The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-13
GETTING LIGHT.

One OF the Denver papers, the Times, is
beginning to permit the light Of intelli-
gence TO shine on the Colorado silver club
craze 1t is healthy sign, for itindicates
that our friends on the other side OF the
range may be brought back to their senses
before they have wrecked things. In an
editorial on Tuesday, under the head,
WHITTIER are We Driftingl" speaking of
the silver clubs eXacting from members
pledges to vote for no man for the presi-
oency who is not favorable to the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, the Times says:
Conservative men in both parties are anx-
ious to know just where such a course will land
them VIII their votes help the candidate of
the Peoples party or the Republican party or
OF the Democratic party in case they make
this pledge and live up to it? Will they help or
injure the cause Of free coinage by such action?
Suppose President HARRISON is made the
nominee OF the Republican party GROVER
CLEVELAND the nominee of the Democratic
party, and some such strong friend of silver as
TELLER, STEWART or BLAND the nominee of
the Peoples party. Would it be possible now
TO elect the nominee OF the last named party?
If not would not the votes cast for its candi-
date make it possible for either the Republican
or Democratic nominee to be elected by the
electoral college? In that event would not the
Democratic nominee be elected by the House
Of Representatives?
Our contemporary being Republican
organ goes on to argue that the pledge is a
Democratic trick to nullify the electoral
vote of Colorado, by having it thrown for
some third candidate who cannot possibly
be elected. Of course there is nothing in
this. 1t is partisan and ludicrous at the
same time. The Colorado electoral vote
can be cast in no way to affect the Demo-
crazy in the slightest degree. There is no
possible combination by which Colorado
could elect or defeat the Democratic nomi-
nee, hence what our contemporary says on
that score does not count.
! but what the Times says as TO the course
pursued by the silver clubs in exacting the
pledges from their members should set
both Democrats and Republicans to think
ing. If that pledge meant anything ii
would be all right. If faithfulness to the
pledge could accomplish anything, we
would like to know that all the voters OF
Colorado had taken the obligation anc
would keep it. But to observe the pledge
really means 10 antagonize to q certain ex-
tent the two great political parties, from
both of which free coinage legislation mus
come. 1t means war upon the sdministrs
ton of the next four years, be that admin
istration Democratic or Republican. Il
means that having repudiated the parties
OF power and influence, no favors, nj
friendship need be expected.
So far as the Democratic nominee is con
cerned, it will be absolutely immaterial Il
him-will cut no figure in the election-i
all the voters in the so-called silver state,
pledge themselves to vote for none but
free coinage advocate. If the electora
votes of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana
Nevada, Idaho aud Washington. which ar,
the silver states, were all cast for thirt
candidate, or were all cast for the Republi
can nominee, the result would be the sam
so far as the Democratic nominee i
concerned. He must be elected outsid
of these states, or he will be defeated, TO
their votes cannot elect If he should los
an eastern state now counted upon a
essential
Hence it is not partisan politics who
influences US against the pledge business
1t is a desire that the cause of silver be nc
injured by its friends. We are glad tina
one Colorado paper sees whittier tn
fanaticism is leading the silver advocate:
and it is to be hoped that others of tn
newspapers over there will get glimps
of light before greater mischief has bee
: wrought.