The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-10-15


because he does not hold the opinions
on free silver coinage that he expressed
SIX years ago, Measured by the same
standard, what is to be thought of the
self-styled Democrats who less than
six months ago solemnly protested in
party conventions and in the editorial
columns of their newspapers against
free silver coinage? What evidence
have these men given of a sincere
change of opinion on the currency
! question? Not any. On the contrary,
w:fS cynical contempt for political
decency having no former example in
/ t{l4exsskarX Of the country, they have
2attedf from the gold standard to
the Chicago platform and it's candi-
dates without even making pretense
of a change of opinion. Should occa-
sion serve there is no question that
these men would return to the stan
| dard OF sound money with the same
alacrity which they have displayed in
deserving it. 1t is to be hoped, how
ever, that iii the direst emergency the
cause will have no need of such aid or
such defenders.
viii it be said that this is unjust to
the so-called Democrats who a little
while ago weie apparently among the
staunchest ad~Ocates of sound money,
and who are now supporting a candi-
date for the presidency who daily
threatens to exercise his power, if
elected, in such a way as to nullify
the laws which provides for the main
tenance of thesound money standard:
Mr.. Bryan declares that he would eX-
ecute ''to the letter the demands OF
the Chicago platform to pay the pub
lie creditors with silver dollars and to
destroy the gold reserve fund provi-
ded for under the Act of 1873 for the
resumption of specie payments; and
these honest money Democrats" of
day before yesterday are sustaining
mn. Leu tlicIt 10 IlOl ftil lnjclllStIII
man possessed of impartial Judgment
and memory who has not an innate
conviction that the execution of this
threat would drag the Government
down to the deprecated silver basis
and plunge the country into bank
ruptcy and ruid. What plea can the
honest money Democrats of last
jung Who are now charging Mckinley
with Inconsistency make with their
consciences for this act of tergiversa-
tion in supporting the candidate who
stands on the Chicago platform? 1t
is not what public opinion may put
upon them; for that decree will be
unerring and irrevocable. The Ques-
tion is: What do they think of them
selves in their self-communings?
1t is freely admitted that there are
hundreds of thousands of Democrats
who sincerely believe that the free
coinage of silver would be a blessing
to the country. 1t would be sad
proof of degeneracy if the multitudes
who support Mr.. Bryan were not sin
cere in this notion. There are thou
sands besides who have persuaded
themselves that the free coinage o
silver could do no great harm, ant
might possibly result in some good
! There are still greater numbers whose
dispassionate consideration of thi
question is prevented by the fell spiri
of party, and who will vote for Bryan
for no better reason than the "regu
larityn of his nomination as candi
date Mr.. Bryan himself, and yer,
many other silverite leaders, withOu
doubt believe as sincerely in free coin
age and all the rest of the Chicag
programme as Babeuf believed III tn
Social Republic, or as Fourier believe
in his dogma that property is roE
berry, or as Henry George believes i
the single tax, but without half thei
force of argument.
No such plea can be made in the bt
half.of the "honest money Democrats
who supported the financial policy {
Cleveland's administration down {
the adjournment of the Chicago cor
vention, and who then turned a dot
BILE somersault into the camp of th
worst enemies of Cleveland's policy
Witness the unanimous adoption OF
: sound money platform by the Bait
more convention. Witness the shame
full palinodes of the organs that Ii
tie while ago were singing praises
= Cleveland's courageous defense
sound money and the publ
credit What confidence can be n
posed in politicians who within fe
revolving moons divest themselves {
their mature opinions as completel.
though by no means as deXtrously, 6
z Fregoli changes his coat and wig
/ the farce?
The opinions inconsistent with h
present position which Mr.. Mchinle
held six years ago are of little rel
! vancy in this great contest. 1t is ce
t tain that no silverite will support hi
, because of his former utterances abol