The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-06-10


Presidential Nominee.
Washington, D. c., June s.-Two
things seem 20 be settled regarding the
conventions of this year. Both are
accepted as settled by the Washington
politicians. 1t is agreed that McKin-
ley is certain OF the nomination at ST
Louis. 1t is regarded just as certain
that the Chicago convention will de-
clare for free silver.
The two doubtful questions are as to
the st. Louis platform and the Chicago
candidate. All the guessing is center
ed on these two things. But they are
taking shape rapidly and the uncer-
tainty in each convention is inhuenc-
ing the uncertainty of the other.
The acceptance of Mckinley as the
Republican candidate is driving the
Democrats away from Morrison as a
possibility, for with the horizontal
statesman as the Democratic candidate
there would be no possibility of pre-
venting the tariff from becoming the
one supreme issue. Morrison's one act
which made him a national character
was the framing Of the horizontal tar
if. He came TO the front in 1883, as
the leading apostle Of free trade, and
his tariff bin was more nearly represen-
tative Of the Democratic policy than
any bill that has since been framed.
The Democrats concede that, with Nor
rlson as their candidate, the issue
would be protection or free trade, and
on that issue Mckinley would sweep the
4-,f.
and making several southern states
doubtful.
Morrison Will not be the candidate.
even If he should now come out and
declare himself in favor of free coin
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. No
one knows this better than Colonel Nor
rison, and he is not cherishing an anbi-
Fion for the empty honor of leading
a forlorn hope. He realizes that he
could not be elected II nominated, and
he does not believe that any Democrat
can defeat Mckinley at the polls.
The outlook for Vice President Ste
venson is now better than for any other
simon-pure Democrat. Stevenson has
always been a Democrat except for the
four years he left his party TO train
with the reenbackers. That bolt IS,
however, On his favor now, and Is re-
garded as the result Of superior knowf-
edge and keener foresight than was
given to the great majority of the par
ty twenty years ago. One of Steven
sons admirers said today that the
present occupant of the vice presi-
dency had never failed to grace any
position he occupied. He had always
been a consistent Democrat, with the
courage Of his convictions. Of south
ern birth, but an Illinoisan by adoption.
he had been classed as q Copperhead
during the war because of his sympa-
thies with the south. He was also a
Knight Of the Golden Circle, and that
was the one and only time he had ever
been connected with the word "old" :"
He was also one of the first Democrats
to realize that the war was over and
that the war issues should be relegat-
ed TO the rear. He did not hesitate to
leave the Democratic party and be-
come Green hacker in 1877, because he
held then as now that there should be
a greater circulating medium When the
Greenback party died he again dropped
back into the Democratic party and at
once caught step with the procession.
He had never taken up the fad of civil
service reform and as first assistant
postmaster general in Cleveland's first
administration, he gave the country
such an example OF q prompt and ef
fective headsman as was never known
before or since in any department Of
government service. While Cleveland
talked about civil service and laid down
hypocritical rules for office-holders,
which he expected them TO disobey when
ne gave the word, Stevenson welded
the AK, and no Republican place holder
escaped who could be reached with his
long arm.
As vice president, with no patronage
at his disposal and ignored by the pres
ident, Stevenson had become one of
the miidest-mannered men ever known
in Washington, and a general favorite.
He had not discussed any one of the
issues before he was filing the place as
moderator OF the senate, and was ex-
pected 10 know no party or side, but
enforce the rules laid down by the sen
ate. But Stevenson has convictions
on the money question, and they are
the same old convictions ne had in
1877. but now called free silver rather
than greenbacirsm- And the Demo
Gratis, north and south, know just what
his convictions are. He is western
man and has never been identified with
the free-traders, except as all Demo-
Gratis were when that was the party
There is no Democrat in
the country who could as a candidate
come nearer making silver the supreme
issue than could VJce-President Ste
vensOn. He is today more talked Of as
the candidate than any other Demo-
crat. and his name divides specula-
ton With that of Senator Teller.
The free-sIlver men admit that Tel
Ter would represent silver. and that
alone. If he became the Democratic can
didate. II would mean a revolution In
the party, and might under certain
be made as great and
Important as that which came 10 the
Did Whig party, when the Republican
party took IT'S place. Then the issue
was the abolition Of slavery. Now. say
the free-silver men. there is need for an
lther cry Of abolition OF slavery 10 the
bankers Of the east" They point TO
he sweep OF this sentiment OF the coun-
-ry as the most universal uprising OF
he people on aa issue since the war.
They do not admit that * is a sudden
,raze. but q conviction that has been
growing for years. and. like the sho-
ition OF slavery, has broken out as the
people discovered that IL was general
and gained the courage 70 speak out
boldly, without fear OF being accused
- reputation.
Many silver Democrats would be will
ing TO see this revolution come 10 rehS-
oilitate the Democrats party with an
sSue that is popular with the common
people al over the country. snd Is on
Y fought vicfously. they say. by the
aastern bankers, and men VINO have
arge money 70 loan or invest.
The chief difficulty in the way OF Tel
er Democrats is Senator Teller him
elf. He IS a silver man but he is also
| Republican. and he viii not leave