The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-18
WASHINGTON LETTER


moment and complete the chances that
already premonishes the politicians of
impending party dissolution. 1t seems
to be now only question of days when
both the old party organizations must
collapse. That is the common opinion
in Washington among representative
public men who look at the situation
dlspassionately. The Reed-emergency
tarih bill forces the protection issue to
the front and compels the nomination of
Mckinley at st. Louis. This was far
from Reeds thoughts at the time and
II is now generally conceded that he has
woefully miscalculated republican senti-
ment and has lost all chance of the pres
ldentlal nomination. The st. Louis con-
vention will repudiate the Reed bill in
the most emphatic terms, if what is said
here by republican leaders is worth any,
thing as matter of opinion. Senator
Carter was fully assured on this point
when he denounced the bill in the Senate
as a democratic heresy" and utterly re-
pugnant to republican theory and party
record on the question of protection.
Quay's candidacy for the presidential
nomination was born in the some light.
Hitherto there has been no serious differ
ence among republicans on the tariff but
the Reed bill marks the beginning of the
end. The peril to the republican party,
IN the present situation, demands it's re-
quotation at st. Louis, and following
that, logically and inevitably is McKin-
ley's nomination. Thus the traiff be-
comes the paramount issue so far as the
republican party can force the issue on
the country. 1t may be disguised as
protection and bimetallism," but the
country will understand that any party
declaration short of an emphatic demand
for the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer means the perpetuation, in the event
OF republican success, of the present gold
standard OF monetary system. Yet among
the leaders and politicians of both par
ties, who persist in deceiving and defy
ing the people, a straddle on the silver
question is in serious contemplation.
Mckinley's silver speech in congress
IN 1890, in support of the Sherman COM
promise bill, is being extensively quoted
and widely circulated in anticipation of
straddle at st. Louis. Western repub-
Ncan congressman, in talking with the
Peoples Party News Bureau representa-
tive, assert their determination to bolt
the convention in the event of straddle
they will accept, they say, an equivocal
declaration on silver as an abandonment
ing to their understanding, at Mime
apolis. Republicans, they insist who be-
leave that standard money means
what the political economists and party
leaders have always asserted until re-
Gently, without a voice to the contrary,
will be absolved from their allegiance
They declare that the latter part of the
Minneapolis platform cannot explain
away the economic definitionsof the words
standard money and the clear under
standing put upon the whole platform
in the silver states. Here is the storm
center of the republican party. Nobody
can tell what may happen before the ST.
Louis convention assemblies June next
but it is hard to find republican here
whose opinion is worth quoting who does
not admit the hopelessness of harmonious
party action. The republican situation
encourages the demoralized democratic
leaders. and the free silver wing is show
ing some signs of revival and activity.
Democratic detection is confined to the
southern states and it owes it's existence
to the almost universal sentiment of OPP
position to Cleveland. Among the plain
people the free silver sentiment is very
pronounced in all the southern states, but
there are local conditions in almost every
community that compels the subordina-
ton Of any national question to local
party supremacy. Southern leaders I'M
derstand the peculiar aspect of the south
ern situation. With the masses, free sill
yer is a stubborn conviction, and it is
possible that the politicians may be
fooled this year. The signs of democratic
disintegration in the south-the astound-
ing progress of party alienation, points
Enthusiastically to a general party break
up in that section of the country. Cleve-
land has been made the scape- goat for all
democratic derelictions. ide-the-party
silver democrats use the silver club on
Cleveland. They don't care rap for sill
yer. Their purpose is to defeat Cleve
lands denomination and stay the revolt
that threatens the democratic machine
in the South with swift and complete
humiliation. "Anybody but Cleveland
at Chicago" will, they think, satisfy the
democratic masses and keep them in line
in the coming campaign. That is the
Bourbon view of coming events. 1t is the
last, despairing hope of the southern
oligarchy that has solidified the south
by debauched ballot and corrupt cleo
ton methods. 1t is fair to say that hos
tility to Cleveland is stronger in some
sections of the south than the sentiment
in favor of free silver. A western NOM
nation would tend to placate that feel
ing, but anything less than an unequi-
vocal platform declaration in favor of
free coinage will not stop the stampede
from the democratic party after the Chi
cago convention.
And where will this revolving element
go? What party Identification will it
seek? If it is honest, it must seek open
and unconditional alliance with the Peo-
pies party. The party contests this year
will test the manhood, the patience the
patriotism, and the republicanism of the
American people. Party restraints will
not influence the American voter this
year when self-preservation is the gaunt
issue that stares him in the face. No
self-respecting man will be dog whipped
into voting the party ticket because it is
the party ticket The manhood of the
people will rebel against boss" dicta-
ton and "boss" manipulation. The
masses of both the old parties deceived,
Inundated, impoverished-wil act with
the party that subordinates party to prin-
ciple, that elevates manhood above par
tisanship-that means. in its candidates
and platform, vigorous, self-reliant,
courageous American policy.
This is the drift of opinion here and
the Peoples party is fully alert to the
situation which now Enthusiastically indi-
Gates great national triumph in the
approaching election.
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY
The big republican majority in the
houco ic absolutely domin at od nv Roed