The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-25
SILVER TO SPLIT THE SOUTH.
BUSINESS MEN OPPOSE THE WHITE
METAL LUNACY.

The sound Money Convention Mt
Memphis on May % TO BE the En-
terinS Wedge in the Fight Betw cen
the Rival Factions-A Belief That
the Business Men Won't Sacrifice
Their Pecuniary Interests for the
Sake of the Party.
Washington. April 24-There appears to
be good deal more in the proposed sound
money convention. which is TO be held in
Memphis on the 2Sd of next month, than is
evident on the surface 1t means, If its
promoters can carry their plan into COM
plete execution, the beginning of the dis
integration of the solid south and the
financial question is to be the penetrating
wedge In all the calculations which are
now being made the south is put down
as solid on the silver question. There is
said to be good grounds for believing that
this claim is entirely too broad, at any
rate, the sound money convention is to
pc held for the purpose OF calling the at
tehtlon or the north and east to the fact
that there are anti-silver men in the
SouUh, who propose, irrespective of party
10 stand by the effort to preserve intact
the present currency system. Already a
great amount of interest has been mani
tested IN the convention, and its purposes
ana there Is every reason 10 believe that
II Will be a thoroughly representative
business gathering, with delegates from
every section of the south. How far 1t
VIII be able to affect the future political
status of the south is another question.
Senator Butler of South Carolina in dis
cussing this phase yesterday remarked
that he believed that nine-tenths of the
white people in the south would vote the
democratic ticket no matter what the plat
form was upon which the candidate was
dominated. In other quarters this claim IS
said to be exaggerated, and that very
large percentage of bankers, merchants
and business men generally in the south
regard their personal interests as para
mount to their political allegiance and
they will not, it is said sacrifice the for
mer.
SECRETARY Carlisle is expected to partici-
pate in the Memphis convention to the eX-
tent of delivering an address before that
body, in which he will embody and reit-
crate the views held by President CleVe-
land on the topic which will have para
mount attention at the gathering. II IS
further said here that the presence OF the
Secretary of the Treasury at this conven-
ton will have the full sanction of the
President. 1t will not be regarded by the
administration as in the nature of pub
lie officer attending a political meeting
inasmuch as there is no question upon
the point that matters OF party politlcs
do not and cannot at this immediate june
ture enter into the discussion or determln-
ations of an assemblage called 20 consider
and act upon matters haVlng IN
view alone substantial oasis
of government money. Leading
officials here are satisfied that in the south,
despite a wide area Of free silver sentl-
ment a deep rooted and augmenting SEN
timent favorable to sound money is pc
coming every day more manifest. It's de-
velopment in leading cities Is very gratify-
ing to administration circles IN
this city and the Memphis de-
monstration, with its added conse-
quence of the attendance and endorsement
of leading member of the cabinet Is re-
lied upon to greatly drive the sound money
wedge into timber that needs cleaVlng.
The utterances of Secretary Carlisle be-
fore the convention cannot but be OF the
gravest interest as directly representing
the views of the President; but at the same
time it is to be mentioned thaI anOInef
leading official, including several treasury
men, will expound at proper times and
places and similar sentences to those that
the head of the treasury department may
enunciate, thus bearing out the recent as
sertion that an immediate movement IN
favor of sound money is to be 1naugurated
along the whole line of political and bdsi-
ness action. The south IS felt to be a
ground where many good results are 10
be achieved by clear, conservative state
mentS of the views of the administration
on the important question of money values
and it is believed here that the further
ance of missionary work" in that dlrec-
tion will have a decided and immediate
impetus from the national capital;
There is no doubt that the sound money
men in the south regard that section as a
good battle ground. 1t is noticed, too. that
the silver men seem to appreciate the sit
uation and they are making vigorous eff
forts to commit their people to the silver
idea. This has already been done in the
Tennessee legislature through the in
fluence of Senator Harris, an ardent free
coinage advocate. The Texas legislature is
also about to go on record for silver. al
though even in that state the dispatches
indicate that the sentiment Is not
unanimous. In Missouri the same
attempt will be made, while
every one is familiar with the fight that
is now being waged in Kentucky In the
latter state the crisis of the struggle will
come at the democratic state convention
which is TO be held on June %, when the
silver men will endeavor to secure the
adoption of a free coinage plank in the
state platform. This attempt will be COM
batted by the sound money men under the
lead of Secretary Carlisle, Representative
McCreary and other friends of the admin
istration. The result Of the fight in Ken
lucky will undoubtedly have marked in
fuence upon the sentiment in adjoining
states and the fact that the contest is oy
no means local in its consequences gives 1t
an absorbing interest.