New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-06
Tile SILTER CONVENTION.

In a dying cause men often grow passionate
The free-silver convention in Illinois denotes
strength in inverse ratio to the desperation dis
played, for It's members must have discovered
by this time that. whether they capture the DEM
ocratic organization or part from 1t, the majority
in Illinois against them will in either case be
overwhelming If they get control of the Dem
ocratc organization, they will drive many thou-
sand sensible Democrats, especially or the Dus-
ness class 10 support Republican tickets IN order
10 make their defeat certain and final If they
act with the Popusts rs q free-slver party. the
result will be lust the same except that the hard
money Democrats in that case may find 1t safe
TO retain their old organization. and hold votes
enough for It to reduce the silver people TO the
posltion o. a third party. In either event, there
is nothing to warrant hope that they can divide
or materially lessen the Republican strength
which last fall recorded about 10000 votes more
than were ever given TO any other ticket OF either
party. even in q Presidential election.
As the situation in Illinois probably typiics
the outcome In most other Western States. it
NAV be worth while to consider the details
There were nearly 10000 Populist votes last fall
or I per cent OF the whole number, about 3Sooo
more than in 1892. and this reinforcement was
evidently drawn almost wholly from the Demo
cra+s On the other hand, the total vote was
about 1900 smaller than in 1892 presumably
more Democrats than Republicans failing to
vote. But there was In addition decrease OF
abo,ft e. 600 Democrats who voted for Cleveland
in 1880, but for the Republican ticket in 1884, so
that the Republican vote was about $1,000 larger
than It had been in any previous election. These
voters, disguised with Democratic conduct as 10
the tariff and the finances. deliberately trans
ferred themselves to the Republican side. and no
reason whatever appears for supposing that the
free-siver people can attract them. as they could
not last fall The question remains where the
800. 900 Democrats will CO.
There has been distinct reaction against the
silver fanatcism Of late, II Is true, but the cleo
ton of delegates TO the silver convention indi-
Gated that in Illinois, at least the silver Demo
Gratis are probably strong enough to seize ana
control the organization Of their party. II SO,
having to overcome the organization and infiu-
ence Of the Administration, they must embrace
about two-thirds OF the remaining Democratic
voters 1t would be hopeless for these 100000
TO unite with the COOOO Popullst voters. for then
| they would have about 10000 fewer votes than
were cast for Republican candidates last fall.
Or If they capture the Democratic organization,
they will indeed hold in a sort Of moral serfdom
many thousand Democrats who do not agree
with them but will blindly stick TO the organza-
lion as usual. But many thousand others will
join the $4,000 Republicans Of last fall, and
even if the captured Democracy and the POpulist
party should fuse, they could hardly expect 10
get together more than $4,000 votes.
Probably the situation Is much the same, In
its larger and essential features, throughout the
West. The Republican party has already been
enormously strengthened 10y the accession Of
Democrats who will not stand the warfare Of
Free Traders against home Industries. On that
account it Is likely 10 gain more votes instead Of
| losing any. 1t Is not the Wilson tariff, mutaed
as il was by barter and SALE thar these voters
most resent. hut the declared determination If
! the Democratic party 10 go much further when
ever II can The hopeless division ~ opposing
factions makos II The less likely that any i,epub
leans viii he drawn on 10 support n minority
on ihe silver ISSUE. especially M business Ii Pc
covering TO some extent aud prices rising, n
tho minority composed " Democrats and ropu
lists could unite on any policy satisfactory "a Tho
silver mon. ihn, would drive over many thou
sand Democrats 20 The Republican side If Tho
silver factions do not unite. the majority against
doing mischief. by practical union OF silver mon
| with Democrats on tricky and non-coninlttal
! platform. the silver men themselves have thrown
aside by their aggressive action in other States,
| as I'm Illinois