New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-29
THE Fruits or WRONG- DOING.


Since the Democratic members OF the House
have definitely committed themselves On the
silver question, it is pertinent to look benea'h
the surface to the causes which have forced ms
issue upon them and made the struggle so bit
ter. 1t was not bindly or hastily, but with
deiberation and full knowledge, that Demo
cratic members insisted upon vote which was
certain to cost their party heavily in Eastern
States and commercial cities. They had to
choose between the right thing for their coun-
try and their party and the profitable thing for
themselves. Exactly as they refused to think
of country rather than of self, they refused to
think of party rather than Of self. But this cor
Germs the character and size Of the individual
members Behind were the forces which caused
such men 70 be selected by the party to repre-
sent it, and which made the voters of the parry
what they are.
This bill is a heritage Of Elm. Democrats tl1ed
20 betray the interests of the country quarter
of century ago, and their misdeeds are visited
upon their children. When the War closed the
party of rebellion felt q fierce hatred OF the men
and institutions whose faith in the Nation had
given it the means and the power to conquer
At once they set out to dishonor the bonds and
debase the currency. All the traditions OF their
party were for hard money, but were trampled
under foot. TO be avenged on public creditors
and to break the Republican party, the Demo
Gratis entered upon their crusade for paper in
haton and payment Of bonds in deprecated
currency. The land was deluged with papers
and pamphlets, pictures, handbills and speeches
appealing TO the prejudiceS OF the ignorant
against the banks and the bonds and the money
power. Into the Democratic party were gathered
all who could be seduccd by tho prospect OF a
dishonest currency, or caught with the notion
that more money was needfu After twenty
wears of such assimilation and such training the
Democratic party in many Of the States has be-
come what it IS
The silver agitation was from the first a
scheme 70 divide the Republicans. 1t comes
back now to divide and defeat the Democrats
who gave it being, as many other curses come
home 10 roost Beaten in their battle against
resumption in 1875 and 1876, the Democrats
conceived that movement for free silver coin
age would SCI Eastern against Western Repub-
lcans. With twenty majority in the House and
Mr.. Randall in the chair they passed the Bland
BILL which the Senate modified under Mr.. Al
lisons leadership. From that day to this the
effort has been the samc-to dcbaSe the paper
currency under the pretext of silver coinage.
Later still, when twenty years of continual Dem
ocratic appeals to the ppjudices OF farmers had
prepared many of them to believe that poor crops
were somehow due to scarcity Of currency, GER
tain Southern Democratic leaders contr1ved The
Farmers Alliance as a movement toward third
party in order to divide the Republicans. 1t was
lust in time TO attain in 1890 an astonishing
Success Then men began TO think that the
wires in this contrivancc were all pulled by
Southern Democrats. The Republican farmers
in great number declined to be used as tools
any longer More Democrats than Republicans
remain in the new party, even in most of the
Northern States, while the Southern Alliance be-
gan 10 threaten the very existence Of the Demo
cratic party The only chance TO placae these
Alliance men and thus retain many Nats in
Congress was 10 force through the silver bill in
spite Of Eastern warnings and protests.
As Actacon was devOurd by his own dogs, the
Democratic party is tOrn - pieces by tho false
bclicfs it has taught. the foul prejudices it has
foS'eed. and the tricks it has devised 10 flch
unm@ied success. The passionate and igno-
rant mass Of voters who have been gathered
into the Democratic party in many districts and
there trained to hate "the money power has
made it impossible for sound, statesmanlike men,
who care for country and for truth moro than
for their places, to obtain nominations in such
districts. So it comes to pass that in nearly a
hundred districts men who know no better are
voting for free silver or men who know better
have not the manhood 10 confront the preudns
Of constituents. If the party should lose every
Eastern State, the Presidency, and both houses
Of Congress, these men could justify themselves
by pointing to the example Of the Democracy,
which for twenty-five years has continually
sacrificed duty and country for self.