Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-17
What Conservative Democrats Pre-
dict Will Be the Case.
TIE TARIFF INCIDENT TO Be REPEATED
Rank and File Will Follow CIeve-
land and Sound Money.
THE MEMPHIS CONVENTION

The action of President Cleveland in
drawing the line sharply for the sound
money wing of the democratic party
against the unlimited free coinage of silver
and in favor of a safe national currency, in
the face of what seems to be the sentiment
of a large porticn Of his party, recalls
similar radical step which the President
took in the face of his party in 1887.
Politicians are asking each other
whether history is to repeat itself, and
whether, after a brief period of resistance,
the majority of the party WILL as they did
once before. abandon their opposition and
Enthusiastically follow the President.
The Tariff Message Recalled.
1t will be remembered that in 1887 Presi-
dent Cleveland took stand upon the tariff
question which at the time was said to be
In advance of his party. Every one in
terested in public affairs recalls the stir
ring tariff message of Mr.. Cleveland at
that time, and the dismay which it caused
among the practical politicians" who
Erophesied dire disaster to the party for
the Endorsement by the President of ideas
more nearly approaching free trade than
the builders of tariff bihs had dreamed of
up to that time. 1t is also a matter of
record that the prophecies of disaster to
the party were subsequently fulfilled, in
fact, at the next presidential election, and,
Whatever the true cause the Presidents
advanced position on the tariff was fire.
quently made to bear the burden of re-
spoEsibility for the defeat.
The next turn of the political wheel, how
ever, brought Mr.. Cleveland on top, and the
party which had seemed to shrink from his
advanced ideas on the tariff then came for
ward in enthusiastic advocacy of them. APP
parentiy 1T was what the people had want
ed. They had not known their own minds,
had not been aware of what was best for
them, but the President had seen it all
along and far ahead. so he was hailed as a
true prophet by whom every democrat
Bwore. Then followed the great democratic
victory that swept democratic Congress
Into power, Mr.. Cleveland into the White
House for a second term and the admins
tration of all government affairs was turn
ed over to the men who had tardily fallen
into the pace set by their far-sighted
leader.
The Probable Outcome.
With the recollection of these things fresh
In their minds politicians are now asking
each other, as there Is to be recurrence
of the action taken in the tariff matter by
similar action in behalf of sound money
will the outcome be the same; that is, will
the rank and file of the democratic party,
after a session of brief resistance. as before,
abandon their idols and follow their finan-
cial Moses?
The democrats who indorse the Presi-
dents position on sound money are certain
that this will prove to be the case ultimate
ly. They say that his stand for safe cur
rency has given him the whip hand of the
party, and he will eventually fetch them
up with a round turn" These people con-
fdently claim that there is but one thing
to be done by the democrats. and that is
to stand by the policy of national credit
and financial stability. or else vacate the
high ground upon which the democratic
party was founded and descend to the level
of populists and greenbackers. With this
alternative in view the conservative demo-
Gratis believe the party will choose what
they term the better part.
They admit the probability of many demo-
Gratis straying temporarily from the fold.
attracted by the spec.ousness of free silver
arguments or driven by the pressure of
hard times into the direction of the tempt
Ing hopes held out by the silverites but
believe ii will be only matter of a short
time until they will be drawn irresistibly
into the current setting toward sound
money and financial stability. These peo-
pie will not admit that the great demo-
cratic party is to be switched off on side
track of fiat money. The natural conse-
quence of this line of argument is that
Mr.. Cleveland, having pointed the path to
travel, will for the third time be called upon
to place himself at the head of the hosts
and lead them.
In Behalf of Sound Money.
Representative josiah Patterson of Mem
phis, Tenn, is in Washington in the inter-
est of the sound money convention, to be
held In Memphis May %. Mr.. Patterson
will speak at Baltimore on Thursday. and
between now and the date of the conven-
tion will make addresses in nearly all the
large cities of the south on the subject of
finance and the Importance of the coming
convention. Mr.. Patterson is making this
tour in the interest of sound money
movement in the southern states. The
President will be invited to attend the
Memphis convention but Of course no
assurances have been given as to his ac-
ceptance, or whether he will write a letter
similar to that he addressed to the Chicago
business men. Secretary Carlisle, how
ever, will be present at the convention, and
will deliver the principal address. Mr.. Pat
terson says that large representations from
all the southern states will be present, ard
he expects the movement for sound money
will be given great impetus as result