New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-10

MY PREUDENT COURSE is STEADIED,-
SCENT WHICH PAYS THE BEST, AND THEN
GO INTO IT BALDHEADED."
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Vests letter,
which was read at the annual banquet of the
Greystone Club, of Denver, tonight, is polit
cal contribution OF much interest The letter
shows that Mr. Vest is of courage as well
as candor, and yet the first impression which its
reading will produce is that the Senator was
panic stricken when he wrote it; an impression
which. despite the graveyard whistling7 that
marks one or two passages, will be deepened by
reflection.
The reader is left in doubt, however, respect
ing the sentiments of the writer either in regard
TO men or measures. lie is ardent admrer of
Hill, but is in favor Of anybody to beat Hill"
for the Presidential nomination; he is opposed to
German because German is not friend of tariff
reform by aggressive advocacy of which only
can the Democratic party hope to escape over
whelming disaster; he is n devoted friend Of
Cleveland whom he regards as the sole logical
Democratic candidate, despite his unreenting hos
tility to free coinage and his offer TO straddle"
the tariff question in 1883, but he is convinced
that the boSses-otherwise the managers and
tacticans'-of the party have decreed that Clcvc-
land shall not be nominated Mr.. Vest. therefore,
casts about for secondhand party savior. He
praises Flower, but in tone which seems to lack
sincerity; his eyes are then turned westward
where William r. Morrison looms grandy. with
Palmer. Carlisle and Boes in the background, but
it is plain that Vests heart is not there Cleve.
land is his ideal
Senator Vest leaves no room for doubt in respect
TO his position the free coinage question. lie
Justly complains that Hills attitude is uncertain,
AMI that his public expressions that subject
are unintellgible," and he crticises Cleveand's
recent utterances the same subject as " I'M
wise, lneXpedient and an outrage his FRIENDS
IN the Senate but he does not doubt the lat
ters honesty while he does suspect Hills.
But While Mr.. Vest is an ardent advocate OF free
coinage, which lie hopes and believes wall win, he
earnestly protests that the question must he kept
in The background and OUT of sight until after
the Presidential election, or the party will in
tvitably suffer defeat. His argument amounts
to this: Either the Eastern Democrats the
Western and Southern Democrats are to he fooled
in the end, but the reapng of the harvest of
deceit must be postponed until after the election
Of Democratic President: in o,hcr words free
coinage Democrats and anti-free-cOinagc Democrats
must enter and stay in the same blind pool" until
pfter the Presidential contest with the full
knowledge that one of the factions is to be cheated
in the end Such candor is worthy of all praise.
Mr. Vest knows full well that if Cleveland should
be elected President he would veto any free coin
age bill which might be passed by Congress; as
for himself, his hope and belief are that we
will have free coinage and yet nc has the frank
ness TO declare in letter TO free-coinage Demo-
cratic club that he is devoted Cleveland man.
and to urge that the free-coinage question be
kept in the background. Such courage is worthy
Of the highest admiration
OF course Senator Vest is an honest sincere
friend and advocate of tariff reform" and yet his
first choice for the Presidential nomination is
man who, in 1883. approved and desired the adop-
ton by the st. Louis Convention of "a cut and
dried platform containing the old straddle of
1884; man who was willing, for the sake of
a nomination, TO pull down the flag which h. had
himself placed at the masthead Curiously
enough, the only evidence that Mr.. Vest adduces
in support of his assertion that German does not
represent the great cause Of tariff reform is the
fact that he bore TO st. Louis that same cut
and dried platform" which Cleveland approved
and which the Convention rejected.
Senator Vest is earnest In his desire Tor
"tarifi reform that n demands that the Ways
and Means Committee shall report not only "a
general tariff bill representing in its provisions the
true position of the Democratic party but also
bills attacking in detail the most fragrant and OPP
pressive features of the Mckinley act He adds
that of course all these bills will be defeated.
but that nothing but unblushng falsehood can
then charge the Democratic party with lnslnoefiN
or cowardiceo IL will he noted that his argument
ON this point is directly opposed to his argument
on the coinage question. Mr.. Vest does not Forget
incidentally 10 announce as reactlonary anu ia'"i
the policy recommended by Hill, whose ATTITUDE
in resp,ct 70 the tariff question he does not appear
20 have found so "unintelligible" as his views III
regard to free coinage.
There is room for grave doubts. at least as 10
whether the letter will be conducive TO hario"y
in the Democratic ranks but that is matter wnich
will not give Republicans serious concern lheS
will however, read with extreme interest ,ne
painest and most candid and truthful cohiession
Of the hypocrisy, dishonesty and false pretenceS Vi
the Democratic party which was ever spoken Vi
written by a member of It,
The letter is as follows:
ctS.rnp VLGJ,c LITTER.