New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-13
THE SILVER CANVASS.


Less than one wear ago the Democratic Ma
tonal Convention adopted platform in which
the party formally and sOlcmnly resolved that
1--WE denouncc the Republican legislation
known as the Sherman act Of 1890 As cow
ardy makeshift fraught with possibilities OF
danger in the future which should make all OF
its Supporters as well As its author anxious for
its speedy repeal Is there any doubt about
the meaning of that? Any doubt about the
impression it was intended to convey to the
mind of the voter? What would any diSin-
tcre sted person, who was not familiar with the
history II the party, its indifference to It's
promises and the case with which it repldilted
its engagements say was the purpose OF the
authors Of this resolution in case the voters
should give them the power to repeal this act?
Is there any ambiguity about it? Any chance
for lodging its clear and manifest intent? Was
il possible for any man opposed to the repeal
honestly T. vote for this resolution, defend ana
sustain il during the campaign. and ask voters
10 support the Democratic National ticket on
the strength Of il? Can any one who has done
all this refuse to vote for the repeal and still
claim T. be an honest man? And what about the
claim of patty that puts out such lures, and
deliberately turns its back upon the record and
refuses to fulfil its express engagement? How
can any individual member of party 50 in
yolvcd maintain his claim to personal integrity
TO ask man So situated what he intends 10
do when the question comes up is an imputa-
tion that a man of nice sense of honor would
resent.
And vet here are our two Democratic con-
tcmporarcs. THE New y ork Times and 1.-The
New-YorIl World" sending letters and tele-
grams all over the country, ran>acking remote
corners, chasing up wandering Democratic Con
grcssmcn 10 find out-what? Why whether
the men who solemnly resolved that the Silver
Purchase act ought 10 be repealed, and went
10 the country on the strength OF that resolve
and the promise it implied, have any idea of
voting for the repeal now that the people who
trusted them have put it in their power to do
il. With both branches OF Congress III their
hand, absolutely and an Executive of their own
back Of Congress- the action of these two lead
ing Democratic newspapers shows how little
faith they have in the party a. an organized
political force Tho pains they have taken 10
get fresh expressions of opinion and avowals
Of intention from individual members OF Con-
grc,s indicate that they have no more conf
dencc in the personal integrity Of the leaders
than in the honesty Of the party as an organ-
eaton. And these two journals, passing no
criticism or condemnation upon the Democ ratio
members who in answer 10 their inquiries have
made the brazen confession that in spite of the
Chicago resolution they do moi propose TO vote
for repeal profess 10 be encouraged because
50 considerable number of the men elected TO
Congress on platform demanding repeal Of
the Silver Purchase act have slgnliied their in
tcn.iOn 10 do rs they agreed. The real queS-
ton which these journals have been putting to
the Democratic Congress is, " How many Of you
statesmen told the truth, and how many acre
lying, when YOU told the voters that You and
your party were in favor of the repeal Of the
Silver Purchase act?' And that is tho ques
ton which will be answered when tho returns
are all in.
Meantime it is fact Of even greater signii-
canoe that the President elected on this plat
form, believing that the law is mischievous in
its operation and sincerely anxious for its re-
peal believing he says, that il i respon
siblc for tho financial distress and business dis
turbanccs through which we have been pass
ing. has not dared TO cali a Congress Of his
supporters together to carry ont the promise
If their platform, because Of the certainty that
they would rcpudiate it. Nor is that the worst
For the belief is general among Democrats as
well as Republicans that the only way in which
he can induce his party in Congress to fulfil
tho promise of the Chicago platform is by the
use of official patronage, and that this is what
he intends to do. This, it is generally under
stood. is tho reason why clean sweep has not
been made already in all the offices. They are
to be used for the purchase of votes on the
silver question. And this is the outcome of
the fr:t three months of Democratic control
fine lot Of confidence operators truly
This is the Season WHOM great deal Of per