St. Paul daily globe., 1893-11-10
ONLY SOUND AND FURY

AS the dust kicked up by the little
cyclone which swept the country from
Kansas to Massachusetts bay settles
down an d permits view of the wreck
age, some things appear that temper the
rough winds to the lambs that were
Shorn.
The first important fact that strikes
the observer is that the whole free-coin-
age clamor was nothing but sound and
fury. The wordy pictures drawn in
congress and in the silverite press of an
oppressed and plundered people who
were moaning under the burdens piled
on them by the gold bugs and the rapa-
cious money power, cruelty Indifferent
to their appeals for relief which could
only come i'll the free and unrestricted
coinage Of silver dollars at the ratio of
sixteen to one, were nothing but emana-
tions of gas-unreal and unsubstantial.
Nowhere on the whole field does this
show as clearly as in Virginia. There
it was the issue. The Democratic state
convention, despite the influence of the
silver-tongued Daniel, had declared for
repeal OF the silver purchase act. The
PopuliSts declared for free coinage. The
tight was square one between the two
parties, the Republicans having betaken
themselves to the woods, whence they
gave what aid and comfort they could
to the Populists. There was nothing to
obscure the issue. The man who be-
lieved in free coinage; the debtor who
hoped for Its aid to help him cheat his
creditor; the distressed man of business
who felt that little cheaper money
might help him out of his difficulties,
each and all could get what they wanted
or express their wishes only through the
Popu list party. Fifty thousand Dem
ocratic majority demonstrates that there
was no popular backing to the free
coinage movement in congress. 1t shows
that the whole movement was, as we
have often asserted, but the effort of
| selfish interests, aided by coWardly
| politicians, anxious to tickle what
they thought the popular opinion of
their states or districts, themselves de-
ce1ved by the blatant, shrieking, igno-
| rant demagogues whose noise they
mistook for popular opinion. With
| the Republican contingent practically
| united against further purchases; with
the Democrats divided, any free coin age
sentiment would have found EXPIRE ssion
in Democratic rather than in Repub-
| lIcan majorities.
Another important matter that ap-
pears with increased clearness is the de-
crease in the Populistic movement.
| While it was apparent in the elections
of 1892 the extent Of it was obscured by
the fusion in some of the states which
| increased its apparent strength. 1t is
now certain that this latest cometary in
truder among the staid planets of poll
tics is returning rapidly to the unknown
| depths whence it came. The discom-
flied prophets of evil will now return
again to their cave Of Adullam to await
another opening for the exercise of their
disturbing powers.
We do not envy those Southern sem
ators to whose demagogy so much of the
disasters of Tuesday is due, their feel
iDgs as they survey the field. 1t is bad
taste they must have in their mouths.
Their cud OF reflection must be bitter
one. They made cowardiy and use
less sacrifice of their party principles
they allied themselves with their old
and merciless enemies; they deserted
the men who have stood by and saved
them; they discredited their party with
its members and its allies, and all abso-
lutely for nothing. They have de-
nounced the ''hireling" press which
warned them; they fouted the counsel
of the business men who spoke to them
through their associations: they turned
their back on these and on honor and
l loyalty to party and principle, and now