St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-21
EECONCESSIONSW ARE FATAL

In the interest not only of the
Democratic party, but of good gov
eminent and sound finance, we may
hope that the report of concessions
to be made one way or the other in
Ohio on the financial question are
unfounded. OF all the meth
DDS of meeting the financial
!ssue precipitated upon the coun-
try by the free silver agitation.
none is so foolishly fatal as that of
attempting to find a middle ground.
Either the country is safe in relying
upon fiat money, or it is not. Be
tween the two there is no safety. If
this is true with regard to the cur
rency itself, it is still more true
Of political parties that deal with it.
The Ohio Democrats might look
with profit across the Ohio river and
see what has happened in Kentucky.
An uncompromising fight was
made there between the Democrats
who believe in sound money and
those who do not. The former won
the day by a great majority, as they
have done in every state where the
issue was fairly set before the peo-
pie and passed upon by them, with
the single exception of Mississippi.
When the campaign made by Secre-
tary Carlisle was closed, the honest
money Democrats had a big majority
in the convention. 1t was then that
they stopped to this idea of "conces-
Sion" a lot Of politicians of the or
binary sort concluded that it would
be good policy, after securing a
platform of their own making, and
after having announced to the coun-
try that they had won the battle, to
cOnciliate the opposition by per-
hitting it to name the candidate.
The result is seen today in a disor-
ganiZed canvass and a demoralized
party in Kentucky.
Senator Blackburn is making his
campaign for reelection on a pro-
nounced free silver basis, and de-
claring that if he is not the next
senator Republican will be chosen.
Gen. Hardin, the nominee for gov
ernor, is engaged in a public debate
with his opponent, in which, while
technically conforming to the de-
cision of the convention by saving
that he approves the platform of
1892, he violates it's spirit and the
obligation imposed on him when he
accepted the nomination by pro-
claiming that he desires the restora-
ton of the conditions prevailing be-
fore 1873; that is to say, the free
coinage of silver. The whole result
= Of first importing this issue into the
Democratic party, and then trying
TO satisfy both factions after the bat
tie had been fought and won, is to
divide the party hopelessly in the
presence Of the foe.
1t ought to be evident by this time
TO any man that there is no conces-
sion to be offered to the free silver
men. They announced their ulti-
matum long ago. 1t is free coinage
at the ratio of 16 to L by
the United States alone, and
nothing less. They have, at
least, the merit of steadfastness
In their demand. They have never
consented to take anything less and
they never will. Either they will
have that, or they will fight Dem
ocratic principles and Democratic
candidates, secretly or openly. When
fight has to be made, the wise man
makes it with every ounce OF
strength that there is in him. After
Ill, the contest over principles, where
they are fixed and vital, is on the
model Of the trial of physical force.