Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-10
VIII There Be a Bolt !?

1t i not 2pprehented that any serl-
Gus detection will result from the AS
seItion Of principle entertained by a
large majority Of the Chicago conven-
ton. The very first duty OF a true
Democrat is to acIuiesce in the will Of
the majority. fairly expressed through
the usual means OF representative
government. This principle applies
III the conflicts which arise under
party discipline as well as the issues
decided by count Of numbers in the
general administration Of the govern
ment. No matter how Objectionable
may be some provisions OF law, or how
udious the candidates elected to al
minister it. the duty OF citizenship i'm
plies adherence to the one and sup
port oi the other until, 10y constitu-
tioual means what Is deemed by indi-
yidual Judgment to he wrong is
righted.
No party possesses stability, unless
its membership recognizes an obliga-
ton to support the will OF the major
ity, especially upon issues which may
arise that do not haye precedent for
guide nor experience for teacher.
This obligation has been the safeguard
OF the Democratic party from the time
it came into existence, in obedience to
the will of the people as means of
making that will effective.
When we read, therefore, in the AS
ISOLATED Press reports - which are
never absolutely reliable in stating the
movements OF a party that has little
love for corporations--that the gold
Democrats are preparing for a bolt, a
doubt arises of its truth from the de-
liberate manner in which it is to be
brought about. A bolt, to be jUstifi-
able-if justified under any circum-
stances-should be made precisely at
the time when circumstances occur
which seems to warrant it. There is
absolutely no justification for those
who have determined upon opposing
the work of convention, for remain
ing and shaping its details 80 as to en-
compass defeat. Such course would
be the acme of dishonesty. 1t would
be an evidence OF bad faith far more
reprehensible than breach OF con-
tract in business life that would doom
its perpetrator to eternal oblivion.
When, therefore, we read that each
gold delegation had been instructed to
select member to return to his State
and obtain the views of the party and
report to the chairman of the gold
standard organization, the plan seems
to be too cumbersome for decisive re-
suits, but simply device to gain time
for reflection. The continued pres
ence of the gold leaders in the conven.
ton, their policy of procrastination,
their high position in party which
on all other questions but that of cur
rency cordially recognizes their per-
sonal worth, and the possible result
that will attend disaffection, all 60 to
show that there will be no formal bolt.
Some whose patriotism lies in their
pocket-books may knife the silver cam
didates at the polls, but they will be
offset by the many thousand Republic
can voters who realize that they are
standing on the brink OF q precipice
through the manipulations OF the
multi-millionaires who have riveted
golden chains upon the limbs OF their
party and stilled every impulse that
may have been aroused within it in
favor of the people.
If there is bolt, it will very prob
ably he OF of the politicians and not OF
the masses, and it is noted fact that
the leaders have habit of looking
ahead and of summing up possible
results far in the future. That the
masses OF the East are very generally
in accord with the silver interest is
shown by the occasional glimpses Of
public sentiment afforded by the
"coun,ry" newspapers, which repre-
sent the popular will far more accu.
rately than those metropolitan jour
nails which, from sordid motives. re
fleet the will of the controlling inter
ests OF moneyed centers.