believed in the white
metal, not because we thought free coin
age would help the few owners of silver
mines, not because it would help Utah to
the injury Of any other section; but be-
cause silver is money of the constitution
because the people need more money,
which they can obtain in no other way,
with which to transact business, and be-
cause plentiful supply Of money makes
''tlmesn better for the masses of the peo-
pie. THE HERALD is proud that it's record
has been straight on the silver question, u
and it has never gone off on tangents or ad-
vocated temporary makeshifts as the coin
age of American silver, the purchase of the
metal by the government at prices fixed by
spectators, aud SO on. Hence when this
paper suggests that the threat quoted
above is ludicrous, THE HERALD cannot
be charged with enmity to sill
yer. If we were to admit that
there was any direct connection between
party politics and the silver question, the
threat would be none the less ludicrous
The 'mighty west' in this instance means
the states west of the Missouri river, and
whilst it is really mighty" in expanse Of
territory, its mightiness ends there, so far
as the Democratic party is concerned
There is not in that vast empire a single
state which is not to-day in the Republi
column, hence the Democracy cannot "heal
: from" the mighty west next November
, any more unwelcome Jews than they have
been hearing right along. In the sense
: that the threat implies opposition tt
the Democracy it is funny in tn.
? extreme We wonder if these fierc,
1 editors who are predicting such dire thing
to fall upon the Democratic party in thu
west know what the politics of the west is
I There are just two states in this might,
west, having combined electoral vote O
six, which might be won by the Democrat
if the latter were to pass free coinage bill
3 Montana and Idaho are silver states, an
the parties there are SO nearly equal at tn
polls that the balance would be apt to b
thrown IN favor of the national part
r which championed silver. California
t Oregon, Washington, the Dakotas, Ne
d braska Colorado-in short, all of tn
E mighty west' would not be won by an
9 silver legislation.
9 We will not hurt anybody's feelings b
o suggesting that if the Democrats in Cor
: gress were to make free coinage a part
q issue, with the view to carrying th
q mighty west, aud were to succeed so far a
. the west is concerned, the blunder woul
& be monumental. 1t would be cruel to su,
: gest to the gentlemen who are threatenin
what the west will do to the Democrat
y that the loss of certain state in the ea.
e would cost the Democracy more than coul
: be made good by gaining all of the might
,r west.n
n However, silver win not enter Congress
in as party question this year or next if eve
In the course of time, perhaps this year,
IN not, then two years hence, when the votel
'e shall have been educated to the necessitit
~ of the situation they will send to Congre
A' men who believe in silver as well as in tt
a, principles of the parties, and then we wi
is get free coinage and silver will be returnt
al to its righful place In our monetary sy