The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-04
THE SITUATION AS TO SILVER.

! 1hdA III Inc CUmltS udIIOildA CduA-
paign. And we think we would be
right in saying there never was a
time when the parties to a pending
controversy fraught with such import
ance to the country seemed so indif-
ferent to the issue as now. In five
months the Democratic national con-
vention will convene in Chicago. If
the silver Democrats are true to them
selves and the interests oil this coun-
try, they will make in that convention
a desperate fight for the free coinage
of both gold and silver; but how are
they going to that convention? How
are they going to make that fight? Are
they going to that convention every
man free lance? without organiza-
ton, without plans, without knowing
a silver Democrat from single gold
standard advocate? Will the silver
Democrats gather at Chicago and trust
to getting together by chance, hastily
patching up an organization and agree
ing upon a plan of action? 1t win be
a great mistake if such a course is
pursued. 1t may be defended upon
that the single gold standard Demo
Gratis will go to the national conven-
ton in no such hap-hazard style.
They will be perfectly organized. They
will have definite plans well matured,
a strong discrimination to bolt them
through the convention; and if the
Democrats friendly to silver do not
go equally well prepared to act for
their principles they will be easily
driven to the wall.
We take it that the question of free
coinage of silver, so far as the Demo
cratic party is concerned, has reached
that stage of its development when
further compromise is out of the ques-
ton between the advocates Of a single
gold standard and the out and out
free coinage men. We are well aware
that between these two extremes there
is a large number of mugwump BIZ
metallists, that concede the correct
ness of the free coinage of both gold
and silver but think the United States
should await the cooperation of
European nations But this element
will be able to affect no compromise.
They must choose whom they will fol-
low, the single gold standard men or
the free coinage men. If the conven-
ton could be carried for free and I'M
limited coinage of gold and silver at a
ratio of Is to 1 by the United States
without waiting for the action of other
nations, we believe the eastern single
gold standard advocates would leave
the convention. And on the other hand.
If the single gold standard men can
secure a platform declaration favor
able to their views, we believe it
would be the duty Of the silver men
to walk out of the convention, and
contest the claim of our eastern friends
for the title and principles of the Dem
ocratic party.
In other words, there are but three
courses that the silver Democrats can
now pursue:
First-Try and carry the national
convention for the free coinage Of sill
yer as we'll as gold at the present legal
ratio.
Second-Failing in that, leave the
convention and raise the standard of
true Democracy, affirming all its
principles. renewing allegiance to its
traditions, and pledge themselves to
work INCREASINGLY for the restoration
of silver to its place in our monetary
system, and thus form a neuclus
around which all the friends of silver
may gather.
Third-Leave the convention, and
join with the third party movement,
but insist upon the single issue, the
restoration of silver to the privileges
Of legal tender quality, and to free and
unlimited coinage at the government
minis.
The Herald favors attempting the
first, that is, attempting to carrying
the national convention for free coin
age. Failing in that we favor the sec
ond proposition, and believe that by
adopting that course we shall ultt-
mately win the battle for siIver-and
it will be Democracy's greatest vic
tory when achieved. But in the event
Of adopting this course, it is time that
silver Democrats We're organizing for
the conflict. There is only five months
until the convention meets, none to
much time to enter into correspond
ence with our fellow silver Democrats
in other states, and arriving at an I'M
derstanding with them as to plan
Of action.
THE STATE PESITENTIARY.
The legislature has about month in
which to complete the work that is