The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-05-01
DISASTER
ConfrOntS Democracy ii a
Mistake is Made at
Chicago.
The South Almost Solid For Free Sill
yer, And Threatening TO Go Over
to the POpulists in Case Gold
Candidate is Nominated.


A new Southern view has been in
jected into the situation here.
Democrats from the South, where
the politicians arc always loyal to
party, and where the belief in the
free coinage Cf silver is firmly
planted, are beginning to assert
that not only does national but
state Democracy, for them at least,
depend upon the course pursued at
Chicago. A proper recognition of
silver is the only thing, these men
say, that will perpetuate Demo
cracy in the South, and they arc SO
earnest in their assertions that
their views are worth the careful
consideration OF tho men who will
construct the party platform for
the coming campaign. Along this
line of the best known and most
popular members Of Congress from
Texas this afternoon said:
"The Supremacy of the white
man and the Democratic party in
the S uthern States is more inn
portant to us than the nomination
of anybody at Chicago. Not since
the war has there ever been before
doubt about how the Southern
States would vote on state and
national candidates, but their is
doubt now, and not only Is there
chance that the Democrats will
lose nationally, but that we will
lose in several states. The only
chance / see to avert tl,is danger
is to nominate II consistent silver
man at Chicago. Then we will
hold our states in line on state
tickets and on the national. Let
the Chicago convention, however,
nominate II gold standard man,
and the party is irretrievably
wrecked for years to come. A
number of Southern States will
elect Populist or fusion state tick
cts, and the Democratic party will
lose its power, prestige and ma
chfnery in the South. The Repub-
lican party will also come to life,
and some of the states may land in
that column.
dts serious question with us,
and | doubt If there is Southern
Democrat on this floor who has
not pondered over it. While the
silver question is the formost with
US nationally, there hangs over us
the shadow Of losing our states and
all that goes with them. All my
own state is certain to go to the
Poplist column if there is gold
standard nomination at,Chicago
There is not much chance of the
Republicans winning. Our East
ern brethern do not seem 10 realize
the dangerous position we are in,
and it looks like they don't care.
They are willing to sacrifice us to
get what they want. They are
willing to drive from the party
many Of the states which have
never failed to elect Democ rattle
electoral tickets. 1t is all well
enough to malntaina ii stiff upper
lip and to talk as If there would be-
no break in the South, but there
will be bad break if the silver
men don't via at Chicago"
"WOuld anything be accomplish
ed by the silver men leaving the
convention ut Chicago if they were
In the minority and putting up a
ticket of their own ?"
81 do not think it would be II uch
better than if there was Il gold
standard nomination. There are
Of thousands of Dem
Dcrats who believe in sticking to
the party, and the majority IN the
COnvent'o o is supp )seI 20
DC the party. These men, many Of
hem for silver, would refuse To
Ielleve that the minority consti.
uicd NE party, and would not
'ote for the ticket put up. Our
'nly hope Is that the silver men
will have clear and fair majority
II Chicago, and that they will have
'dckbone enough to resist all over
ures at compromise and put out a
traight silver ticket. If this Is
one we W i'll hold on to our states
peal ~ anl nationally there will
e fighting chance OF winning i'm