The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-07
TO ELIMINATE THE CURRENCY
QUESTION.

cold nonometalist Is curious
creature. He acts as if he alone Is
right and that all who are not OF his
.wav Of thinking are little less than
luaatics. Here now is Mr.. Franklin
Macveagh, of Illinois. Two years age
the Democratic State convention nom
mated him for United States Senator
and he was understood to be free
silver man. The people had no conf
dence either in his Democracy or his
conversion to .bi-metallism, and life
long Democrats refused to support
him. Under his leadership the bril-
liant Democratic victory of 1892 in
Illinois was converted into an UMPIRE
.cedented Republican majority in 1894.
This castigation ought to have taught
Mr.. Macyeagh that he was not cut out
to lead, but it didn't. He has issued
an appeal to the Democrats OF Illinois
from which we quote:
eff we shall be foolish enough to
attempt to 'straddle' the dishon-
est-dollar question, the campaign
will be fought on that ISSUE and
the Democratic party after the
FIGHT will not be recognizable for
the American people will go in an
avalanche against silver mono
metalIisua. But. if we stand
souarely against the dishonest dol
lar. we shall completely eliminate
the currency question from the
campaign, and have an open field
to meet the Republicans on the is
sue of the revival of Mckinley
ISM"
Here is the proposition that the cur
rency question, the only one that the
people are thinking about now, shall
be eliminated from the campaign, and
the contest turn upon McKinleyism.
There are no stronger opponents OF
McKinleyfsm than the silver Demo
Gratis. but they know that the only
hope of defeating Mckinley hes IN
standing up squarely for silver ana
low tariff. Mckinley cannot receive
the support of any silver man VINO
regards it as the paramount ques-
ton; and if, against his thinly yelled
gold-bug doctrine, the Democrats pre-
sent a straightforward silver candi-
date he win draw to his support all
the silver forces in the country.
Tf the Democrats take Mr.. Mac
advice, they may eliminate
the currency question from the cam
paign in few Eastern States, but it
will likewise eliminate" the party
as a factor in the campaign in those
States that are usually Democratic.
If the people want the gold standard,
they will vote with the Republican
marty. If the Democratic party IS
ready to surrender it's convictions and
nlay second fiddle to the Republicans,
they ought to follow Mr.. Macyeagh,s
advice. But they will thereby secure
the perpetuation of the gold standard
through the Republican party, and
turn over a dozen Democratic States
to Republican rule and ruin. This Is
the feast to which the gold men in
yite us.
1t is the people and not the poiit-
clans who make issues. The money
question will not down at any mans
bidding. and the attempt to make the
Democratic party an agency for
thwarting a vote upon silver will not
succeed. If it did, how can the peo-
pie be heard through either OF the
great parties? The issue ought 10
be drawn and drawn squarely. Ii the
people want the single gold standard
they ought to have right to say So
If they want to repudiate it, who shall
tell the soyereigns that they cannot
rule?