The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-03
STORMS AHEAD.
"WIGs ON THE .GREEN."
War in the Republican Campfire
Silver Getting in Its Work,

AiO0 Cd1S dbO duu also one year
ago, when, the Populists were preach
ing free silver, and declaring that the
Tariff question was simply ''sham
battle" tire two old parties laughed
at US, and called us cranks, and were
immensely funny over the wheels"
we had in eur heads; and so they con-
tinued to pound each other over their
empty skulls with harmless stuffed
clubs, marked "Protection" and Free
Trade"
And when it became evident, re-
Gently, that in Illinois and all through
the land tha Democrats were torn into
warning factions over the money-ques-
tion, the Republicans laid back and
laughed ANA said:-"Our people are
such dishcpest set of scamps-God
be praised-tAat they will never quar-
rel over the issue of Free Silver or any
thing else: but bound together BY the
hope of petai plumber, We will ad-
vance, rotten and Harmonious, to
splendid victsry; and then We will
play the old anne Of triokery and false
pretenses for -FOUR years more"
Bat the Republican masses are hon
ester than THE leaders thought, and
the dynamite ef truth is beginning to
explode among1 them; apd is throwing
the ranks ints' the widest confusion
And now it 10 the Democratic turn to
chuckle and.csDow, and this is the way
the St. Paul GNobe does it:
On April last the Globe published an
article to the effect that silver conven-
ton would be called to meet in Minnesota
during the present summer or fall. The
assertions in that article were based on
several significant facts, principal among
which was the open advocacy of a free and
unlimited coinage act by some of the clev-
crest workers tWith the accent on the
work. in the Republican party in this
state.
In the Globe article this language was
used:
promoters Of the idea-the men who
will have the management of the meeting
are moving quietly and cautiously
Within month or two, however, they
will have the plan sufficiently matured to
uncover 1T to the general public
The article further stated that it was
proposed to admit democratic free silver
AtCo w IAC CO1lNC UuL SIuCt t1dl liIuC
the Republican Hlanfpulators have come
to feel so sure of their ground that they
have decided to gb it alone. When the
Globe uncovered the scheme, almost at it's
Matching, one of the most incredulous of
the Twin City newspapers was the Mime
apolis Journal. 1t scoffed at the idea as
preposterous and dubbed the article
fake. But in the journal of yesterday ap-
peared the following special dispatch:
Convention Han. Cleveland, O., June
21.-With reference to Coin" Harvey's
statement in the Enter Ocean, that Con-
gresham Towne had promised to call a
silver convention in Minnesota, Mr.
Towne says that the matter has been I'M
der consideration, hut no conclusion has
been reached. He thinks it may be done,
and if it Is, it will BIZ called as a Republi-
can meeting. Ex-L leut Gov A. Barte, of
Sank Center; Lieut. Gov Frank Day, of
Fairmont; Senator d F. Mosgan, of Min
neapolis, and Otherskhave been consulted
and will join in the call If It is issued
Mr.. Towne will haNe nothing to do with
such a movement outside of Republican
ranks, and he is confident that if such a
step is taken, it WA be supported by a
large number of Minnesota Republicans
He has received a great many letters
since his statement Ofthis position in favor
Of silver from all paltts Of the state, and
| mentions particularly the First and Sec
| 0nd districts, as well as his own as hav-
| ing strong silver elements Mr. Towne
has not sought to make his views promi-
nent here, except by the introduction Of
resolutions before the delegation Wednes-
| day, but has not f1inched from bold
| avowal Of his views whenever they were
called for, although he~is so far out Of line
with the rest of the delegation.
A paragraph from the comment on
| TONNES statement rephs:
"The first person of prominence outside
| Of the state to whom be confided his in
tentions was w. H. Harvey, the "Coin"
man, in Chicago. HARVEY wrote letter
| to the Chicago Inter Ocean, which is the
silver Republican organ. showing how the
| silver cause was progressing and in the
| course of it let the cat cut of the Bag
In the Globe article OF April it was
stated that there is something more than
a suspicion on which to base the state
ment that the declaration Of the Illinois
Democratic state central committee was
known to be coming by acme men in Min
nesota-and Republicans too-befere it
was publicly announced. The Globes
source Of information is such, and the
facts in the case are SO well authenti.
Gated, that there is little doubt this silver
convention movement will shortly be
heard of elsewhere"
At the time the above was written Con-
gresham Towne was keeping in the back
ground, but his controversy with the Pho
neer Press, and the criticisms passed
upon him, vexed Mr. Tovhe out of all pa
thence, until now he com rs boldly to the
front to back up and sustain Lieut. Gov
Day, John Lind and the other Republicans
who have heretofore borne the brunt of
the fight for free silver within the party
in MinnesotaA
The Globes article of April was cor
rect, and while it was therein admitted
that the scheme might fan through, there
seems now little reason to doubt that such
a convention will be called If it is there
will be found in attendance as delegates
all the men named in the Globe article,
except the Democrats and iRopulists.
All this shows that the silver ques-
tion is to be as great power for disin-
tegration in 1896 as the Slavery ques-
tion was in 1856.
It looks now as IL the Peoples Party
would soon receive immense acces-
sions to it's ranks, not OF individuals
alone, but Of great orga1+zed masses,
Of both Democrats and Republicans.
Keep the Omaha banner flying, but
open all the doors and windows for
the swarmng converts. The day of
the nations redemption and the peo-
nla,s nroS No ritv draws near ssTot tho