The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-04-03
Drawing The Party Line,

Three years ago the silver agita
tion, which had greatly abatet
during the Presidential campaign
of 1892, was renewed with create
intensity than ever by the annOun
cement of President Clevelind'l
purpose to force the repeal of the
Sherman silver-purchase act. Th'
two parties had, in 1892, admins
tered copious doses of soothing
syrup to the advocates of fire,
silver coinage in the form of plat
forms (which lied like. truth, anC
kept the word of promise to the eal
to break it to the hope" Oul
readers need not be reminded thai
this renewal of agitation was the
work of the President and that he
and his friends deliberately, and in
the public view, without conceal
ment, created panic in order tC
embarrass the business interests oil
the country and make them con.
tribute their influence to the
Sherman purchase act as an Ad.
ninistration measure. From that
time it seemed for a year that
parties would disintegrate by the
withdrawal from both of them of
the advocates Of the free coinage of
silver. An Independent silver
party was formed, with a National
Committee. This was composed of
the leading silver men who favored
Independent action, on the ground
that the two great parties were
hopelessly in the tolls of the gold
standard advocates.
The congressional elections of
1894 demonstrated the fact that the
Administration had made itself
odious to the people and that the
Democratic party ha been unable
to eXtricate itself from the crush
ing burden of the Presidents un-
popularity. The result was that
while the Democrats stayed at
home, the Republicans turned out
and elected House of Representa-
tives having three Republicans to
one Democrat. Wherever elections
were held in 1895 similar results
followed. This did not tend, to
build up the new party. On the
contrary, desertions were. checked
from the victorious Republican
party, and there has been large
tendency ever since, among men
of all parties, 10 concede Republi-
can success at the next President
ial election. Such a condition is
not favorable to revolt of silver
Republicans in the West. Sena.
tor Pettigrew, the strong ablest
and shrewdest Republican leader
in his state (South Dakota) made
most strenuous efforts for the elect
ion of frce-coinage delegation to
the National convention. He was
defeated. There are a few heroes
among western Republicans who
propose to become martyrs to the
cause of bimetallism. They are
not numerous enough in electoral
votes to terrorize their own party
into submission to the free coinage
of silver. There is not likely to be
any open bolt of delegations from
the National Republican Conven-
ti0n. The platform makers will
consult the eastern bankers as TO
The particular words In which the
party will pledge itself to a gold
standard, without using those very
words. They will them. within
these limitations, consult with the
delegates from the Rocky Noun.
ain States as to what soft words
'an be used in passing the death
sentence upon free silver coinage.
The Republican managers are
much inflated with the strength
hown by them during the past
wo years. They have sweet
lreams OF carryin 6 every northern
tate east OF the Missouri River, to-
,ether with California, Oregon,
Washington, the Dakotas, Utah,
Kansas and Nebraska, aud, in the
south, the States of Maryland,
Worth Carolina, West Virginia,
tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri.
With such an estimate oftheir
'ower they will, not peril their
Eastern strength, by any bid for (
he silver advocates.
The misfortunes Of the Dem ocrat- j
; party have had an effect upon
IS leaders similar to that which