The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-04-02
NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH.

time ago, indicates that the silver ques-
ton is not dead in Washington. 1t is
only sleeping. But it will prove "a
mighty lively subject in the senate un-
less it be squelched in the beginning OF
the discussion. There is danger in this,
for the same timidity which became pro
nounced in the house among democrats
when the test vote on Burrows motion
was taken is manifested by a few demo-
cratic senator's. They fear, as did the
house democrats, that, while the repub-
licans who are VIGOROUSLY opposed to
free coinage and have nothing to lose in
the discussion of the question, they can
gain nothing and may lose all. This
fear is based upon these premises.
The south favors free coinage and tho
south is democratic. Hence no political
advantage can be gained in the south by
voting for free coinage. The silver pro-
ducing states in the west and northwest
also favor free coinage. but with the cx-
ception Of Montana, they are put down
as republican. Therefore. no political
advantage can be gained by democrats
in the west and northwest by democrats
in congress voting for free coinage.
1t may be stated right here in parenthe-
sis that there is a sufficient number of
democrats in the house and with the
few silver republicans in the senate to
carry a free coinage measure to the presi-
dent, but a number refuses to support
such a measure for reasons already given
in these columns. They are mistaken.
But the fact must be accepted. We
must take things as we find them. not as
they should be.
AS no political advantage can be gain
ed or lost in the southern and north
western states by democrats passing or
failing to pass a coinage bill one must
look elsewhere for the object of their
fear. That is found in the tier of north
ern states. Like the towards they are
some democrats are afraid a free coinage
bill passed by democratic votes would
lose the party the states of New York,
Indiana, Connecticut and New Jersey,
states which are very essential factors
to the party's success in the prcsi-
dental election. Hence they oppose
the Stewart as well as the Bland bill at
this juncture. They want to keep the
silver question out of the campaign.
They believe they can win the ensuing
fight on the tariff question alone, while
their success would be jeopardized by
forcing the silver issue in it.
five say, if-the democratic con-
gressmcn from tho northern states truly
reflect the sentiment of the masses of
northern people upon the silver question
the surmises of democratic leaders are
correct. An analysis of the vote taken
upon Burrows motion shows that of the
lis votes cast in favor of it that means
votes cast against free silver coinage
81 were cast by democrats and G6 were
cast by republicans. And it is further
more shown that only one republican
east of the Mississippi river Vincent A,
Taylor Of Ohio and 10 republicans west
of that river and 137 democrats and al,
lance men voted for silver coinage.
The number of northern democrats
who voted against the Bland bill was as
follows: New York, 10; Pennsylvania, 10;
Wisconsin,, Massachusetts, and Iowa, :
each; New Jersey and Ohio4 each; Illinois
Connecticut and Michigan 3 each; and
Michigan. New Hampshire. Rhode
Island and Minnesota . each. making d
total Of u northern democratic votes
cast against the measure. Four of tn,
other 9 were from Maryland, and the
rest were scattered among other south
Gro states. The face of the house re
turns shows GO per cent of the democratic
vote in favor of free coinage and IL pc
cent Of the republican vote in favor of it
With these facts and figures before
them democratic senators have put OF
their studying caps and are now asking
themselves whether it is best for them tc
stand by Stewart in his fight for free
silver or postpone consideration of the
matter until after the presidential cleo
ton. With all due Difference to thciI
grey hairs and to the wisdom which the,
are supposed to possess they are acting
like great boobies. Many of them have
not. Judging from the expressions which
they occasionally let fall, have not de
voted "a days thought altogether to the
silver question during their lives. vii
they ever learn anything about it:
The senate having ratified the Behrinl
sea treaty with England the people o.