Evening star., 1895-06-20
A POLICY OF DEL LAY
Program of the Sound Money Democrats
for This Year.
Not Undertaking to Write Next Years
Platform NONv-Only a Negative
Victory Expected.

The program of the sound money demo-
Gratis for this year appears now to be
clearly defined. The policy is one of delay.
1t is an appeal to conservatism 1t is all
comprehended in one brief admonition:
Don't hurry tbs money question
The Argument UscI.
unlike the silver men, the sound money
men are not undertaking to write this year
platform for next year. They are not
disposed to cross any bridges until they
come to them. The demand of the silver
men is that the party be committed now
ana Tor good to free coinage at 16 to l.
with the distinct understanding that next
years campaign shall be conducted on that
issue. To this the sound money democrats is
make reply: Sufficient unto the year is the
issue thereof This is not the year for
writing a presidential platform. This is an
on year, when state issues in states where
there are elections to be held should be
strictly, attended to. Meanwhile, the last
democratic national platform is good and
,plndlng, and If there is consuming pas
sion to dip into national matters out of
season. reaffirm that. We are not under
taking to say what the sparty should or
should not do a year hence We have no
cast-iron rule to lay down for a situation
Which no man today can safely foreca st,
Next year. when the proper time comes,
Wen meet you and have it out in approved
fashion"
Wait for Republican Action.
This program, it is observed, takes into
consideration and makes full allowance for
the fact that before the times comes for
action next year the republicans will have
returned to power in Congress and been
obliged to wrestle in some form with the
money question. A point so important
ought not. the sound money democrats con-
tend, De overlooked or neglected in game
whose results will be so momentous What
Will the republicans in Congress do? They
are divided as to silver coinage. They are
certain not to vote for free cionage but
what will they do under the pressure of
the occasion to hold their silver contingent
In line? The sound money democrats think
their party, as a party, ought to wait and
be instructed somewhat by that. They are
not holding out the promise of voting them
selves for free coinage. They are not to be
understood as waiting for the republicans
to act, with the view of raising them out
if free coinage should be necessary and
sufficient to sweep the board. The conteu-
tion is that free coinage will not be offered
by either party, and that the democrats
consequently should wait and avail them
selves of the advantage of any blunders
and embarrassments falling to the repub-
licans by reason Of their coming into legis-
lative power and responsibility.
Only n Negative Victory Expected.
The sound money democrats, therefore, If
for any victory at all, are booked only for
a negative victory this year. The reaftir-
nation of the Chicago platform of 1892
by the democratic state conventions in
Kentucky and Ohio will, if the action is
taken. throw but little light on what the
democratic national platform of next year
will contain on the silver question. At
most, it is thought, it will merely insure
that unadulterated free coinage will not
be in it. But that. the Sound money demo-
Gratis feel, will be score worth making,
and particularly as it will also extend by
twelve months the campaign of education,
which, during the short time of its exist
ence, has been so fruitful of good argu-
ments and recruits. If the progress al
ready recorded in the south can be kept up;
If localities where until very recent date
not a democratic voice for sound money
ever was raised are now vocal in advo-
cacy of the cause, what is to prevent
complete change of democratic sentiment
on the subject before the time for holding
the next democratic national convention?
And the friends of the admins ira ton
will be content for the present merely with
preventing the making Of the presidential
issue year in advance. They will submit
their own proposition later, and, as they
promise, in due season.