The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1895-07-03
hat it was for free silver. In 1891

Illttt Y was lol lICt cllNIl. LII loJl
however, the senate, which was then
republican, passed free coinage bill.
The house then had a majority of
40. Did they pass it? Not much
They relegutcd it to the foot Of the
calendar and there it is yet, They
said it was useless to pass it; that
Harrison would veto It. The real
reason was that they were afraid
he might sign it, Senator Morgan
having iltimatcd as much on the
floor of the senate.
"lt is unnecessary TO refer to the
action Of the democrats in the last
congress. \ large majority Of them
were elected both in the senate and
house as free silver men upon free
silver platforms, yet no sooner had
they taken their seats than the bar
ter and sale Of the cause of silver he
gan, in exchange for federal patron
age, and the hollowncss and hvDo-
crlsy Of the democratic claim of
friendship for silvcf was full exposed.
This, briefly, is the democratic re-
cord on silver. Having betrayed it
in the past can they be trusted in
the future?"
U''But is it not true that democrats
are more active in the silver agita-
tion in the middle west and the
south than the republicans, and that
more democrats than republicans
seem to favor silycr?"
GAS to the first question, yes, and
| may add that this agitation reveals
clearly the utter hopclessness of
democratic unity. The truth is that
the democratic party is discrcditcd
and disgraced before the country.
Illey have bungled everything they
have undertaken and have failed to
redeem single platform pledge
made to the people. Asa result of
their blundering policy upon every
issue the country is disgustcd and
sick Of them. Some of the leaders
realize that the party is doomed I'M
less something is done and they arc
now grasping at free silver like q
drowning man clutching at straw,
in the hope that it may save them,
If anything could possibly save them
it would be this, but as I have said,
they cannot carry it through their
party convention"
swell, Senator, you don't appear
to have much faith in the dcmocra-
tic party. What have you to say
about tile ropublicans?#
"The republicans as party have
never made pledges in favor Of the
free coinage of silver. They have
never as a party professed to be in
favor of it, and hence, unlike the
democrats, are not open to the
change Of double dealing. A major
itv Of republicans came from what
we call the eastern states, and that
section of the nation, without re-
spect to party. has been opposed to
free silver.
Were the national convention to be
held now, | am satisfied it would re-
fuse to grant the demands OF silver.
But d change is being wrought in
the republican ranks on this great
question. There is a strong silver
sentiment throughout republican
pennsylvania. In Chicago there are
many silver clubs being made up of
republicans, and the Chicago Inter
Ocean, republican journal whose
weekly edition has an enormous cir
throughout the agricultural
regions of the country is doing splen-
did work among republicans in the
silver cause. The same is true or |
the New York Recorder.
"Tle silver sentiment is spreading
rapidly among republicans as we'll as
democrats. and I am hopeful by this
Time next year it will have become
strong enough to enforce full rec
ignition Of the white metal and the
nomination OF free silver republican
or president, and you may rest as
'ured that if the republican party |
'an ever bc Induced to take up the
cause OF silver, it will redeem any
pledge it may make to the people,"
But suppose the republicans
'traddlc the question and nominate
| gold bug Or what is about the same
hing an international bimetallist?
VIII the republicans Of Montana sup
>ort him?''
II am not authorized to speak for
,hc republicans of Montana upon that
ooint, but | say frankly, L do not for
moment believe they will support
my man or party who is not for sill
'er. The people Of Montana have
'cen deprived Of about all the benc-
it's they derived from protection (by