Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-14

to a decisive issue within the Demo-
cratic party. When the popularity OF
tifty-cent dollars was running like a
prairie fire south of the Potomac and
west of the Alleshenies, President
Cleveland went boldly forward to fight
the fire within his party. He raised
the standard of sound money and called
to his side those who know that DIS
honest money would consume the credit
and destroy the prosperity of our coun-
try.
Kentucky is at once Western and
Southern State, and it lie responsive
to the sentiments which prevail in both
OF those great sections of the country.
The FREQ coinage advocates had no
doubt of their ability to control every
thing in Kentucky. But President
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle did
not hesitate to do battle there. The
issue came to head in the Kentucky
Democratic convention, and it was de-
cided in favor of sound Honey. That
settled the contest within the Demo-
cratic party. When the Kentucky
Democrats, after disputing the matter
at the primaries, said that they were
for sound money, everybody Understood
that the mind of the national Democ-
racy was no longer in doubt on the
question.
But Mr.. Hardin, who was the nomi-
nee for Governor, and Mr.. Blackburn,
who was seeking reelection to the
Senate, were not satisfied. They
thought that they could win in vote
OF the whole electorate what they had
lost in contest among Democrats. So
they threw over the decision Of the
Democratic convention and appealed to
the voters of Kentucky for support on
free silver basis.
Thus it came about that the fight
against free coinage of silver came to a
decisive issue in Kentucky not only
SO far as the Democratic party is con
cerned but also no far as tho whole
body Of the people is concerned. Once
more the result was in favor Of sound
money. In rock ribbed Democratic
State, Mr.. Hardin has been over
whelmingly defeated by Republican
candidate whose virtue was that he
picked mp and held aloft the sound
money banner which Mr.. Hardin had
contemptuously thrown into tho ditch.
The country is indebted to Kentucky
for demonstrating that the free silver
method of initiation and reputation
has no charms for the people. In that
State the fight has been made first
within the Democratic PARTY and
second before the people, and now it is
plain to every observer of public opin-
ion that free silver is slipping harm
lessly away into the shades OF oblivion
to take its long quiet sleep by the side
OF the old greenback rag-baby.
The New York Herald thinks that
the lesson Of the recent elections for
the Democrats is that they must settle
all differences among themselves and
unite upon Mr.. Cleveland as their
presidential candidate next year. 1t
says editorially:
This vital consideration would seem
to make the denomination of Mr.. Cleye-
land inevitable il the Democratic lead
ers are able to read the signs Of the
times and want to save the party from
disastrous defeat.
Without Mr.. Cleveland the Demo
Gratis cannot win; with him they may
win. 1t was his great popularity, firm
ness and wisdom that wrested the presi-
dency from the Republicans four years
ago, and had the Democratic leaders
Needed his warnings and followed his
counsel there would not have been a
Republican tidal wave this year. His
strength with the masses saved the
party from defeat in 1892, and 1t is
the only thing that can save it from
defeat in 1896.
The tide will be against the Demo-
Gratis. If they hope to win they will
have to make the best and strongest
nomination possible.
Gan they make better or stronger
one than that of Mr.. Cleveland, who
has rendered the country and the party
such signal service and is SO strong
with the people?
Gan the Democrats hope to win With
out himY
1t is still too early to reach CON
clusion AS 10 what man should be
nominated next year, but it ia not too
early TO see what kind of man should
be nominated. 1t is plain that the
hope of success lies in nominating a
man who believes in the policies that
Grover Cleveland believes in. and one
whom tho people believe in as they be-
lieve in Grover Cleveland.
A local Republican contemporary in
n long winded TRADE presumcs upon
the ignorance of its readers to declare
that mot one Of the promises made by
the Democratic party has been kent,
with tho exception of the repeal of the
Mckinley act. :" Such statement
discredits the truth and fairness Of
every argument which its author may
use. One very important promise of
the Democratic party was to repeal the
odious Federal election laws. Was not
that promise kept2 Everybody knows
that no vestige of those laws remains
upon the statute book. Another very
important promise of the Democratic
party was to repeal that cowardly make
shift, the Sherman law for the pur-
chase of silver. Was not that promise
kept? Everybody knows that within
less than year from the Democratic
victory of 1892, the business of the
country was relieved from its greatest
danger by the unconditional repeal OF
the silver nIIrchaaa ln,u Withnnt r.e;.