New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-15
nFMOCRATS' LAST HOPES.
,,ry ARE WATCHING THE ST LOUIS
CONVENTION WITH ANXIETY.
.,ooyLyN MEMBERS OF THE PARTY DoDGlNG
THE FINANCIAL oUEsTIoN-MANI OF
THEIR VOTES TO GO TO
Af'KINLEY.

,.,ok,vn's Democrats do not like to acknowl-
.sr, I, but il is plainly apparent that they are
itching developments in St. Louis with no less
'-..-est than their Republican friends. Few
.,,bsrs Of the Democratic party are old enough
:. ,suen,ber time when thev were as hope
,..,v lost in desperation and despair as they are
"a They recognize their inability 10 fight
~ the Populistic free-silver craze. They stoutly
,ost that their Democracy is too pure un-
.,a,ea and holy to permit them to follow the
'.,.,,c leadership of their wild and hayward
western brethren. They also know that bolt
=. tho Chicago Convention would Kill the entire
.v for years TO come. 1t is for these reasons
~, they have abandoned all hope Of electing
prssident who is both Democrat and sound
nancy man. and that they are giving their spare
-.omsnts 10 the consideration Of the question
.hs,hsr II is their duty 10 put up dummy gold
,,,,se for whom they will vote out Of respect
:, ,b.r traditions and principles. whether they
.,onld stay at home and not vote at all. or
h.,her as last resort. they should vote for the
pa,uhlican nominee. To vote for a Republican.
.,a sspec,ally for the Republican who is looked
,on as the particular champion of a protective
,.rn would not be an easy thing for the average
nsmocrat. but the trouble now is that the Demo
,,st must choose between his party interests
ana h,s own financial interests. and the latter
A.. dearer 10 him than the former. Thus 1t
,,mss about that he hopes to see the 81. Louis
Invention come out sQuarely and unequivocally
n- sound money. in order that when Election
nav comes If he feels like voting at all. he will
have chance 10 vote for a soundmoney cand-
date who has some chance to win.
The Tribune published few days ago several
interviews with prominent Brooklyn Democrats
IN which the fact was revealed that, while they
all agree that Mckinley will be elected In No
yenber they cannot agree as TO the course the
Eastern members Of their own party should
pursue Further investigation shows that they
secretly hope that the Republicans Will declare
for gold and that the lines will be clearly drawn
In the campaign between gold on the Republican
side and silver on the Democratic side. II, as
now seems inevitable the Democratic Conven-
ton commits the present party organization TO
the cause of free silver.
BROOKLYN DEMOCRATS AVOID QUESTIONS.
Most of Brookyn's active political workers in
the Democratic desert do not care 10 be quoted
on the money question. Warden Patrick Hayes.
when asked by a Tribune reporter what his party
would do in case the National Convention de-
clared for silver. suddenly thought Of a most
important appointment with a friend, and hur-
ried away without giving sembance Of an
answer Edward NJ. Grout did not consider that
The Tribune had any right to ask for an opinion
nom him, and he therefore, asked to be put on
record non-commttal because he did not
want to aid in a movement toward the stirring
Wa dissension" In the ranks OF mis- party lie
sad however, that he believed that there was
more friendness toward silver In this section
Of the country than had been generally au-
mt.ed. Senator Peter II. McNulty has also
gwen expression 10 a similar idea
Public Administrator William b. Davenport ~
one Of Brooklyns most loyal Democrats al
though he takes little part in the conduct or the
Nry's affairs. He said few days ago that ne
believed Mckinley would be nominated on
sound money platform. and that he hoped
no would be. He is sure that Eastern Democrats
will refuse to support silver nominee and be-
hsves that in a few years the free-silver craze
will be killed.
Ex-Congressman COMBS says that thousands
Of mckinley votes will be cast by Democrats in
case the Republicans come out FOR gold whlle
the Democrats follow their silver propensites
Mr. Coombs expresses the true fe@ln0 ~ f''-
dreis of his fellow Democrats when he says that
be hopes the Republicans will not force upon
the East a choice between an Out-and-out silver
PLATFORM and q straddle.
HOPELESSNESS OF THE PARTY.
II is pointed out by persons who are care
fully watching political developments through
out the State that the clearest indication given
by the Democrats OF their absolute hopelessness
Is their supreme Indifference as to the candi-
dates Of their party. The Republicans. II Is
shown have practically nominated their man for
President. and now have more aspirants for the
Vice Presidency than there are Democrats VINO
are willing to try for the Presidency. "hiie
there have been four or five New-fork Demo-
Gratis named for the Presidency. no broohiyH
Democrat has yet been heard to say tnat ne mas
the slightest interest in the chances or any one
Of them. While this might be explained by the
lroba bty that Western silverite wlll De Sc
ected II is nevertheless true that the lhulHer-
ence was Just marked before II became ai-
parent that the silver .dea wouc win al Nhi-
easo With their National Convection niue
more than three weeks ahead. they are as much
az sea as they were year ago. III the local
amp everything is calm and placid, because
uere Is nothing 70 fight for at present Inc
ohe struggle to which the Demot rats are look
ing forward with any degree Of interest Is that
,u inc next Assembly In this one case they are
trusting to Platt's discredited and distrusted
eosssn and his unpopular legislation TO win