New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-09
FIFTrCENT DEMOCRACY.

The contest takes a new phase. The FIFTY
cont Democrats have carried many States which
they were not expected to carry Passionate
anxiety 10 keep back voters from drifting over
70 the Popuists has completely buried the
dollar Democrats in all Southern States when
have vet acted in Illinois and Indiana. and
in every State west of the Mississippi except
South Dakota. leaving Minnesota and North
Dakota in doubt, but apparently for silver.
Michigan was barely kept by a trick from 60
ing the same way and stands undecided, as IS
Wisconsin. But for practical purposes Inc
Fiftv-cent Democrats have carried everything
south and west of the Nirginias and Pennsyi'
yania except the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wlscoi-
sin and Michigan
Sensational action is taken at once by Inc
Dollar Democrats Of Illinois. They formally
declare that they will vote for sound-money
Republicans against any silver Democrat 'ha'
NAV be nominated at Chicago. Yhe gold Dem
ocrats of Missouri and Nebraska have already
formed separate organizatonsA and declared
against free silver. President cleveland Is
now ouote,l by The Ncw-York Herald as de-
claring that lit is the first duty of all Demo
.crats who are opposed to iiftycent dollars TO
support the ticket that stands for the MAIN
"tcnonce Of the National credit and the pres
mise or sraddle and believes sound-money
men should unite in favor of the Repubhcah
",icket in the event of the adoption of a salts
factory sound-moncy plank at st. Louis THIS
would accord precisely with the statement
made some days ago by The Tribune that the
Dollar Democrats throughout the country would
teLe care that the silver men should not carry
any State that IS for sound money through
division Of its supporters
The Fif,y-ccnt Democrats will shrek that
this suggestion is treason to the party, and Is
nothing but bulldozing threat which VIII
never be carried out. Very likely that is true,
| as respects most Of the leaders and prominent
men. Many Of them are already talking strong
| ly against any rupture of the organization,
meaning to stick to il in the hope that they can
rebuild and control il after defeat has done It's
| Christening work. But the rank and ne OK
sound-money voters have no care for places in
| the organization They want the complete,
certain and lasting overthrow Of the Fifty-cent
| heresy. which has made the Democratic party
| for thirty years constant menace To the pun
lie safety. Many thousand of these men VIII
vote straight for a Republican ticket this year
| whether their leaders advise or not III
| President Cleveland has declared this their best
| course. TO the end that the advocates OF free
silver may be so badly defeated that the craze
twill RAPIDLY die out he has only expressed
| the purpose which will inevitably govern the
| votes of mutitudcs.
His co-opcra,on would not help n Kepub-
| lcan ticket 1t would be attributed by Western
| and Southern fanatics to the schemes of wall
| Street or to personal resentment at rejection
Of his leadership His official conduct has been
| such that a vast number of Americans would
.1solt. f.x.f
The plain truth is that nothing else could give
the silver faction success in some Western and
Southern States except the open advocacy Of II
Republican candidate by Mr.. Cleveland The
millions do not forget his bond issues nor the
| manner Of them, nor his large share in causing
disaster by refusing to call Congress together
in 1893 nor his great part in proonging disns-
ter BY refusing to influence his friends against
the Democraticsilver conspiracy, by which Il
change OF tariff has been prevented All these
and other things make Mr.. Cleveland heavy
load to carry The multitude Of sound-moncy
voters who want the complete extinction of
the F1fty-cent craze will take care to vote with
the Republicans wherever their votes are need
| ed and President Cleveland's silence would be
| q help to them.
1t is not yet probable that n formal bolt will
be avoided The Fifty-cent Democrats will re-
sent what they think an attempt 10 coerce them
by threats In any case. they can keep their
voters out Of the Populst camp only by free
silver candidates and platforms. The Dollar
| Democrats Of Minnesota, South Dakota, Mis-
souri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michi-
gan are not likely to be content with silent
opposition at the polls. because they feel the
necessity Of enlightenlng other Democrats In
order to make a Democratic party possible In
the future In most Of the Western States, too,
the Populsts are likely to insist upon separate
tickets in order to gather into their organiZa-
ton as many Democrats as possible. The new
silver party cannot afford to join the Popusts.
Under the circumstances, it looks as If the OPP
ponents Of the Republican party and those who
bolt from it might manage to form four or five
distinct parties for the expression Of their opln-
ions. rightly concluding that they cannot win
If united which would make highly instruc-
tive though not particularly exciting, cam
, paign.
, BRITISH FOREIGN AFFAIRS