The Caucasian., 1895-06-13
A POLITICAL
FORECAST.
The Goldbugs not Opposing the
Silver Party--Bus Actively
Opposing Silver.
SEE SEE THEIR GREAT SCHEME.

Forces By Drawing FROM the Popuii.t.-
And Then Ih'y VIII put in Another
| G"idbug--Abd Have Four More Year. Of
| bond Issues.
Mr.. Joseph Asbury Johnson writes
political forecast for the San Fran
cisco Star in which he says.
To those who recall the political
conditions proceeding 1850, when the
Gew Republican party elected Lin
coin President, the present outlook
must be full of significance. Be
lieving that the readers of the Star
are attentive observers cf passing
events. IL has seemed TO me worth
while TO lay before them "A forecas,
IN brief outline of the situation in
the presidential campaign of 1896,
which present conditions seem to
presage as inevitable. The topic is
| important, AT all events. aud the
present treatment of il may lead TO
candid consideration.
The alertness and activity of free
| silver advocates IN, the two old par
ties, which promise 10 result in a
presidential ticket and a fourth
party, must be of immense interest
to forelooking men who place the
welfare OF the country above all
other considerations. The Populist
party may be said to be vitally con
cerned III the outcome of this new
departure of the silver men. Ii is
for them in particular TO study the
history of political movements at the
opening of the campaign which ended
IN the election OF Lincoln. If they
could broaden their political horizon
they will include the Fremont cam
paign OF 1886, and compare it with
the Weaver campaign of 1892.
| lt is conceded by all candid men
of intelligence that the two old par
ties are well nign dominated by the
advocates of the
| SINGLE GOLD STANDARD.
Indeed, the proposed silver party
Is the open confession of this fact by
the numbers of both Republicans and
Democrats who are now actively
working To create the silver party.
And just here is the place to note
a significant fact-of importance
enough to those whom it concerns
There seems to be no real opposition
to the new silver party from the sup
pOrters of the gold standard in either
the Republican or the Democratic
party, though there is opposition to
free silver coinage. Accordingly.
Cleveiands letter on sound money
to the Democratic club in Chicago
may be fairly taken as the purpose
of the
GOLD MEN TO FORCE THE ISSUE,
and induce the silver men in the two
old parties to declare for independ-
ent political organization and ac-
ton, to secure harmony in the ma
tional convention of the old parties
as the apparent desire of the gold
leaders in these old parties, while the
real purpose is concealed. namely,
the Inauguration of movement
which
WILL DIVIDE SILVER MEN.
and prevent the growth, and, if pos
slble, destroy the integrity, of the
Populist party.
In this view of the manifest acaui-
escepce of the gold men in the for
nation of the new silver party, while
opposing silver coinage, IT is not
necessary to suppose or intimate
that the free silver men are conscious
allies of the gold standard men. The
gold men rely on the fact that the
real leaders of the silver forces are
NO MORE FRIENDLY TO THE PoPULIsT
PARTY,
than are the gold men themselves.
else they would ally themselves with
the .Populists and thus insure the
, triumph of party as fully pledged
to secure the free coinage of silver.
on exactly the same terms, as are
the silver men themselves. The bat.
: tie of the metals is therefore inevita-
BILE, and
Is SECRETLY DESIRED
} by the advocates of the single gold
r standard in both old parties as be
ing more hostile in its effects TO Pop
ulist prospects than to themselves.
1t remains for us now to consider
the tendencies at work In the force.
We see now massing for political con
r tiict, and to forecast impendipt
!. alignments with attendant and mex
: orable issues. The partisan mus
r give place to the citizen, if clea
4 insight is to be attained by this sur
e vey. Certainly a little clear ligh
e on present conditions is very desira
\ able.
e The last campaign in Oregon. il
which gold standard Democrats wer
5. openly advised and urged to vot
u the Republican ticket
1t TO DEFEAT THE P7PULIsTs,
u and did SO vote with that result
ie gives us the key to the situation i
re the next presidential campaign
"a There will be a gold standard Re
70 publican, the ablest man they ca
find, nominated for the presidenc
at in 1896; also, q gold standard Den
u ocrat. but the weakest respectabI
,e man in the party, and all but th
o, aidebound gold standard men will
COvERTLY VOTE THE REPUBLrca
IS TICKET,
rs as they did in Oregon; and as II
re most universal popular belief is tn.
d. the Republicans will win the ne:
ax ~ victory, that will insure. as the
rs now suppose, the certain election ,
be a gold standard President. In III
Is Is reckoning the gold men will assuu
that the silver party will draw
large per cent. of the Populist vot
:" as the silver men themselves al
anticipate, and thus the gold fore
Vi, will win an easy victory.
vii As the campaign progresses, no,
:" ever, these facts will become a
en- parent even to the dull apprehensis
a of the average voter, and about Il
ut same time it will dawn upon the S
ey yer men in both old parties that