The herald., 1894-09-16

opening of the debate in 1893 that the
silver law OF 1890 had BEEN passed only
for the purpose OF defeating free coin
age bill. To give credit where credit ia
due, there would be more hope of favor.
able action from the Democratic than
from the Republican party, ior although
the Democratic national convention de-
manded the repeal OF the law OF 1890.
the demand was at least professedlv
based on the ground not that that act
was an advance in the use OF silver. but
that it was not 80 great an advance as q
free coinage measure would be. There
we're numbers OF Democratu, however,
who, at the dictation Of officials in nigh
places, voted for repeal while knowing
that their constituents were firmly op-
posed to it.
The masses of the people from whom
reform must spring do not manage pri-
maries, aad although the advocates OF a
certain policy may have majority oil
votes, they feel obliged, 40 long as they
remain in the party, to vote for such
| candidates as wirepullers and manipu-
lators may choose to nominate.
In order that q great cause may win at
elections it must be championed by a
party whose leaders are for it and for it
not hsltingly, but with heart and soul.
| So long as men are not elected to Office
distinctly and specifically for che pur-
pose OF achieving this reform above all
others, it will. in my judgment. never
be achieved. The reasons that can De
advanced by an official who has 300, 900
| Offices in his gift are likely to be mole
effective than reasons that can have only
| logic for their foundation. Men have
been known to "crook the pregnant
hinges OF the knee that thrift may fol-
low fawning."
II the advocates OF monetary reform
do not come together, how can they ex-
pect to crystalizs their conviction into
statutes? Even were the Republican
party to favor free coinage nt the Amer
loan ratio, it will not teurely be Gontended
that, 80 long as human nature remains
what it is. silver Democrats would then
become Republicans; nor, were the
Democratic party to adopt Tree coinage,
could we expect silver Republicans to
become Democrats, while in any case,
unless this we're done, there would be
sufficient number of gold advocates in
either party to defeat free coinage legisla-
tion. Party names, associations, and men,
ories develop likes and dislikes which,
whatever may be said of their unreason-
ablenese, must be admitted to exist.
The opponents of silver have pointed
out to US precisely what we ought to
do. When they determined to repeal
the purchase clause of the law of 1890
they ignored for the nonce all other
issues, forgot the struggles and ami
mosities OF q third OF century, shut
their eyes to tariff cam paigns and to ex.
haueting struggles with force bills, to-
gsther with all the bittsrnens which the
memory of such occasions recalled and
joined hands without hesitation for the
mplishment of their common
purpose, not abandoning, but holding in
reserve the differences. In other words,
they formed for the purpose, and for the
time, third party. That purpose ac-
complished, they Immediately restored
the etatua quo and returned TO their diff
ferences. They voted, in congress, 90
one party. in their representative ca
pacity. We should vote at the polls 90
one party in our individual capacity.
All who behave in the prsdominance OF
monetary reform, should, in my opinion,
come together on that issue, and for the
time being hold in allegiance their cons
vietions upon other questions-rsssrving
to themselves the right to readjust their
party relations when the monetary ques-
tion 10 settled and other issues come to
the front. History teaches that while
reforms of a minor character may be ac-
complished through parties formed for
the achievement of other purposes. no
question OF the first magnitude-no
question involving great fundamental
principle operating in the interest of
the masses of mankind was ever settled
without the creation CT O new party to
achieve it.
Great parties have their rise, not, az
some suppose. in the vagaries OF acct
dent or in the caprices of ambition.
They are the legitimate outcome of the
irrepressibls aspirations Of a people
they are instrumentAlists created for
the achievement of great and we'll
defined purpose, to the accomplish
ment OF which existing instrumental-
tiles prove insufficient or Indifferent.
They are but illustrations. in the society
domain, of that institution which man
mas in all ages applied to the Difficult
ties OF his individual environment.
Whenever in his upward path he was
obstructed by barriers which no in
strument in his possession would re-
move, he proceeded to make an in-
strument that would accomplish the
purpose.
1t is for this reason that new partiea
cannot be expected to emanate from
those members of society that bask in
the sunshine of prosperity. Their path
way being already unobstructed, they
are naturally opposed to a change.
Hence the responsibility OF inaugural
ing great humanitarian movements
must always rest with the struggling
masses. New parties must spring from
the ground. 1t WAS the operation of
this principle that produced the Re-
publican party. and, were that party
true to the sources of its origin, it
would yet be worthy the allegiance OF
monetary reformsra. Like Antens of
old. its strength would be invincl BILE
so long as it kept in touch with the
ground.
Deprived in the couree OF time OF the
enthusiasm and momentum of it's first
cause.-the cause which WAS the reanon
for its being-every party becomes prone
to inertia. and to flag superfuous" on
the field Of its former glory. 1t is held
together principally by regard for its
name, by its long.standing personal
associations and by the cohesive power
OF official patronage. When the time
arrives it's great mission is ended. From
that time forth the tendency OF old par
ties is not towards progress, but to-.
wards petrifaction. They etand in the
| pathway OF progress and retard tha ra-