The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-06-26

MEAN LIE DntO\
to foresha,iow the party's platform, much les
| would any candidate he permitted, under an
| circumstances whatever, Ia answer the inter
| negatives of u cabal OF his enemies, comDina
ton formed within his party and outside hi
own pauy-a conspiracy OF bosses and Demo
| crats-to force from him declaration as e
what the platform ought TO he. man VIII,
would fall into the manipulation of such con
spirary would be totally unit 10 be president O
the United States. MAJ. Mckinley will RESPOND
| 10 the plasform, but he will not dictate what tn,
| platform shall be.
Had he fallen into the trap and an
swered their questi ons, you may be
sure those editors we're prepared to use
| his answers as a weapon against him
ard to make the most of that weapo n,
no matter which side Of the question
! he had advocated.
The position of those editors is as
about like that of the literary critic
who being unable to find any other
way whereby he might get ia blow
at his enemy, cried out in his rage
and despair: "Oh that mine enemy
would write a book -
And now word IN regard to the
position Of the Republican party on
the silver question. They have been
accused by some Of their opponents of
unsoundness on that question, and it
has been said that they have not the
courage to stand up squarely and man
fully for honest money. And yet, in
nearly all the state conventions out
side the silver producing states, they
have publicly declared themselves in
favor of sound money and their plat
for ms, though variously worded, are
substantially against the free coinage
of silver except by international agree
meut.
The Democrats have had good
deal to say in disparagement of the
financial plank in the Republican plat
for of 1892, calling il a disgraceful
straddle, an unworthy compromise, and
trucking to the free silver element;
but il these criticisms are just how
about their own platform adopted only
"a few weeks laters
Some of President Cleveland's po-
litical friends have treated him to a
vast amount of eulogy because of his
action in regard to the Sherman law
so called, ascribing to him the entire
credit Of repeating the clause in that
law relating to the compulsory pur
chase of silver. Some of them have |
even gone SO far as to say that he |
brought the Republicans into line and |
forced them 10 do his bidding, and that |
his great influence and determination |
and powerful personality overcame
their opposition. But what are the
facts of the caseg Simply these:
When the 3}d Congress met in extra
session and the bill for the repeal OF
the silver purchase clause came before
the Senate, President Cleveland found
himself confronted by an adverse ma
lorlty in his own party. And that
majority cortiued its opposition to the
Presidents wishes to the very last.
The Republicans, on the other hand.
we're in favor Of the repeal from the
outset, Notwithstanding the fact that
the opposition came from Democrat
Ic President. They ignored party lines
and looked only to the good of their
country. 1t was the Republicans who
stood unsweryingly by the President
despite all opposition. staying up his
land and encouraging him to remain
itadfast to his purpose and TO set his
ace untiinchingly against any and all
Attempts at compromise, till his point
vas carried. Without the Republi-
,ans, he could never have accomplished
lis purpose. Now, if the President'sl
.reat influence and powerful person
llity could not eoIrol the action of his
~ II parry, how could il control that of
he Republicans A President, unsup-
'ofted by his own party, or weakened.
at her, by their opposition. can hardly
'e expected TO exert an irresistible in
4
Moreover, it should be borne in n. ind
hat the Republicans had no pie coun-
er IN prospect at which they might
pect to receive material reward for
heir efforts as soon as the battle
hould be over and the victory won.
'ot hing of the kind That influence,
Q far as II could have any effect at
II, would be in the opposite direction
Or 1t was expected by both parties that t
$ soon as the purpose should be &C.
omplished for which the extra session
ad been called, the gui.lotine would
egin its work.
Coming down to still later date,
men the question of free coinage was
ecently brought up in the United
,tates Senate and put to vote, on or
bout February Sd, the Republicans -
NNNs "SoiiiSt tlC w Il
y of % to 10. while the Democrats
oted for il by majority of "a to 10. |
M aware that you said at the time
lat this was no party question that
crossed party lines. | admit it.
ut 1t gives an indication, at least.
how each party is divided Cd the
lestlon at the present time, where the
alority of each party stands, and
Inch comes nearest to being sound
oney party. | think you said that
e vote was divided according to state
mes: | adm it that it was so to some
Ntent, but the 1nuiana senators both
emocratl voted for free coinage,
hereas the Indiana Republican CON
'ntion pronouced emphatically in ia
r of honest money. ID
Now, would it not be well for us to
Ike some of these facts into consid-
alton before We criticize the Repub-
ans too severely for their position
the silver question or put too much =
thuslasm into the cry that the coun-
must look to the Democratic marty
one Tor deliverance from the threat.
ed periis OF debased and fraud. am
emit currency? Would il not also be RAJ
III Tor us to take a second thought 20
lore We asset too loudly or positive. s hn
mat the Mckinleyites are a party bu
Doodle and staddie." We