The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-10-08
They Join HandAA

The Evening Mail announced
last evening the withdrawal of the
candidates for presidential electors
from the democratic ticket in Idaho.
Such information was not unex-
pected in many quarters it has
long been an open secret that the
democracy of Idaho has not been
enthusiastic in it's desire to elect a
gold bug like Benz. Harrison to the
presidency. The union of forces of
the peoples and democrrtic parties
leaves not one chance on earth for
Idaho to give her electoral vote to
the republican candidate.
The vital interest in this cam
paign in Idaho is silver. Free coin
age means the very life of the chief
industries of this young state. The
democratic masses in all parts of
the American union are unques-
tionably in favor of free silver coin
age; every fight that has ever been
made for the white metal has been
made by the democrats.
But the position of Grover Cleve-
land on the silver question has been
misrepresented so persistently that
he is now regarded by many staunch
democrats in the west as an enemy
of silver. 1t is the candid opinion
of this newspaper that when Mr..
Cleveland again takes his seat in
the presidential chair there will be
such q majority in favor of free
silver that he will never veto any
bill looking to the restoration of
the white metal as a money coin of
the realm. He has never threat
ened to veto free coinage bill as
Benjamin Harrison did; he has
never, in his official capacity, in
terposed in any way to interfere
with the restoration of silver. The
Evening Mail believes he will never
do SO.
Of Harrison's enmity to silver
there can be no doubt. lie has sent
to congress his official protest
against free silver coinage; he has
repeatedly warned bis party leaders
in both branches of congress that
he will veto any free coinage bill
which may be passed. The major
part of the republican party both
east and west unquestionably op-
pose free silver coinage. It was
that party that wickedly demone-
TIED the white metal; in every con-
gress since then two-thirds of the
republicans have bitterly opposed
free coinage. There is absolutely
no hope for silver from that quarter.
How best to secure silvers inter-
ests, the surest way to prevent Ida.
hos electoral vote going to the arch
enemy of this states greatest foe
that has been the supreme question
with the democratic party in Idaho.
With the silver forces of the state
between the democratic and
peoples party there was always a
dangerous possibility that the gold
bug party might carry off the cleo
toral vote for Harrison. The only
safe way to do was to unite the
peoples party and democratic for
ces upon free silver ticket. This
has been done.
The Democrats of Idaho are as
loyal as ever to the principles of
heir great party; they seek every
means to defeat the enc
mics of the common people. The
gentlemen who were selected by the
democratic state convention as can
lidates for presidential electors are
rue blue in their democracy; they
ire firm in their opposition to the
Infamous republican doctrine of
lear money and a robber tariff. It
vas to defeat that combination that
hey sought amalgamation of the
silver forces of Idaho. They were
90 good democrats to allow the
yold bugs and tariff barons to get
[daho's electoral vote.
On every consideration it is a
thousand times better that Idaho
last her vote for Weaver than for
in the electoral college.
That's what this state will have to
10 beyond question the republican
,rgan in this city this morning adj
nits Harrison cannot carry Idaho
n the face of the united opposition.
There will be talk of political
'ales and of back-down's and all
hat kind Of thing. That will be
he chief republican argument Of
he next few weeks. But the
,eople will not be deceived by that
tind of talk. The plain facts are
hat Harrison is not the choice OIL
he majority, of the electors of
IDAHO, and on that ground he is
lot entitled to this states vote.
The opposition has q perfect right
o combine to defeat man who is
to the voters. That's
vhy the democratic candidates for
electors resigned.
There is no longer any reasonable
round for supposing that the re-
'ublican party can elect one man
n it's ticket in Idaho. The whole
rowd are marked for defeat. The
statesman this morning admits