The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-04-25
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS OF
THE DEMOCRACY.


of the Democratic party to admit that tne'
have arrived at the parting OF the way
on the silver question is a subject ina
demands the coolest reflection or Doti
wings of the party. 1t was thought fol
some time that these two wings could Dt
united on the basis Of bimetallsm, Du
insisting on the equal intrinsic and deD
paying qualities of both metals, and II Il
not vet apparent that it cannot be done
The extreme silver men in both or al
parties have taken advantage OF luli II
politics to push canvass in behalf OF the
free and unlimited coinage of silver at
ratio of 16 to /, without any consideration
of whether or not that would equalize the
standing of the metals. Naturally these
extremists have made a good deal of noise
and created good deal of excitement
on the surface, while their opponents on
the silver question have been silent,
awaiting the developments of the ! i
ration of the presidential campa u
1896
This extraordinary horn-blowing in a
time of profound party peace has alarmed
good many sound money Democrats
Even Mr.. Cleveland himself has caught
the alarm and sounded the rallying cry
TO all sound money Democrats. As 10th
as we are to differ with Mr. Cleveland
even upon party policies, we believe this
alarm is premature. The conservative
and sound money men of the Democratic
party have had no recent opportunity 10
display either their zeal or numbers. AS
far MS the State of Texas is concerned
the last official declaration of the Demo-
cratic party in State convention assembled
was very definite in favor of sound money.
Let us then take into consideration that
while the extreme silver men have been
making a noise, and in that way have
made an impression on the country with
their Importance and numbers, the sound
money men have been quietly awaiting theI
development of events, trusting to the
good sense and conservatism of the masses
of the Democracy, and then from these
premises let us ask ourselves whether or
not the alarm and the proposed action
which would disrupt the Democratic party
is not premature?
1t may be, and perhaps in all candOr
ought to be, admitted that the opponents
of the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at 1G to 1 have considerable doubt as tot
the ability of any fnancier to strike ra-
ito between the metals that would make
them of equal debt-paying power in all the
markets of the world. That is what the
sound money men demand, and they do
not believe that it is in the power of men
or nations to establish such an adjust
ment, and to that extent they may proper
ly be called monometallists or gold mono
metallists if you please. Now, if the silver
men have come to the same conclusion that
be established and sustained by
the nations interested in silver and are
determined to have a silver currency at
any cost, then we have arrived at the
parting Of the ways and to attempt any
further cooperation on this subject would
be hyprocritical and useless.
The Democratic party is only useful to
genuine and sound Democrats as long
as it sustains principles that they believe
are necessary to the happiness and pros
perity of the people and the perpetuity
of the government Genuine Democrats
will never compromise with false and per
nicious principles and policies to preserve
the autonomy of the party in order to OBJ
tain the spoils. Therefore we say if
this is the issue, towit, gold monometallism
against silver recommendation, then the
two wings of the party can not be aligned
under the same banner but must choose
under which king they serve and so de-
clare themselves.
But we do not believe that a consider
able faction of the party has gone that
far in favor of silver. We think many of
them are cropping about very much in
the dark to find a ratio by which both
metals may be used as currency, both
of equal value, and we also believe that
but an insignificant part of the democra-
cy, but will, when they have exhausted
every effort and have failed and the ques-
ton of gold or silver standard confronts
them, unhesitatingly align themselves
with the members of the party who
advocate the best metal. Therefore we
repeat we do not think the time has arriv-
ed to make this issue with our fellow
Democrats. Let us wait until conservative
Democrats advocating double standard
and double currency exhaust every eff
fort to establish ratio independent OF
foreign countries and then they will be
with us upon the broad Democratic prin-
cipes of sound and stable currency.
THE BLACKMAILERS OF COM
NFINDGIN