Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-03-12
Democratic Party Bound to Be
Split in Two by Conflicting
Principles.
Division in It's Ranks Certain on
Both the Silver and Tariff
Issues.
Only One Thing on Which the Dem
ocracy is Bent, and That is
Republican Defeat.

The political prophets have broken out
again. One man predicts that the free
silver men will beat Mr. Cleveland if he is
nominated; another that the free traders
will beat any other democrat if Mr.. Cleve-
land is not nominated. One man pre-.
diets that DIR. Blaine will have to be forced
into the race or the republican party will
be beaten; another, with rs much conf
dence, predicts that President Harrison
will be nominated and elected The
prophets who deal with democratic pros
poets have an unfair advantage. Where
great principles are involved it is possible
to be quite certain what most American
citizens will do. But between the possible
candidates on the Republican side there is
no such division or antagonism. All
represent the principles of the republican
party. There would not be the slightest
chance for the nomination of any mau
who did not nor would the voters OF the
party support such man if nominated
Honest money, protection reciprocity,
honest electious-nO candidate stands IN
the attitude of having a monopoly of
either, nor is there any possible candidate
who is opposed to either. lt may there
fore be expected that the great body Of
republican voters will support the prin-
clples Ut the party, whether one or an.
other worthy man is selected to represent
them as a candidate.
But the democratic party is in a differ
emit case. There One sees not merely a
difference in personal preference, but an
tagonism Of conviction and interest. It's
voters are not united regarding the great.
est questions OF principles. Some Of them
nt t.eg - at 1, l. al
less indirectly and yet with effort, will
struggle to maintain it Some of them
demand free coinage of silver and others
denounce 1t. The antagunism here goes
to the very foot Of party action. The
voters are divided about the fundamental
purposes for which the party exists, MIR.
HUI represents great many democrats in
his furious outbreak against the money
power and the monOpolists, but he does
not exactly represent Mr.. Havemeyer of
the sugar trust, nor Mr.. Haggin of the
copper combination, nor the influential
democratic millionaires Of the Standard
on interests, nor Senator Brice and Others
who are In railroads In tact, there Is one
thing anont which democrats are united,
except 1t strong desire g. Jeat the republi-
can party and get the offices for democrats.
Hence IL is that antogonism exists in that
party which goes far deeper than mere
personal preferences. At bottom the
question Is whether the party shall put the
vast power of the executive into the hands
OF secret friend or into the hands of an
uncompromising foe of protection; wheth-
er II shall intrust the veto power to
friend or to a foe of free silver coinage.
1t does not look at present as if the
democrats would be able to get together
in harmony: as usual, and TO put side
purposes and principles, individual ,on-
yictlOns and interests, as they have uune
so often, for the sake of party success. 1t
looks as if there would DO dissatisfied NAL
contents, Disguised and angry men by
the thousand, no matter which of two
paths the partY chnosas tn take.