The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-25
DOWN ON THEIR KNEES
Gold Democrats of the East arc Now Cry
ing for Mercy.

/ 0Olu OI Nhe Last arc WV ~
ing for Mercy.
| Washington, D. c., June 24.-The Dem
| ocratic gold standard organs of the east
are bleeding wildly with their party
The Philadelphia Record is out in a
| triple-leaded editorial as follows:
There never has been a time in the
life of the Democratic party since JEFF
ferson founded it when those who be-
lieve in the principles which It was es-
tablished to maintain should give to
it a more strenuous support than at
present. When the national convention
shall assemble at Chicago it will have
need Of the counsel of its ablest men.
An issue has been raised, growing out
Of a long term of faulty financial legis-
lation, which, while it does not threat ten
the overthrow of any fundamental prin-
ciple Of republican government, does
threaten the honor and prosperity Of the
nation. The mischievous issue Of treas
Ury notes during the war, which were
forced by their legal tender quality upon
the acceptance of the people in liquida-
ton at their face value of government
Indebtedness, and the subsequent ex-
periments in coming silver dollars con-
tanning less than a dollars worth of
silver, have confused the minds of men
as to the true function of money as a
measure of value. The arrangements
Of business which have grown out of
faulty, tariff legislation and the intrus-
ion Of the government into field which
it was never intended to occupy have at
last brought matters to a crisis. The
matter to be determined is no less a
thing than the proposition to repudiate
one-half of existing indebtedness sy the
simple method of enacting that half
dollar shall hereafter be a dollar; or,
which is the same thing, that the stand
ard OF value shall hereafter be a dollar
coin with half a dollars worth of metal
in it.
This is a question Of morals and
arithmetic rather than a political ques-
ton. But no political party, no matter
how just may be the principles for
which it contends, and no matter how
honorable may have been its past serv-
ices to the country, can afford to take
the wrong side Of such an Issue. IT
must stop at the point where it feels its
honor grip.
''The great mass of the men Of both |
parties who favor the free coinage of |
silver are honest men. They do not |
wish to cheat any one; they only wish |
% help themselves out of troubles which |
hey have been taught to believe grow
'ut of lack of money and the stop |
)age of silver coinage. They do not stop |
o think that We have more money than |
we make use of; more silver money than |
We can keep in circulation; and that |
,ur redundance of silver and paper
money is one OF the principal causes of |
'ur financial distress and discredit |
Thousands of them cannot be made to
understand the fearful consequences
Which would follow the adoption by the
United States Of the silver standard.
or that they themselves would be the
hiefest sufferers
1T is the mission Of craftsmanship to
s far as possible protect the people
I the country against mistakes and
having their basis in pop
lar ignorance. There is no mistake at
u upon the part of the people of the
'nited States as 10 the monstrous
roWth OF taxation; as to the grinding
'e1Sht OF law-defyinS mOn1pOgies: or
state and federal eXpendit-
re; but il Is a woful mistake TO ascribe
ne SuiferinGs due 10 mlsgOvernment or
other worldwide causes to the de-
ionetization Of silver. The artempt 10
etter our condition by flooding the
ountry With cheap money would he
bout as sane as 10 try 10 put out a fire
throwing oil on it. II there be any
ense or soundness left among the lead
IS OF the Democratic party they should
D 10 Chicago and give proof Of il by
taking head against the suicidal folly
hich the membership Of the party in
le south and west now seems bent
pom"