St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-15
RIVER AT 8 A. NJ.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The revival of courage and conf
dence everywhere discernlble
among Democrats has a solid
foundation. The DISAGREEMENT
that followed the failure of con-
gress to fully redeem. the
pledges made, and the defeats that
resulted, partly as a consequence of
that failure but more because of the
elimination of Republican misrule
In the panic, has passed away, and
those Democrats who had aban-
doned all hope of success next year
are becoming confident of it. A
view of present conditions warrants
this confidence.
What will be the issues of 90, and
what are the relations of the par
ties to them? Foremost is the cur
rency question, not alone the silver
phase of it, but the whole field. Next
and hardly second will be the tariff
question. What is the attitude of
the two parties on these? In 1892
both national conventions adopted
practically interchangeable planks
on the money question. Each of
them dealt in glittering generali-
ties; neither of them offered a clear
cut policy; each tried to placate the
silverites, and each failed, as sub
sequent events showed. But the at
titude of parties is not only de-
elared by their national conventions.
In the interim it is to be gathered
from the position of the leading
men and of the press. Today on
the Republican side all is uncertain
ty. The latest expression, the dec
1aration of the Iowans, in a plank
that derives greater significance be-
cause drafted or approved by Sen
ator Allison, is but a reaff1rmation
of the meaningless declaration of
'92. The New York Tribune recently
assured its readers that Republicans
did not know what their opinions
were. The Cleveland convention
locked its lips with a subterfuge.
No leading candidate of that party
for the presidential nomination has
spoken clearly and unambiguousIy
Everewhere there is fear of offending
the extreme silverites.
On the Democratic side no such
condition prevails. True, a faction
has openly espoused the cause of
free coinage, but the plain avowal
of opinion, even if mistaken, is pref
cradle to lodging. But the tide
that seemed to be setting their way
a couple of months ago has been
turned back and is receding more
rapidly than it rose. Leading and
influential Democrats everywhere
are opposed to it. There is no man
who is a possible candidate for the
presidency who is favorable to it.
Then on the larger question Of the
currency, embracing all issues, the
Democrats occupy a position of i'm
nlense strength. It is conceded that
the present crazy-quilt system must
NC blSpIdSSu ny d better one. On
this the Democrats stand with a
policy commended by the president
and the secretary of the treasury
that is sound and Democratic. I
involves the enforcement of the gov.
eminent from banking, and the re-
initial to the people of the issues OF
paper representatives under strict
federal supervision to insure solven
cy. On the Republican side there i,
only the proposition of John Sher
man to maintain the present hotch
potch. Any view of the field reveal.
the Democrats occupying solit
ground with the Republicans floun
5ering in the quagmire.
On the tariff question what posi-
hon do the enemy occupy? One fac
lion demands a restoration of ultra
nrotectionism; aaetheg says that i