The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-16
Democratic Unity.

The letter which Congressman Clifton
r. Breckenridge, of the Second district of
Arkansas, has addressed to his con-
stituents could be read with profit by the
people of every congressional district in
the south. Some of Mr.. Brecknridge's
constituents are trying TO prevent him
from being renominated because he voted
for the bill to repeal the purchasing
clause Of the Sherman silver law. They
/ favor the free coinage of silver at the
| existing ratio, and they talk about a
| political alliance between the west and
the south TO carry into effect their silver
views. They do not, of course under
stand the silver question. They have the
idea that free silver coinage, without any
provision for maintaining the parity be-
tween the money metals, would be great
blessing to the country, because in
! their view it would make money
more plentiful and would cause a rise in
the prices of all products. No doubt they
are honest in holding the opinions they do
in this matter, but those who make finan-
cial questions a study know that the free
coinage of silver upon the terms demanded
by the pOpUlists and the democratic sill
verites would result in a debased currency
and would bring ruin to the whole coun-
try.
Speaking of the proposed sectional ALI
ance between the west and the south, for
the purpose of forcing the free coinage of
silver, MIR. Breckenridge says: Are we
seeking sectionalisma If Divine Provi-
dence, for some retributive purpose, were
forging a final and Overwhelming curse
for our land he could not put it in a more
effective form than this
Mr.. Breckenridge pleads for national
unity and points out that the only wise
course is to keep the Democratic party
a national party He declares that the
position of the silverites is opposed to the
plain terms of the national democratic
platform, and that to attempt to force the
adoption of free silver coinage at this
time would delay rather than advance the
cause of silver.
1t is a source of satisfaction that in all
parts of the south a change of sentiment
is going on in respect to the free coinage
Of silver. The southern people are thor
oughly honest, and they want
honest money. The great majority
of those who are in favor of the free
coinage of silver are under the impress
sion that silver currency would remain on
a par with gold currency if the mints
were opened to the free coinage of silver
They are gradually beginning to under
stand, however, that such would not be
the case-that free silver coinage means
debased currency, a currency that
would cause this country financially to
sink to the level of the petty states of
Central and South America. They are
finding out that President Ceve-
lands administration is not hostile to
a sound silver currency, that is a
silver currency that would be as valua-
BILE as any other currency in the markets
and for the payment of debts, as de-
handed by the national democratic plat
form.
The difference between the admins
tration's financial policy and the financial
policy of those democrats who are oppos-
ing the administration is this: The admin
istration is insisting upon sound money,
whether it be gold, silver or paper money,
while those opposed to the administration
are insisting upon policy that would
lead to unsound money.
The southern people are gradually see
ing this difference, and they are rallying
to the support of the administration
There is no danger of a sectional alliance
between the south and west on the money
question. There is too much common
sense in each section to permit of an alli-
ance in behalf of an unsound currency.