The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-17
1T WAS A SUCCESS
THE RESULT OF THE SILVER
CONFERENCE WILL ADVANCE
THE CAUSE.
FAITH IN SILVER WAIVERS NOT.

ne HOpuliStS are IN Favor OF Fiat
Money and Other Balloon Schemes
More Than SiIver-NatiOnaI Com
mittee Has Not Yet Been Appointed.
Editorial Correspondenee.)
WASHINGTON, D. G., Aug 1G, 1895.
THE conference of silver advocates ad-
journed to-day. 1t was success. 1t is
to be regretted that all the States were
not represented, but, considering the
intense heat, it is test of the popu-
larity of the white metal that so many
influential men were here. There were
about $50 present, representing % States,
and they were from all walks of life from
United States Senator down. There
were a few among the number who
thought bitter denunciation and abuse
was in order, but most of the delegates
were responsive to the wise and tenn
perate speech of Hon. J. A. Lockhart,
who, following a red hot speaker from
the West, counselled moderation, con-
servatism and reason. He told the dele
gates that the Democratic party had need
of all its members, and that all talk of
prescription, proceeding from whatever
source, was hurtful and harmful Con-
gresham Jones, of Virginia, said he was
a Democrat before he was a silver man,
and he attended the conference because
he despaired of any silver legislation
through any other channel. He thought,
that while expressing earnest protest to
the financial policy of the adminlstra-
ton, there. was no occasion for denuncia-
ton or any wholesale attack upon Dem
ocratic leaders. In the same vein spoke
Congressman Neill, of Arkansas, who
saw much 30 commend in the Democratic
administration, and everything to con-
denim in its financial policy. Such was
the temper and spirit of Senators Har-
riss, Jones, Daniel, Call. ex-senator JAZZ
Wis, Governor Stone, and the other guild
ing and master spirits of the body.
This was strictly Democratic meet
ing. Nobody else was present and the
views OF no other silver men were sotght.
There had been non-partisan silver
convention. 1t developed an attempt on
the part Of the Populist party to pose as
the only friend of silver. Mr.. L0ckhart
pointed out in his sensible speech today
that free silver composed no material
pagt of the POpulist scheme of finance.
They were merely talking it because it
was popular just now, and they Thoughts
! it would bring them recruits He showed
by reference Is their platforms and the
bills introduced by their leaders in Con-
gress, that it was not free silver, but fat
&hoF hn
list plan Of changing the mon.
ey pofIoy of government. He
urged that it was ehe prime duty of
Democrats to expose the follies Of Popu.
lism and the evhs of Gold bugs, extend
ing on the one hand to anarchy, and to
the further unjust enrichment of the
money lender on the other. He spoke
of the honesty of some Populists, but
emphasized their pretence in clamoliug
for free silver when as a matter of fact
it is fat money they want. They ought
to be honest about it and not evade the
advocacy of the chimerical schemes
which compose the major part of their
platform.
He is a very foolish man who will
venture to PREJUDICE this movement,
and very vain man who Willundertake
to predict the future of the silver move
ment. One thing is clear: that the only
hope for it is in the s,3cess Of the plan
put ON foot in This conference. 1t may
be that the money power can compass
the permanent demonetiZaSo1 of silver,
but the only silver liningto the cloud is IN
writing the platform of the next
National Democratic Convention.
l found two or three men here who
think that the only hope for
free silver is in going into a
new party, but if this were true, where
is the new party they could join that
would afford them half as many free
coinage associates as the Democratic
party The Populists left the Demo
cratic party, they said, because they
couldn't get the Sub-Treasury through
that party. Since then they have
been dumb on the Sub Treasury. They
have no votes, to speak of, having lost
nearly all they had in the West through
their anarchistic teachings Can
asilver man hope to advance bi-metallism
in party that believes that paper money
in unlimited quantities. is as good as gold
and silver, and that, in the West, regards
all interest and rents as robbery and is un-
willing 10 unite upon any basis that does
not embrace the moonshine of the Ocala,
st. Louis and Omaha platforms
Honest silver men favor free coin
age because they believe it is
sound money and that its de-
monetization has brought loss to all
wage -earners, farmers and land owners.
They believe that with free coinage, the
appreciating gold will decline and the
deprecated silver will rise till they meet
each other, and make as near perfect
bi-metallic standard as can be reached.
They believe in hard money, and are more
opposed to an irredeemable paper cur
rency than even the gold men. The Green
hackers are nearly all against the silver