Evening star., 1895-06-04
Real Object of the Silver Convention
in Illinois.
TO GET 4 NATIONAL PARTY PRESTON
The Presidents Suspicious Of the
Movement Confirmed.
REPUBLICANS DISTURBED

The Stars news from Springfield re-
specting the full purpose of the Illinois
silverites is in consonance with the fears
that Mr.. Cleveland has entertained ever
since the sucker state democracy issued its
call for convention. The President has
never regarded the movement as local
in any sense. This idea from the outset
has been that 1t was not only inspired by
nen of national influence, but intended to
serve the silver cause in a national sense,
and hence there is the fullest confirmation
in The Stars views of the Presidents sus-
picions in the premises. And 1t is as plain
to others as to him now that the Spring
field convention, either by formal resolution
or otherwise, is to serve merely as start
er for an expression as to silver intended
democratic party throughout the whole
south and west-in word, the national
democracy itself.
The Situation Grave.
Can the full purpose of the movement be
accomplished? The situation is conceded
to be grave. There is much disappoint-
ment in administration circles over the
apparent helplessness or Indifference of the
sound money democrats in Illinois. They
have made no fight at all, and the conven-
ton is on the eve of assembling with the
pace to suit themselves. And so the ques-
tion arises: if that is to be taken as a
specimen of the temper Of the democracy
in the country beyond the Alleghenies-if
the sound money democrats in state like
Illinois, with the great metropolis of Chi
cago to inspire action, are powerless-could
not a national convention or conference,
held while the agitation is In full blast, be
as easily controlled as a state convention?
What would be the immediate effect of
formal or informal call for a national dem
ocratic conference On the silver question?
The Kentucky state convention, with Sen-
ator Blackburn leading the silver forces,
will meet in Louisville on the 18th instant
The prt spect now is that silver will carry
the day. But would not this prospect be
advanced to a certainty if, as the result of
a pronounced silver triumph in illinois to-
morrow, a resolution should be adopted re-
Questing national action by the party?
The fight is on in Ohio, with Senator Brice,
the sound money champion, at a serious
disadvantage. Would not his difficulties be
increased by such action as is now out
lined at Springfield? Would not the coming
free coinage convention at Memphis be en-
couraged by it? Would not it settle the
now wavering spirit of the silver men in
Missouri, causing them to decide in favor
of a state convention to consider the ques-
ton: All OF these points are thought to be
involved, and all are of moment in present
calculations
Republican Leaders Disturbed.
1t is fact, too, that the republican lead
ers are quite as much disturbed by the full
scope of this maneuver as are the admin
istration people 1t means something to
them, and maybe very great deal. That
the silver men intend to agitate the silver
question in Congress next winter is accept
ed as certain. No legislation Is looked for,
but bills on the subject will be introduced
and pushed both in committee and in open
debate in both houses. These will have to
be met and in some manner disposed of by
The majority, and the task will be one OF
very great delicacy and difficulty. In the
first place, the financial committees will
have TO be constructed with this end in
view, and, in the second place, the floor
leadership will have to be most expert to
prevent either the taking of advantage of
or by the silver men. The republican pro-
gram must, it is thought, be one of con-
ciliation to the point of not surrendering
any vital matter involved. But if the sill
Yer men appear on the scene flushed with
a series of local triumps achieved in the
fall campaign, and still further encouraged
by an expression obtained from a national
democratic conference, their demands will
be extreme and their warfare very ag-
Sressive. Even the master powers of Mr.
Reed in the House and Mr.. Sherman in the
Senate would in such circumstances be
severely tested. The difficult task of balk-
ing without angering the silver contingent
of their own party would he imposed on
both, and would have to be executed.