The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-11
white metal IS BOOMING
Southern Democrats Are lnOculated
with Silver Virus,
DEMOCRACY WILL DISSOLVE
Old Leaders Arc Dropping Out and Stall
wart Silver Men Are Filling Their
Places in the Southern States.
New Party May Arise.

Washington, Jan. 10.-The prediction
Is made in silver circles that the action
of Senator Blackburn in renewing his
allegiance to free coinage in the face
of the administra tion's latest attitude
on the financial question will prove to
be but the forerunner of similar action
on the part of other southern Demo-
Gratis of equal prominence. The neces-
sites of such action are represented as
being great, and as growing no less
out of the past record of those men
as out of wise and necessary provi-
sion for the future. The south, 1t is
asserted, Is not now in the humor for
compromise on the silver question, and
will be likely to withdraw her commits
sion from any man, no matter how high
his reputation or how loyal his past
services, who wavers at this time on
the issue.
In support of this assertion two in
stances are given. The situation in
North Carolina is offered first. because
that is believed to afford the most strik-
ing illustration of the truth of the
whole silver contention. The legisla-
ture in that state is on the eve of as
retirement of Senators Ransom and
Jarvis and the election of q Populist
and a Republican to succeed them.
General Ransom has beeH in the senate
for nearly a quarter of a century, and
until recently was considered invinci-
BILE at home. Marion Butler, the Popu-
list leader slated for his seat, is young
enough to be General Ransom's son,
and has been prominent in the politics
of the state only a very few years. His
rise, the silver men claim. has been due
almost exclusively to his bold cham
pionship n silver.
The second case cited by the friends
Of silver is the complete revolution
effected in South Carolina. This also is
ascribed primarily to the unsatisfac-
tory course of the national Democracy
on the money question. The first
rumblings of discomfort are said to
have been occasioned by the failure of
Senators Hampton and Butler to take a
decided and advanced stand for silver.
Tillman, then an obscure young man,
saw his opportunity, took this COM
plaint against Hampton and Butler for
basis of action, and founded an oppo-
stion party with free coinage as its
cry. Mr.. Butler tackled at last, and
during the silver fight at the special
session stood on the free coinage course
But he was too late to save himself
He is to give place to Tillman, whose
course as senator is expected to be gov
erned entirely by the programme of the
silver men.
Reference is also made to the situa-
| ton in Tennessee, where Mr.. Harris is
standing for reelection on a free silver
platform. The Democracy, though saw.
ing the legislature, suffered a defeat in
that state last fall. The rank and file
of the party refused to go to the polls
and only for the reason, as the silver
men charge, that the national Democ-
racy had done nothing for silver.
Silver Spirit Spreading.
The silver men claim that this split Is
spreading and growing. They are ex.
| pecting it to find controlling expression
| in all of the southern states. They are
declaring that what has taken place In
North and South Carolina, Tennessee
! West Virginia, and, in a measure, ir
! AldDaIIld, Is On lne CdTuS III heHluCky
and elsewhere. Mr.. Blackburn, as they
believe, has wisely OWNED the popular
! tendency, and Is eminently wise in hi:
| latest silver deliverances. He sees tina
the Populist vote in his state is grow
ing, and that the recruits are coming
from the ranks of the Democracy
There is talk even of an alliance be
tween the Kentucky Populists and tn,
Kentucky Republicans, by which tn,
next election in the Blue Grass state |!
to be carried, and the fruits of victory
as in North Carolina, divided between
the allies. Such result would meal
the retirement of Mr.. Blackburn from
political life, and the sending to th
senate in his place of either straight
out Republican, chosen in exchange fo
some Populistic favor at home, or o
some Populist pledged to assist Repub
lican measures other than silver.
Some of the most experienced men II
public life frankly confess that such
state of affairs has never before com
under their observation. 1t Is full of in
consistencies and even the boldest para
dox. The southern combination be
tween the Republicans and the Popu
lists seems absolutely inexplicable. ex
cept upon the score of an effort to sup
plant the Democracy in that section
with some new party, leaving every
thing else to the future.