The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-15
THE DEMOCRACY AND SILVER.
correspondence Between Buck Hin
richSen and Wash Hesing.

richsen and Wash Hesing.
Springfield, H.. Nov. 1A-Interesting
and somewhat acrimonious correspondence
has sprung up since the last election be-
tween Postmaster Washington Hesing, Of
Chicago. and William II. Hinriehsen, sec
rotary Of state and chairman of the
Democratic state central committee. It
was begun by Hesing. who in an effort TO
harmonize the factions of - Democratic
party in Illinois invited H0hrichsen to
abandon the so-called 16-to-1 heresy and
bring his crowd back into the fold Of or
thodox Democracy and sound money.
Hinrichsen did not take kindly TO the
insinuation that the 16-to-1 doctrine was
heresy. He said in part: "You ascribe
the defeat of the party in the Sixteenth
congressional district 10 the adoption of
the free silver plank. This is absurd, and
can say TO YOU. as one who is thoroughly
acquainted with the district. that without
this silver plank tho Democrats could not
have carried a single voting precinct The
causes which brought about our defeat
were the same as those which produced
such enormous Republican majorities in
all the states where elections were held,
except Mississippi, where they had a free
silver platform. 1 will enumerate the
causes briefly: The failure of the nation
al administration and congress TO carry
out the promises made by the Democracy
In 1892: the evident intention of the presi-
dent 10 force gold monometallism upon the
country; the mismanagement Of the public
patronage by the president; the feeling.
either right or wrong, that a clique of
New York and London bankers are con-
trolling the financial policy of this coun-
try; the unpopular foreign policy of the
administration: the use of the courts in
cases Of strikes; the general hard times,
which many insist are the result Of the
presidents policy, and the evident inten-
ton of the followers of Grover Cleveland
to force him upon the country as the
Democratic nominee for president in 1895.
In the Eighteenth district the Republicans
received aid and comfort from Democrats
in high places. Men like President Cleve
land and Senator Palmer rejoiced openly
over Lanes defeat, and that the gold
men In the party were pleased over this
Republican victory is shown by the tone
OF your letter You make the suggestion
that we bury the past and get together
That would, perhaps, be easy for you, IL
we would get together on your platform,
but you have never indicated what that
platform should be. You say you are
for honest money Every man is for
honest money. But what do you mean
by the term2 President Cleveland has
shown clearly that he is in favor Of gold
monometallism, and Ii is presumed you
agree with him, although some members
OF your faction call themselves bi-metal-
lists. W e nave defneQ our pOSlU0ns You
should define yours. I believe in the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver at the ra-
Ito OF Is 10 l. and shall maintain my belief
10 the best OF my ability, but, should the
Democratic convention decide that / am
wrong. / shall support the Democratic
ticket Just the same. Can you say as
much? / have a pretty fair acquaintance
among German-born American citizens,
and find them as rule much the same,
barring professional Germans. as other
American citizens Your attempt to sepa-
rate them into ! class with interests at
variance with these other citizens is I'M
Democratic and ridiculous. In trying to
build up a class within the party you for
get that half million Democrats in the
state Of Illinois viii not surrender prfn-
cipe in order 10 pl1catc any class. 1t IS
not true. as YOU say. that the Germans
are opposed TO free silver. but, II they
were. would II be good politics 70 surren-
der principle and thereby lose half our
vote IN order TO satisfy small faction of
the party 80