The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-04
SCENES OF 1860
To BE Repeated at Chicago Next
Week.
Breakup Of the Democratic Par.
ty a FOregOne Conclusion.
THE WEST AND SOUTH
Arrayed Against the East on
the Money Question.
No Open Bolt But the East VIII
Slough OFF.

Chicago, July 4.-Not since 1860, when
the Democratic party met in convention
at Charleston and split on the subject
of slavery has such an irreconcilable
difference Of opinion existed on a great
question in issue as now confronts the
delegates who are assembling here for
the Democratic convention. The sit
uation which they faced then has its
analogies in the one which they con-
front today.
The northern Democracy declaring
for. squatter sovereignty, later, at Bal
timore, nominated Stephen A. Doug
lass, while the seeding southern dele
gates, declaring for the existence Of
slavery in the territories under federal
law, named John c. Breckenridge. To-
day the Democracy from the Alleghen-
les west to the Pacific and from the
Potomac south to the gulf, except for
the break in Wisconsin, Michigan and
Minnesota so far a its voice will be
heard in the convention next week,
stands solid for FIRE coinage of silver
at 16 to l, against the equally solid
gold standard Democracy of the east.
At the threshold of the convention the
gold standard Democrats are defeated
two to one.
New York and the little Democratic
states of New Jersey and Connecticut
which have since the war always ex-
ercised a dominating influence in Dem
ocratic conventions and have each
four years named the candidate. on the
theory that New York and the two
small sister states We're the battle
ground and their votes essential to sue
cess, are to be sent to the rear.
The eastern Democracy may plead
and cry aloud that a free silver candi-
date and a free silver platform means
disruption, disaster and ruin but their
pIeadings and their cries fall on deaf
ears The silver Democracy is in the
saddle and viii ride rough shOd over
precedent and tradition, if necessary.
TO accomplish their purpose, That is
the set determination of the leaders
Tt is in vain that the gold standard men
warn them of the certain loss of New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut at
the polls.
They have reconciled themselves
that in the great boundless west and
middle states of the Mississippi val
ley viii be found electoral votes
enough to Offset the detection in the
east. While there is neither probable
ity nor even a possibility of a mi
nority bolt, and another candidate be
ing placed IN the held, as there was IN
1860, so far as the eastern states are
concerned there might as we'll be, as
support in the electoral college from
every state east OF ONO mas DeG4 Vol
unfairly relinquished by those in con-
troll of the prospect of a western and
southern alliance
This remarkable change in the DO
sition of the Democratic convention
toward New York and the east entails
other remarkable conditions which will
make the coming convention memOra-
bic and, if its deliberations are
crowned with success in November
epoch-nnaking in the history of Ameri-
can politics.
A. arc 5oov IF 41,a .o,,x1er,+ ior, s+or5
the Representatives of two other ma
-tionalr parties, the POpuliSts and the
Silyarites, as we'll as the lieutenants Of
Senator Teller, who led the silver bolt
at St Louis ready to pledge the sup
port Of their organization to their fol-
lowers if the convention will put aside
the candidates from within the ranks
Of their party and choose as the
standard bearer in the coming fight the
man who for so many years has been
eae commanding leader of the silver
forces in the United States senate,
and who two weeks ago took his hat
ard walked out of the convention of
the party with which he has all his
life been identified because that party
refused to endorse his views. Senator
Dubois and others of Mr.. Teller's as
sOciates, Secretary Taubeneck of the
POpulist party and Senator Stewart of
the silver party are bending their en-
ergies to impress upon the Democratic
silver leaders the great strength Tell
er'S nomination would bring to the
cause of silver in which the conven-
ton is to enlist itself So far as Sen
ator Dubois and Mr.. TeIler's associ-
ates are concerned, they say they
stand ready to give their heartiest sup
port to any recognized free silver
Democrat whom the convention might
name. if the platform in other respects
IS satisfactory; but they point out that
the free silver Republicans who would
rally enthusiastically to the support
of Teller might not all vote for a
Democrat. while the POpulists, in so
far as Taubeneck can speak for them,
openly declare that unless Teller is
nominated they will place a ticket in
the field at St Louis. with Teller as
the nominee. They show a list of
eighty-one electoral votes from the
western and Mississippi valley states,
which will be given to the nominee,
more than enough to compensate for
the loss of New York. New Jersey and
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