St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-30
NO TIME For SILENCE.

NO TIME FOR SILENCE.
Col. William R.Morrison, Of the inter-
state commission, is something more
than talked of by Illinois Democrats
as their ckoice for the presidential
nomination. The colonel is associated
chiefly in the minds of Democrats with
his efforts as chairman Of the house
ways and means committee to secure a
reduction of the tariff. He presented
the plan adopted by this Republican
congress Of making a horizontal re-
duction of the rates in all the sched-
ules, plan that was then ridiculed by
the men who now praise the Dingley
retired to his place on the interstate
commission little has been known of his
opinions, and nothing whatever of his
position Oh what has come to be one of
the leading questions, the currency and
coinage. When. some time since, the
Chicago Chronicle endeavored to ascer-
tain his views on this question, he
brusquely informed it's representative
that he would say whether he favored
or opposed free silver when he got
ready. 1t is hardly reassuring that the
Altgeld- crowd regard his
candidacy favorably.
Last year when the president wrote
to Chicago committee, in reply to an
invitation to address q meeting, he
took occasion to again urge the sore
need Of sound money. Col. Morrison's
comment on this was: st wish the
president would define what he means
by sound money" This could only
signify either that Mr. Morrison had
not kept up his reading Of the Con-
gressional Record or that he disagreed
with the presidents plan for securing
sound money for the country. But it
leaves Democrats in doubt on what
side Of the question the colonel is to
De round, and this is position no
possible nominee Of the convention can
take If he reads Alright the recent his
tory Of his party and it's successes.
| If that teaches anything, it is the value
of frankness Of expression and courage
of speech. If Mr.. Cleveland's career
teaches anything, 1t is that the people
of this country prefer the out-spoken,
candid man, even If they disagree with
him; that they want the real leader, not
the adroit trimmer; the man with con-
victions and the courage of them, and
not the man who, if he ''must have con-
victions," does not 'b'lieve 'em too
hard" Now, more than ever, the
serious men Of affairs in the country
are looking for such q man and are
Indifferent what party presents him.
If Mr.. Morrison is really willing to be
candidate Of his party, he must drop
this mask Of silence and resume some
thing of that old courage with which
he faced hostile senate and president.
and took the lead in the first fight Of
the party for freer trade. NO
public man has a right to conceal
from the people his opinions. When
man takes public station or aspires
to one, 1t is peculiarly obligatory on him
to take those whose support he asks
into his entire confidence. Otherwise
he is, in sense, obtaining goods under
false pretense. Secretary Morton has
the true conception. Asked for per-
mission to print a letter in which he had
made an energetic expressionof opinion,
he replied granting it always with the
view Of helping honesty Of expression
in economics and politics. Unevasive-
ness and nonambiguity in declaring
principles are essential to a real De-
mocracy." We commend this to the
consideration Of Mr.. Morrison.