Evening star., 1895-05-29
1t Carried the Weight and Pointed
the Way to the Platform.
An APPEAL TO SILVER REPUBLICANS
Will They Heed 1t and Remain in
the Party?
EFFECT ON CARLISLES TALK

all the talk about the action CT the ONO
republicans at GAINESVILLE. The platform
adopted is but the echo of that. The speech
carries the weight and points the way.
There is great relief in certain republican
circles. The fear was that Mr.. Sherman
might pitch the tune little too high and
beyond the reach of the western brethren.
Had it been possible to get at it in advance
the speech would have been subjected to
very careful examination. Presiding Off
GERS at conventions are sometimes required
to submit the draft of their remarks to the
scrutiny of the loca! managers before de-
livering them. But no such proposition was
in order in Mr.. Shermans case. He was
too great a man, and had too long been his
party's teacher about platforms and pol
icies, to be even requested to confer with
the youngsters he had brought up as to any
deliverance he might feel called upon to
make. And SO the shiver is over. The speech
is out, the party ratifies it in its platform,
and the battle line is formed.
Appeal to Silver Republicans.
The interpretation put upon the speech
is that it is distinct and an adroit appeal
to the silver republicans to stay at home.
1t is not straddle. 1t is not insincere 1t
is not in conflict with the past record of
Mr. Sherman on the silver question, his
friendship for silver. He lent his name to
the last piece of legislation designed to
benefit the white metal. That legislation
failed of it's purpose, and then Mr.. Sher-
man asked for its repeal. But, as his
friends claim. he did not propose that the
matter be dropped there. He declared at
that time his willingness to assist in the
search for some other remedy, and he now
in substance repeats his declaration. His
remarks put colloquially to the silver re-
puhlicans, are thought to run in this wise:
Don't you fellows get too impatient.
Stay at home. Your old friends are still
youl best friends. The cause of silver has
not been abandoned. We cannot go as far
as you desire us to go. but this is not to he
construed as meaning that we intend to
take no further step at all in silver's in
terest. On the contrary, we intend to do
everything that we consider safe in the
premises. And who have done what has
already been done for silver? The demo-
Gratis have abounded in proclama tons, but
the republicans are the authors of the sub
stantial things. Remain where you are,
gentlemen. The republican party is on the
eve of resuminS full control in this coun-
try, and ill that day you may depend on
such legislation for silver it may be pos
sible in wisdom to take. Turn deaf ear
to the coZening of the democrats. Those
folks are not in 1t any longer and could
not, with your united assistance, turn the
tide that has set irresistibly toward an in
telltgeEt administration of the affairs of
this government"
VIII the Appeal De Heededf
Will this appeal be needed? 1t is consd-
cred too early to answer the question def
nitely. But the expectation is that in the
end it will be needed. For awhile the silver
republicans, it is thought, will hold off.
They will talk about evasions and past
promises and suggest that straddles but
ter no parsnips. Then there is some per-
cnn n1tv,er af,,rt vrt
regard him as the brains and the control
ling force of the whole gold crowd. They
have an idea, too, that he still has long
ing for the White House, and they may
charge that he is trimming his sails again
to catch the wind blowing in that direc-
ton. But they have at bottom profound
respect for his ability, and the belief is
that when they come fully to consider
how influential he is likely to be in the
final settlement of the money question
no matter which side may carry the day
at the polls next year, they will yield to
the force of the suggestions he has thrown
out and continue to train with their old
friends.
So far as the east is concerned Mr.. Sher-
man, 1t is suggested need fear no msun-
derstanding. He has an assured support
there. His financial word is law. If he has
not seen fit to come out in SO many words
for gold alone that is his affair. If he sees
something more for silver, and something
substantial, they will not doubt that it
rnay be secured. They will continue to
follow him, for believing that he thorough
ly understands what is necessary for MAIN
tanning the public credit, and that he will
help forward no policy in the least degree
calculated to either imperl impair it,
he, more than the President, 1t is thought
has it in his power to secure concessions
to silver from the states this side of
the Alleghenies.
Effect on CarlisIe's Speeches.
A very interesting question relates to
how Mr.. Sherman's speech will affect the
speeches that Mr.. Carlisle has been max
ing. The free coinage men have been
charging that Mr.. Carlisle has passed
oI er to Mr.. Sherman's side on the money
question. He has been accused even of
travelling over the ground often covered
by Mr.. Sherman, and in much of the Ohio
Senator's way.
It is likely now to be charged that Mr.
Carlisle has ventured too far afield. His
speeches are thought to lie more pro-
nounced than is the Sherman speech and TO
take more decided grounds against silver
Mr.. Carlisle all but talks gold monometal-
lism in so many words. Mr.. Sherman, both
in his speech and in the platform which he
inspired, talks bimetalism, and in a very
persuasive key. 1t can be seen how quickly
the free coinage democrats will seize and
use this point. Thsy will urge their party
friends to stand up for silver more StoItly
than ever. They will insist that the repub-
licans are maneuvering for a straddle, after
tolling the President and Mr.. Carlisle out
into open and uncompromisnS opposition
to the whole cause of silver. Mr.. Carlisle
will be accused of having been duped. He
will be asked to produce his friend Sherman
now that hostilities have begun and men
are taking sides
Contention of Southern Democrats.
Many southern democrats have from the
first insisted that the republicans would
improve the opportunity to compromise the
question. For that reason they have con-
tended that their own position could not
with safety be changed. They, like the
sound money republicans. are looking to
the west. The republicans are offering BIZ
metallism, or, at least, further legislat ton
of some kind. The democrats feel that only
free coinage can overtop that and hence
they want their party to offer it outright.
The FOrd's Theater Commission.
The congressional commission appointed
to inquire into the condition of the per-
sons injured at the Ford's Theater disaster
has completed it's work and adjourned un-
til the meeting of the next Congress- Sew