The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1895-11-22
THE BURNING QUESTION.

Senator Theo. Smith in the current
issue OF his paper the Stuttgart enron
icle. writes most interestingly on the
burning question OF the day, He says.
Now and then we hear of some one
who says that if the National Demo-
cratic convention takes this action or
that action upon the financial question,
he will bolt in the coming election.
What really is mans duty to his
party? Can he invariably expect his
personal views gratified No He has
the right to battle for any issue within
his party, and do all in his power to
bring about the triumph. This is every
mans privilege, and no one has any
right to question the zeal with which
he do it. But if, when the final test
comes, and he finds that a majority is
against him. it becomes his duty as a
man and citizen to accept that verdict
and to take up the fight OF his party
against the common enemy. The man
who has not enough political chivalry
to do this is dead weight to the De-
mocratic party or any other party.
We stand: unqualifiedly for the free
coinage of silver at the ratio OF 10 tn /.
We believe, as Senator Vest said, that
the silver forces should concentrate
every honest effort possible in the COM
ing National convention, and thus try
to place an outspoken silver plank in
the next Democratic platform. But If
such an effort is honestly and fairly
overpowered we will still be demo-
crat. On the OtherhaDd, if the silver
forces are successful. it becomes equal
ly as imperatively the duty OF the
sound money" men to fight for the
banner of the majority. And we re-
peat that the man who has not enough
party liberality to do this is better out
of the party than in it. What is a
silver man going to gain by boiling the
Democratic party? To what party
could he go with the hope Of lettering
his condition The Republican party
is completely controlled by sound
money demagogues, and Populism is
led by Pefferites and petticoated ca
lamity howlers. The only true hope
for free silver is in the Democratic
party. If overpowered in the conven-
ton, we must insist upon the election
of free silver congressman, for these
can not be Jack, at least not in their
election. When one method has failed
the proper thing is to try the next best.
Besides if this boiling idea is encour-
aged, it will insure the defeat of DEM
Ocracy in &c. and there is where the
great danger lies. We admit the SUI
premacy of the finance question but
we must remember that there are
other things at stake.
Democrats who have entertained the
idea of boiling the party, should ask
themselves the question "Why am /
Democrat 7" The answer must invari-
ably be, to all democrats, because the
democratic party embodies more of my
principles than any other. A man who
thus follows the lead of party cannot
consistently ignore its platform because
perchance, it refuses to adopt and
prOmulgate one of his tenets, no matter
how dear to him it may be. The ques-
tiOn above is well put. "What is
man to gain by boiling his party 2" He
may gain utilization with party who
advocates his pet theory, but in this
utilization he sacrifices nearly. if not
quite all, other principles. 1t reminds
us OF scriptural query, what shall it
profit man if he gain the whole world
and lose his our soul?" Surely no manly
man would sacrifice majority of his
principles for the sake of the triumph
of one +! And yet this is the effect OF
boiling. No man can afford to join a
party for sake of one principle at the
same time forsaking a party which en-
bodies may of his principles. Such
boiling is unreasonable and radical.
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