The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-04-07
WANTED, A LEADER.
A promirest Democrat Who Has Had
Years Of Official Life,
Writes Letter-ws Publish It for What
tis worth, and as News.
Special Correspondence.

II
meas Of mysteries.
The silver question, the mooted ques-
| ton OF past ages, claims the attention Of
| thoughtful observers and progressive
| statesmen.
Mr.. BANDS advocacy for free and un-
limited coinege, the expediency preached
l by Senator Hill, and the solid currency
doctrine Of Representative Harter and
| Senator Sherman, OF Ohio, have been
discussed and criticised threadbare. The
OHIO Democracy now falls a-wondering,
"~hat ct our gallant leader2 What OF
senator Brice2 Where does he stand 2
Where is our 'S:ar of Bethlehem"
humanity and focks of sheep, must
have leaders. Democracy is n very large
portion of hum anity and II, too, must have
/ a leader.
The present outlook augers wreck on
| the rocks of unfulnlled promises, amid
the dense fog Of uncertainty, which IL
fact ht mining IL in.
After the last Democratic Convention,
held at Cleveland, and subsequent 70
Governor Campbel's denomination and
much quoted willingness ITO chance"
free coiuage, Senator Brice declared pos
itively, when interviewed in New York,
hts Intention of giving to the Democracy
of Ohio, freely and fully, his views on the
silver question, from the stump, ere the
campaign was fairly launched.
At tho time OF the convention, 1t will be
remembered, Mr.. Brice was in Europe.
But returning, soon afterwards, to
have finger in tho pie. But
"when the pie was opened, no bird began
TO sipg.n 'Tis now the common refrain
Ia Ohio, "where's the silver issue, to set
before the king2n The prospect Is, that
the death knell OF Democracy's hope has
been as surely, as mournfully dirged, rs 1t
was last fall, when IL waitcd, hoped and
watched. for the help, which did not come.
Whom the Democrats OF Ohio elected
Mr.. Brice to the eSenatorship, they haunted
their banners OF victory proudly, near and
far; realizing what great distinction they
had in store fer them. Even boastiug Of
their enviable poaitiop, as Democracy took
its seat, side by side, with its compeers.
Il 1t possible the anticipation win be the
extent of the realization?
or course, the speech Senator Brice de-
livered in the district school house, near
Lima, Ohio, is neither appreciated nor
forgotten. Yet Allon county, perhaps,
has more to be grateful for, ia hatspeech,
than the patient Democracy Of Ohio.
An incident, in connection with the
Cleveland Convention and the opening of
the campaign, may not be amiss here and
may, perchauce, throw some elucidation
on the attitude Of Ohio's leader and the
silver plank.
As an Enperor's q ministers and courtiers
are but the reflections of his Mejesty's
sentiments, so it may be in other in
stances.
Everybody knows that J. B. Townsend
and Walter B. Ritchie, of Lima, Ohio,
stand nearest the Senatorial throne in
Ohio.
The shrewdness and energy they dis
played, in the manipulation of the Sena.
torial campaign, together with their con-
tinued loyalty and fidelity, would pro-
nounce their present favor we'll merited.
These two servitors and John X. Brice,
the Senator's brother, represented their
chief at the Cleveland Convention. Each
of these gentlemen, as well as all of Brice's
warm, personal and political friends,
valiantly supported the silver platform.
At the moment when the Committee on
Resolutions was holding Quaker meeting,
In session, because of the mutual obsti-
macy OF its members, little drama was
being enacted in the Hollenden Hotel
lobby. a
The first TO appear on the scene, WAS L.
P, Linn, of Columbus, and able lawyer
and partner OF Congressman Outhwaite,
also devoted friend of ex- Governor
! Campbell. Running breathlessiy down
stairs, he met the Private Secretary of ex-
Governor Campbell, and in excited tones
| asked him "where he could find some of
Brice's friends." Pacing up and down, in
l evident distress, he vociferated, "that the
whole D.m 'cratic victory was on the
| verge OF being turned in TO u Pompeian
burial ground, IL the outrage geous instrusion
of the Silver plank was not hurled into
| atoms"
| Waxing more and more demonstrative,
he cried aloud for some one TO see General
e. b. Eindley, of Bucyrus, who was q
devotee of Brice's. "If the Brice gang
could but see Findley, "tell Findley", they
could undoubtedly persuade Findley that
1t would mean certain defeat to "inseri
the Silver Plank'; and thereby control
Flndley's vote. Oh, where was FindleyT'
Just then, as tho Fate had sent him Mr.,
Richie sauntered In. Mr.. Linn, knowing
that Richie was possibly the nearest tc
the bulls eye, the surest bird OF omen,
quickly accosted him, and earnestly
pleaded with him, declaring tho "crisis
was at hand and IL silver were brought on
their requiem had been suug,n &C., &c.
"rut, tut, be calm, young man, ,''replied
Richie, "free silver's exactly what's need
cd. ItwIll poll votes; not only from the
Peoples Party, but from the hard listed
farmer. Avaunt, avsunt, my boy"
Nor would tears nor frenzy nor threat
ening pictures move Mr.. Ritchie. No
one iota from his position would he
swerve.
Governor Campbell, when spoken to or
the direful situation, cautiously limited
that with Major Mckinley as the opposing
nominee, there would be no doubt of the
tariff being the main issue of the cam
paign. So hazardous was bis position
then, (sfter his flght for the candidac!
s.ill fresh, and the prospect of the blood!
skirmish still to Gomez he was unable L
declare himself openly, fearful lest h
effend his best friends. There was NJ
doubt, however, in bis mind, that the Ma
tional Convention would incumber iisel
with the silver question and all would b
plain sailing In Ohio.
But his suggestion was unheeded, wit
the result only too well known. Y