Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-04-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c.. April 20, '95.

Mr.. Cleveland has removed the last
vestige Of doubt as to there being a
split in the national Democratic party
and has virtually announced himself
to be the candidate of the single gold
standard wing of the party. 1t has
been f~oreshadowed in this paper for
months past. Whether both wings
will insist upon calling themselves the
Democratic party, or the silver Demo
Gratis will join the Populists or the
Sisley silver party is not yet plain. 1t
will depend largely upon the effect of
Mr.. Cleveland's declaration upon the
rank and file of the Democratic party
in the South, and that effect will in
turn depend somewhat upon the result
of the campaigns now being waged in
the States of Illinois and Kentucky.
Mr.. Cleveland and his followers believe
that if the silver element in the Demo
cratic party in those two States can be
beaten this year that the bulk of the
Democratic party in the South will &C
cept Mr.. Cleveland's financial ides and
will support him for President again.
The whole power of the administration
is to be used against the silver Demo
Gratis in those two States. 1t is already
certain that three members of the cabi.
net-Carlisle, Wilson m Gresham
will take the stump against silver.
The administration also proposes to
fight silver in the South. A Southern
Democratic anti silver convention is to
be held at Memphis. Tennessee, on May
%, at which the principal address is to
be delivered by Secretary Carlisle.
Representative Patterson, OF Tennessee,
who was in Washington this week con-
ferring with Mr.. Cleveland and the
other members of the administration,
says every Southern State will be large
ly represented at that convention,
which is to be, he says, made the be-
ginning of an aggressive campaign
against silver in the South.
So much for the administration view
of the effect of Mr.. Cleveland 8 declara-
ton of open wal against silver. There is
a very different view of the matter
taken by the silver Democrats. They
say that Mr.. Cleveland's move is too
late; that seven tenths Of the Demo-
cratic party in the South aud West is
irrevocably committed to the free coin
age of silver; that the silver Democrats
welcome Mr.. Cleveland declaration,
and will now proceed to show their
power to control the party by taking
steps to make sure that the next Demo.
cratic national convention shall not
only declare 10 favor of free coinage
of silver but shall nominate a free sill
yer Democrat for President, which they
claim will bring to their support the
entire Populist vote.
The Republicans-well, you know
the story of the boy who got his father
to get down on all tours to teach a bull
pup how to fight. 1t will be emem-
bered that when the bull pup grabbed
the old man by the nose the boy, in
stead of interfering, shouted: stick
to him, dad; it II be the making of the
pup" The average Republican feels
about this fight between the silver
Democrats and the gold Democrats Just
as the boy of the story did about the
fight between his dad and the bull pup.
Whichever way it ends it will but add
to the certainty of the election of a
Republican President, next year.
There is certainly no doubt about the
Presidential preference of Representa-
tive Gillett, of Massachusetts,, who was
in Washington this week. When asked
what he knew of the political situation,
he replied: Nothing, except that New
England is solid and enthusiastic for
Tom Reed for President. From the
Speakers chair to the White House
would be a natural and merited pro-
motion for this man, who in point of
wit, brains and craftsmanship, is the
peer of any living American"
OF course the public has long ago
ceased to expect anything beneficial
or courageous from the Democratic
administration, but it was hardly pre-.
pared for the admission of absolute
helplessness made by Secretary Morton,
when he said: IF anything is done to
bring relief from beef extortions now
going forward the papers will have to
do it," Can you imagine any combi-
nation of circumstances that would
have made Secretary Morten's prede.
cessor at the head of the Department
of Agriculture-the late lamented Jerry
Rusk, of Wisconsin-uso language of
that sort.
The administration congratulated
itself too o England has not &C.
cepted Nicaragua reply to its demand,
and this country may yet have to
choose between forcible interference
and backing down.
If there be any member of the Legis.