New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-08
TIE SILVER CONVENTION BEGINS.

THE SILVER COA|EN1ION BEGINS.
In point of fact the Democratic party has
been ruptured already. The first act OF the
Convention yesterday disclosed an antagonism
of spirit and purpose as complete as 1t could
be If there had been bolt. Nor was the vote
unexpected Senator Hill himself says that he
received on personal grounds the votes OF
some he believes Of ten. delegates who are for
free silver outright. His opponents instance
four votes from West Virginia and Others and
one of the most earnest speakers for Hill, j.
W. ST. Clair, of West Virginia, declared him
self for free coinage and the nomination of
a rock-ribbed freesilver Democrat" but he
warned his party that 1t needed the votes or all
Democrats in November. The appeal did not
avail, nor the fearful expostulatOns of Colonel
Fellows, nor the defiant tone OF Governor Wal
ler The vOte-556 for Daniel and $40 for Hill
shows less than the actual silver strength.
All parties expect that the gold delegation
from Nebraska will be unseated on report OF
the Committee on Credentials, and the change
of these 16 votes with the 10, more or less, cast
for Hill by free-silver men, will make the roll
stand $50 for free silver and 323 against. The
poll of the Michigan delegation showed 10
against and 10 for free silver, so that the %
votes were cast for Hill under the unit rule.
A change Of two votes by action of the Com
mttee on Credentials, seating the contestants
in only one district, or half the cOntesting dele
gates large, would make the whole vote for
free silver. and 1t would be strange. indeed, If
the committee could not find ground for such
a report, in view Of the published accounts re-
garding the way Mr.. Don Dickinsons success
in that State was secured. Nor Is there reason
to suppose that the Convention would not adopt
such report with wild yell OF rejoicing. The
claim that the decision Of the National Com
mittee in favor OF one set Of contestants Is
final, or that contestants are debarred from
urging their claims before the Committee on
Credentials and the Convention because they
first appealed to the National Committee, would
not be seriously made by anybody in sober
and sane Convention Thus 1t is plain that the
silver men can, II they choose, grasp full two
thirds vote, and with every appearance Of re-
spect for usage and for right since It Is not
seriously denied that the majority Of Demo
Gratis wanted free silver In both the disputed
States.
There Is nothing surprising In the decision
to reject Hill. The majority were afraid to
have their cause discussed In open Convention
afraid especially to have it done by one who
had been chosen temporary charman-and felt,
as one delegate buntly avowed, that they
would have to spend all the fall in explaining
away that speech at the West" They were
afraid moreover, to place any power in the
hands of a man whose reputation for thorough
freedom from scruples in political matters Is
that Of Senator Hill. They were quite right
because they are weak in their cause, though
strong In votes. Yet 1t was a most unsafe
thing to do in any such Convention, because
affronting to the majority Of the committee and
to it's nominee, and exceedingly apt to turn
some in favor Of the persons thus assailed
Plainly, so great departure from the long
established customs Of Democratic conventions
would never have been attempted, because
creating an excuse for assailing the fairness Of
the nomination and refusing to support the
candidate, had It not first been deliberately de-
cided to make the fight at all hazards without
New.York and against New-York
It is this deliberate determination WHICH
makes this Convention In all probability as
much the beginning Of new era as was the
Convention Of $780, which split into warning
fragments In that body the decision Of South
ern Democrats to fight without and against
tho majority Of Democrats In nearly all the
Northern States was In itself a rupture OF the
party and created on the instant two sectional
parties Precisely so, the Eastern Democrats
have full right to declare that the party has
been ruptured already, not by their act.
but by a step which implies settled deter
mination Of Western and Southern Democrats
to fight without and against those OF the East,
and to leave them not a chance Of sustaining
themselves In their own States. The form Of
words makes no difference. In effect by action
which speaks louder than any words. the West
ern and Southern Democracy declares that It
wants no more to do with Eastern Democracy.
cares for no votes from 1t, and Will resort to
measures unprecedented IN Democratic cOnven-
tions In order 10 deny to Eastern Democrats n
hearing or a chance to SO influence the action
OF the party that they may be able to carry
Eastern States After such STEP Mr.. Whit
ney might we'll claim that an outward bolt or
formal protest, no matter what the form.
could be no more than recognition Of the fact
that silver Democrats have made a united party
impossible, and have shown Eastern Democrats
the door.
Senator Hill will find opportunity to make
his speech, all the same, II lie still wants to
make any. Perhaps Mr. Whitney himself IS
somewhat exercised In mind TO know oh which
side the New-Y0rk Senator will speak this
time. and whether he will take occasion to
commend himself to the insurgent cOminunlstic
spirit as the man who might well be NOM
mated IN 1900. But no Democrat pretends to