Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-18
THE MONEY QUESTION
Mr.. Cleveland's Tariff Performance
Will Not Be Repeated.
THE CONDITIONS TOTALLY DIFFERENT
Now He is Going Against Nine
tenths Of His Party.
A B A n K E r s. FIG H 7

"Those democrats who are expecting Mr..
Cleveland 10 repeat this money question
the history of his performance on the tariff
question are certain to be disappointed"
This opinion was expressed to a repre-
sentative OF The Star today by silver
democrat of much prominence.
mo such opportunity presents itself. The
conditions are altogether different. In the
one case Mr.. Cleveland followed nine
tenths of his party, and in course that
that overwhelming majority had long been
pursuing. He did not make the tariff issue
for the democracy. The party had been
standing on it for ten years. The speaker
ship of the Forty-eghth Congress was won
on that issue eighteen months before Mr..
Cleveland was inaugurated President
the first time. and he was two years in the
White House before he could be brought to
commit himself on the subject at ALL 1t is
q fact. supported by proof, that several of
the tariff reform leaders had almost de-
SPARED of getting any expression frem him,
when he at last seized his pen and wrote
the message that made him famous. Those
who protested against the message were
few in numbers-as few as those members
of the party who are now advocating gold
monometallism. The party, as party,
hailed the message with delight, and from
that moment accepted Mr.. Cleveland as the
chief exponent of the cause. Col. Morrison.
Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Mills, the men who
had made the issue in Congress, all yielded
place to him without hesitation,an brought
their followers into line for him to man.
The protectionsts in the party were in
such small minority that in the national
convention next year they did not raise
voice against Mr.. Cleveland's denomination.
The tariff reformers were out in force de-
manding 1t and they carried 1t with en-
thuSiasm.
Totally Different Conditions.
''Now, what likeness is there between
that and the situation confronting us to-
day? In the present case, instead Of fol-
lowing nine-tenths of his party on an issue
already made for him, Mr.. Cleveland essays
to force nine-tenths of his party to follow
him, and on a line dametrically opposed
to the party's record and professions of
thirty years The democracy has always
stood for free coinage-has declared for it
In its platforms. has promised ii to the peo-
pie from the stump and by numerous votes
end speeches tried in botn houses of Con-
gress to redeem that promise with legisla-
ton. Only a few members OF the party
have opposed silver, and only few men,
bers are opposing it today. Can it be pos
sible that with the aid<of this small con-
tingent the President wi1fSbFdble to shape
the future deliverances Of the party on the
subject? Had he declared for protection in
stead of for tariff reform in 1887, could he.
with the aid of the few protectonists III
the party, have swung the party away from
tariff reform and committed it to the Ran
dali policy? Would not such a deliverance
on his part have cost him his leadership? :?
After such an act, could he have been re-
nominated in 1858? This is the true light
In which to view the matter. The tariff
message of 1887 was not only strictly in
line with the party policy, already well es-
tablisbed. but it was what the party was
clamoring for; WAS what the party felt that
1t could not longer do without and go be-
fore the people With the hope of winning
another national victory. Mr.. Cleveland s
present deliverance is fatty opposed to the
party policy. already we'll established and
Is against the wishes and the judgment of
all the party leaders in those sections to
which the democracy must look for votes
next year in the electoral college There is
very wide difference you see-so ex-
tremely wide that if Mr. Cleveland succeeds
In arraying the national democracy against
silver he will enttle himself to- and will
win. place among the most remarka BILE
political leaders of any age. l don't think
he can do it."
What MIR. CIeveland's Object Is.
"And yet he has set out to do it," was
suggested.
VERY true" was the reply, but with
what assistance? He is playing the re-
publican stronsholds against the demo-
cratic strongholds. He wants the few
democrats of the east to lay down the
law to the many democrats of the south.
He wants the city of Chicago, with the
there, to write platform for the demo-
Gratis of all the rest of the state of Illinois.
The morning dispatches contain a COPY of
the resolution adopted by the democratic
state committee of Pennsylvania at Har-
risburg yesterday, in which it is stated
that "A reorganization of the democratic
party in Pennsylvania will enable those
who believe in a safe currency and sound
money to do hopeful battle against nation
nj dishonor and discredit. That strikes me
rs being an extraordinary proposition con-
veyed in extraordinary terms. The democ-
racy of Pennsylvania, a state where the
republican majority has been growing so
rapidly of recent years that we may safely
expect to see the figure reach three hun
dred thousand next year, impeaches the
character of the democracy say. of Ala
bama, and proposes to strengthen itself
for the purpose of breaking down that
democracy. Men like Morgan and Pugh,
Harris and Bate, Gordon and Bacon, Dan
lei and Martin, Blackburn, Faulkner and
all the rest are not to be trust ted to repre-
sent democracy, but men like Harrity, who
have managed their party at home almost
out of existence, are to be put in the places
of honor and leadership, and invested with
the authority to do hopeful battle for the
rartyi That Pennsylvania resolution ought
to be engrossed and framed the crown
ing piece of impudence of the age"
Bankcrs' Fight.
..IIow do you estimate the money power
In this fight?"
1T will be very strong, of course w,
shall have to meet 1T In every state. 1 uIi-
de-stand that the bankers both east and
west are already organizing, and will lend
their fullest assistance to the anti-silver
side. 1t is entirely natural 1t is the
bankers fight, indeed. They are doing a
thriving '!Lsiness on a restricted and an
insufficient money supply, and they don't
want the conditions disturbed. There are
no political lines running with them on the
subject. The republican bankers of Chi
caGo will help the democratic bankers
capture delegates to the democratic state
convention. Yea may depend upon that
1t Is business. Whatever may be done in
the convention against silver will be &
blow struck for all the bankers. and hence
oil of them can afford to help bear the
burden of the expense. Ard the same
thing viii occur in other states. But
don't thilk the bankers can win. Theii
interest is too great and too selfish, and II
Is tco well known"
West Point Cadets Appointed.