The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-24

ola rims, for the free and unlimited coin
aeA nf silver at the ratio of Is to 1. Up
on such a platform they will wish to
mt a, man who heartily believes in that
policy. CBland is their man. But they
may fail In spite Of their efforts the
convention may declare against any
change in the existing standard and
may nominate man opposed TO the
degradation of the currency.
And then?
They are now, however, insisting tnat
they will not fail. They have Missouri
in favor of free silver or bolt, the sill
yer states will be the same way, aid
possibly some of the southern states.
They claim that they will carry Illinois.
Indiana and Kentucky, and boast that
they will control the national conVen-
ton in favor of free silver.
And then?
Then they will have secured the con-
troll of the campaign, and will be re-
sponsible for the result. What VIII
they say about the tariff question? III
they wish TO anita goniZe Mckinley, who
is first of all the representa- tive OF pro-
lection, they must make some sort or
definite deliverance with reference to
the tariff. Viii they take the position
that the present tariff is good enough
for Democrats? Will they ask that 1t
be reformed in the direction OF lower
duties? Or will they adopt the formula
of Wharton Baker of Philadelphia,
whom some of them admire, in favor
of "bimAtallism (5-cent silver with 100
cent gold dollars and projections" Or
finally. having got a. square plank for
bad money, will they be content TO
straddle the tariff? Having settled the
tariff and minor matters to their liking,
they viii have still to meet the cur
rency question
And then?
Then they must go to the country in
quest Of votes. Where they going to
get them? In the south and west, they
say But the south and the silver states
in the west have not enough TO elect.
VIII they go to New York? At the bare
mention of free silver the Democratic
masses will recoil. No man on such a
platform can carry New York, or New
Jersey, or Connecticut. On the con-
trary. the Democratic vote in these
states, if not practically wiped out,
would be, in proportion 20 population,
the smallest ever cast. Nor is there any
reason to expect that for such a ticket
Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Indiana,
Illionois, or Wisconsin could be carried
In short, there would not be a state
north Of the Ohio and east of the Mis-
souri, that the Democrats could hope 70
carry with a free silver platform and
candidate.
There are the silver producing states
Of the west, and few others. to which
an appeal may be made. The states
west of Missouri and Kansas are look
ed to as for free silver. But these states
are all Republican except California,
which has been treated as doubtful. The
Republicans who bolt the St Louis con-
vention expect to carry these states,
and viii, no doubt, carry some of them.
The most of them, however, they will
lose according TO the probabilities. The
Republicans OF Washington declared
the other day against free coinage. In
1892 the free coinage issue could move
only four of these states from their Re
publican mornings. while California
went for Cleveland, the foremost cham
pion OF sound money OF that year. A
larger number of these sites might be
carried, perhaps by a coalition between
the free silver Democrats and the bolt
ing Republicans. But. II 50, what Is 10
become Of the tariff and other issues?
Will the Democrats go with the silver
Republicans for "bimetallism and pro
lection p
As to carrying the once solid south
for a free silver candidate. that is sim
ply impossible. Delaware and Mary
land are certain 20 be lost. (West Viz
gtnia alsoD As 10 Kentucky. Is has now
Republican state officers. and the at
tenpt to redeem the state with 50-cent
dollars would he hopeless. The outlook
| in Tennessee Is gloomy. The: Missouri
sound money Democrats have been out
"a geousfy treated. and hold the balance
OF power. The Republicans. on a sound
money platform. expect to carry the
state in consequence Of Democratic di-
vision. louisiana was not divided or
the currency issue at the recent election.
but the white parishes voted the Re-
publican ticket. There are other s;atss
IN the south that are doubtful on a free
silver platform. but 1t is unnecessary 20
particuiarize-
The triumph OF silver at Chioag
means the defeat OF the party. with the
frsa Silverites (buried under overwheirn-
ing sound money maj0ritses east % the
Missouri.
And then?
And then some OF our aspiring politi-
clans Will have learned that free silver
IS not the best road 70 Office. Then the
sound money Democrats viii have the
melancholy task OF gathering up ire
fragments and reconstructtag the party
in favor % its traditional principles,
sound money. home rule, and free trade
II will be hard task. but sound money
Democrats have enlisted Tor the whole
war.