Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-20
FREELAND, PA, JULY 20, 1896
Silver Issue in the Coal Region.

Whatever else may be said of Matt Quay, it
cannot bc denied that his perspective powers
are less than extraordinary. He has Il pc
culiar knuck of learning the sentiments of
the people in any certain locality, and when
he says they are going to do something which
the average man thinks they will not do, it
may he taken FOR granted that Matt knows
more about the matter than the said average
man. short time ago Quay was reported to
have declared that the counties of Luzerne,
Lackawanna and Schuylkill were hotbeds of
! silvcrism, and would be carried for free silver
| If that should be the direct issue at the coming
! election. As Il prophet the senator was ridi-
| culcd 10y the Republicans of those counties.
and one newspaper in Luzerne invited him to
come here and learn the true state of affairs.
That was Il month ago. Since then things
have changed wonderfully. That which
| Quay's perspective powers saw underneath
then has now appeared above the horizon and
| is in plain view of every citizen who looks at
| the matter with open eyes. Luzerne Lacka-
wanna and SchuylkiIl are today hotbeds of
| SilVCrism, and Il talk with dozen or two or
| amy number of the common people, irrespec-
| tive Of their past political affiliations, will
| prove to the unbiased seeker OF information
| thut all Of these counties can be carried for
| free silver il that shall remain the direct issue
| during the campaign.
! To come nearer home, down to our own
| borough, we find the truth of the above. The
| sentiment in Frccland may, with all due re-
| gard to Justice, be accepted as fair illustra-
tion Of what prevails in the anthracite region.
| There is no reason why it should be otherwise.
Granting, then, that it is safe to judge the sem
| tiIncnt OF the three counties by what is found
| existing here every man who listens to the
| public and private discussions that are held
daily upon the subject of finance will readily
| acknowledge the wisdom and truthfulness of
Matt Quuys prophecy.
| In Freclaud we find that the lines of De-
| 'noclacy present solid, unbrokcn front. If
! there are any dcsertions or bolts the TRIBUNE
| has failed to learn of them, and il has search
ed diligently. The ranks of the party, to all
appearances contain every man who has
| hitherto prOtCsscd to be Il Democrat. 1t is
| therefore conclusive that silver and the can
| didatcS who represent it will poll the votes of
all of those. So much for the local Democ-
racy.
On the other hand we find that the Republic
| can column in Frccand has wavered and
| broken. There is no immense revolt against
the gold standard, it is true, because the com
| munity has not enough voters to institute n
| movement that could rise to the dignity of n
| revolt, but there have been descrtions and
| bolts. There are men who have been lifelong
| Republicans, who believe in protection
and such other tencts us have been necessary
| To constitute citizen an actual member of
| that party, men who believe today in all that
! Republicanism stands for, except its position
| ON silver, and to their way of thinking the
| party's doctrine and platform in relation to
| ihat one great issue now before the people is
| so nimical to the nations prosperity that they
! feel themselves bound, in spite of their attach
mcnt to the party for its defense of n high
| tarit, in spite of the past records of their
| party, that they must. to do their duty MS
| good citizens of this republic, act and work
| Tor the success of the Democratic side of the
financial question, as it is represented by
| Bryan and the Chicago platform.
| such is the condition of the two parties in
| treeand, and such, it may with safety be pre-
| sumod, is their condition throughout these
| three counties, rs was tcrsely expressed by
| guay long before this fact was apparent to
| the people of the counties named. Conditions
may change before election day, but that is
| not probable, because the issue is stated so
| plainly ON both sides that it is not likely that
| minor questions can attain sufficient promi-
| ncncc to turn back those Republicans who
| have declared their principles to be above
| their party. With silver candidates for con-
| grcss, men whom the new acquisitions to the
| Democratic party can implicitly trust and pin
| their faith to, the twelfth, thirteenth and
| fourteenth congressional districts can be
| swept by the Democrats and friends of silver
| next November by the largest maiorities
| that have ever been recorded in Laokawanna,
| LuZcrnc and Schuylkill counties. Prom of
| action and proper candidates are all that is
| now required of the party. The intelligent
| ana Independent voters can be depended upon
to do the rest.