New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-26
DEMOCRATIC WEAKNESS.

IN UO' M ! ~ " nan '|''''
Neither the piteous pleading of those eminent
friends Of bimeallism, Messrs. Whitney and
Hill. and the other New-York Democrats nor
the highly tempting offer they make to favor
retirement of legal tenders and Treasury notes
without contraction of circulation, which would
require coinage Of S47S,000,0O0 more standard
silver and the issue of a like amount Of notes
rcdeemable in silver only. Will probably have
any effect on the overwhelming majority nj
Chicago for free coinage. Perhaps II is not
necessary to dwell much on the discreditable
contrast between this Democratic proposal,
which is heralded as the best the sound money
Democrats have to offer and the senseless
captousness of the same Democrats and their
organs regarding the position of Governor Me-
Knley and the phrases of the -. Louis plat
form. Although the conditional surrender may
not be accepted by the conqudring army of sill
ver it cannot be denied that the proposal TO re-
tire legal-tender notes if free coinage can be
postponed in the interest of Dimctalllsm is dis
tinctly an offer to surrender on conditions to
which, il is safe to say the business men OF
New-York will utterly refuse their assent.
The difference between parties is amazing.
A few days ago all the Democratic papers were
expanding whole pages of derision and con
tempt upon the Republican desire TO "straddlc
for no better reason than the fact that some be-
lieved pledge 10 maintain the present stand
ard meant the same thing as pledge 10
maintain the present gold standard" These
eminent professors Of financial wisdom declared
The Tribune unworthy Of trust or respect be-
cause ii held that the two phrases meant the
same thing With lofty virtue these Democrats
Rauul,i,np Nx.ln prnVel flpV said
by not putting in surplus word, that he did
not dare to put it in. Such was their infamcd
zeal for gold when employed as Boss platrs
servants What have they TO say now Of tie
Democratic Convention of this Empire State
and the great leader OF gold standard men,
eX-Secretary Whitney?
International bimetallism has been declared
utterly impossible and absurd by all the remo.
cratic apostles of Sound money though they
ought to know much better They have stig-
matzed the Republican reference 10 intema
tonal agreement as fraudulent and cowardly
evasion, though they ought to know that there
Is to-day more prospect OF such an agreement
than existed in 1892. when the conference In
vited by President Harrison was defeated by
the triumph Of a Democratic party pledged &c
"thc coinage Of both gold and silver. without
discriminating against either metal" which led
European nations to expect this country TO take
upon its shoulders the whole load and risk and
loss so that German delegates were immed
atey Instructed against any concession OF
/ agreement To-day. If ii were certain that the
United States would coin no more silver with
out concert with other commercial nations
England and Germany both would feel forced
to face the issue with definite intent, for the
first time to find some safe basis for a genuine
international bimetallism. But the success OF
| the Democratic party, every sane man must
know would put an end to all chances OF
agreement for another four years.
The NewYork Democrats. therefore, have
| simply betrayed the business men who trusted
them TO make strong and honest fight for tho
gold standard at Chicago. They have, in ef
| feet, surrendered In advance by Offering con
cession which would be fatal to the soundnesi
Of the currency, and one which they know the
people will not permit They make their sud
den change Of attitude the more fatal in its In
fucnce by admitting that II is due to thu
discovery that Democrats In large number
throughout the rural districts even in this En-
pire State, have become infected with the free
silver craze. A strange discovery to make, in
deed, the very day before the State Conven
| ton, though Republicans have known anC
| openly declared for months that the Democratic
in this, as In other States, lean strongly towar,
every sort Of financial heresy. How could IT b,
otherwise after placing Mr. Cleveland himself
with his consent, in 1894 on platform demand
ing "thc gold and silver coinage Of the Consti
tuition" and In 1892 on platform containing
the language above quoted? Yet If Mr.. Whit
ney should come out of the Chicago Convention
a candidate on a silver platform, the very SANE
| Journals and business organizations whcl
accused Major Mckinley Of cowardice, becaus
they were falsely told he wished the word golt
| omitted from his platform, would go into hys
| terics of enthusiasm over the great leader O
| 1.-The gold standard men, and his magnifcpn
victory"