The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-19
rr cortn nr EASILY ENDED.


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ITCOuLD BIZ EASILY ENDED.
Since the Michigan Democratic Conven-
ton tho Washington correspondent OF the
New York Journal OF Commerce has been
very hopeful of the National Democratic
Convention adopting a SCUM l-moley plat
form until his dispatch in last Saturday
Journal. His whole temper about the mat
Ter in that letter is not 80 cheerful. lie ell
tiers into a critical examination Of the
delegations chosen and those II be cho-
sen in that communication, and concludes
that the outlook is not as hopeful as it
seemed recently.
The Times. nevertheless. stands firm in
its prediction that the National Conyen-
ton will not declare in favor Of free sill
Yer. The Times does not base its pre-
diotlon upon any critical analysis OF delo-
cations. but upon the irrefutablc proposl-
ton that 1t would be madness for the
party to do it, and The Times will never
believe the Democratic party Is going TO
commit hari-kari until it sees that party
do 1t.
The correspondent Of the Journal OF
Commerce concludes the letter We have
referred TO thus:
The feeling In favor Of the free coinage
of silver has been much intensified in the
South by the failure OF the last Demo-
cratic Congress 10 make any provision Tor
an elastic banking currency. The deci@-
rations OF the Democratic State cOnNeh-
lions IN Massachusetts. Pennsylvania, and
"a a
as a means OF relieving the scarcity OF
the circulating medium IN the South, are
falling upon deaf ears because or the al
most solid vote OF the northern Democrats
in the last House against the repeal OF
the III per cent. tax on state bank Issues
The southern members would not AT that
time have insisted upon unconditional re-
peal of the tax If the great body OF the
northern members had offered them, with
some appearances OF sincerity, an alterna-
tive plan which promised to relieve the
monetary stringency in the South. The
failure Of President Cleveland to make
any recommendation on the subject uhtll
the beginning OF the short session, ana
his abandonment Of the matter In his an
nual message last December, havo maze
il very difficult for the northern deie-
gates to make any impression upon thelr
southern associates by propositions upon
this subject. The plank In favor OF re-
pealing the 10 per cent tax was in
serted i'm 1892 as a means Of averting a
declaration for the free coinage or silver
The southern delegates feol that they
have been betrayed by the failure TO take
any serious step TO redeem this please.
IL will be difficult 70 persuade them 10
make any further concession 20 the sound
money sentiment Of the North, however
sincerely they may be offered relief TOT
the financial evils which, In their opinion
have pressed upon them without remission
while the currency has remained upon us
present unscientlnc basis. Propositions
from the North 10 declare for a scientific
banking currency will. however be the
only means of reconciling many OF the
southern delegations 70 the adoption OF a
declaration for the gold standard. The
adoption Of a declaration for banking
currency I'm New York may promote con-
fidence among the southern delegates IN
the sincerity of their northern associates
This has correctly described the situa-
ton in the South. The strength or free
silver in the southern States is due TO the
fact that the national bank system is
utterly unsuited to the needs Of an agri-
cultural and sparse population, and It
practically denies them all facilities Tor
exchange. They enormously believe that
free silver will give them the media Of
exchange which are now denied TO Them
and their frantic cries for free coinage Of
silver are i'm reality nothing but de-
mand for relief by any measure what
ever so that It brings them relief. Iheir
old-time State banks would give them all
that they are in search Of and, with
notes payable always on demand IN gold
coin. they would exist in our financial
system as n most healthy integral part
of il. Northern men with means at stake
never did a more foolish thing than when
they denied TO the South this reasonable
demand. It would have put an end 10
free silver and would have done no harm
anywhere.
The people Of tha North should take this
matter into very serious consideration.
We have 10 doubt that free silver Will be
entirely beaten in the November electioh'
but that defeat to free silver will not end
the fundamental cry Tor financial relief
which can get safe medicine In STATE
hanks. and In State banks alone. Inc
demand will reassert itself at once In
some other form that is just as threat
enjnc. and perhaps more threatening 10
tho neoce and order Of the country than
free silver. and the leaders Of the demahu
viii become more and more dangerous as
time goes on. Instead Of Tillman IN SCUM
Carolina, there will be Tillman IN every
so,,bern state and an Altgeld in every
n.e.tern one. VIII the people Of the
North have the sagacity 10 foresee the
storm and yield TO it before 1t threatens
- hroals whatever comes in its way
SENATOR VESTS WARNING
- n.nt intn Mhlch soma