The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-06-24

IDEALLY out of politics for four years and
there are now many eastern Democrats
who can do much more than / can for the
party. / shall not assume any position of
leadership. My decision TO stay was SIM
ply based on the duty of every person who
believes in the party for its principles TO
stand by and lend his aid and take his
chances when the great crisis is upon the
Democratic party. Fundamental differ
ences of principle exist inside the party,
marked almost by sectional lines.
Paramount Question i'm Whitneys View.
1.-The great question TO my mind is
whether the party meets in convention
now, as in 1860 with issues and differences
that are for the moment irreconcilable.
For the past fifteen years leaders of public
opinion in the south and west have been
advocating as the great remedy for exist
ing ills the free coinage of silver at 10 TO l,
with or without the cooperation of other
nations. 1t has come TO he believed in
these sections quite generally and consci-
entiously. A large majority of the dele
gates TO the coming Democratic conven-
ton have been elected by the people for
the purpose of Incorporating that doctrine
into the platform of the Democrats. Our
people, on the other hand, entirely dis
agree with these views, and believe almost
universally that 10 will bring general ruin
to the business and prosperity of the coun-
try. Ii Is deemed new doctrine when
proposed TO be incorporated into the plat
form of the national Democracy
Might Result i'm "A Split.
cit is true that in no previous platform
Of the party can it specifically be found.
Consequently no party obligations hereto
fore assumed oblige them TO subscribe to
il. Under these circumstances IL the re-
suits of the Democratic convention should
be TO establish us the issue of this cam
paign the free CO mage of silver at a ratio
of 10 to independent of other nations, in
the intensity of feeling likely TO arise il Is
10 be seriously apprehended that disrup-
ton of the Democratic party might occur.
Certainly no substantial following could
be secured for the doctrine among eastern
Democrats. They might not vote the Re
publican ticket for other reasons (believ-
ing that the Republican party stands for
other issues that are detrimental to the
country, but the Democrats in the east
would not, in my opinion, vote for it..
Free Silver Means Disastrous Defeat,
The ex-secretary then makes an extend
ed and vigorous argument against the
free silver policy, while declaring the double
standard, or bimetallism, is that the tradj.
tional policy of the Democracy. He says
there never was time, however when the
prospects of international agreement were
so poor. In closing he calls attention to
the stand of the southern and western men
for free silver, and that of the eastern men
hot ell To ha ind Inns
tries and no permanent good TO any one,
and says the gold men have no disposition
to compromise for votes. He says he be-
lieves free silver platform means disas-
trous defeat for the Democracy. Refer
ring to the proposition TO name him for
the presidency, he says he will use Gen
eral Sherman's words (if he correctly re-
members them) that II will not run il
nominated nor serve If elected"