The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-05
The Philosophy Of tn. silver Exodus.


Olympia. Wash. JAY 4 r3s.
To the Editor. The secession OF tbs
radical silver element from the Republic
al party makes II nov timely TO look into
mo philosophy az the movement. Count
ing from lSe. when the Republican party
became esta hiishe1 ~ tn progressive eae-
men. % the nation We A4d rnar tho close
OF each twelve years has marked . crys-
taiszaTson OF me dlseordant slemenss es
the party into mass. and IT. exodus into
the political descrfA These movements
al center upon the most convenient pre-
text and while thew extend the whole
length OF the country. they may be Affect
ed % some extent ee course. By local
causes. That Of 1Sz3 Was most general
That OF ia4 affected tho East more than
rEe West. and Ii naturally follows that
Cd more In the West. though II viii prove
20 have many followers throughout the
East The causes Of these nericdic move
ments are to Do found IN the springs o.
political division The Only fundamental
principle Of the Republican party Is found
IN the single word, progress. Progress IN
ell that relates TO the nation and TO hu-
On the details Of any measure nor need
they be. Each plank OF its platform =
but . general expression OF the average
Or major sentiment % the mass OF lis
members. The party never changes II
contains precisely the same mental e.e-
ment Of the population and performs the
same part In the work OF civilization that
II has increasingly done since forty years
ago. when IL sprang full dedged upon
the arena OF human action But individ-
uAls do change. most men. as they grow
older. become more conservative, wailo
young men leave Democratic fathers and
come 10 the Republican party By legions.
as many older men. becoming more con-
sentative and pessmisllc. drift over 70
the conservative party-miscalied DEM
ocracy.
Tnis change however. Is not easily
made by men who have . standing and
character In their community. and they
never understand the drift or their own
lives. They always seize upon the most
plausible pretext-neyer doubling that II
Is some principle that is inspiring them
10 break away from their party moorings.
and 1t usually takes a long term OF years
Of mental agitation ID land them az their
destination.
For twelve long years these uncongenial
elements have been accommodating within
our ranks. and BY an apparent general law
now established. the time has come Tor
them TO break forth. Three years OF dis
tress have intensified the unrest. and the
cheap money craze which always marks
hard times. has taken new and aitrac-
tive form In silver coinage
Let as look for a moment ar the Jere-
mIah OF the new movement A few years
ago he was selling millions OF ounces or
silver metal to the government at an enoT-
nous profit, and taking pay n notes.
which VIII nearly all have to be paid. as
q matter OF fact. By the government IN
gold coin Through the folly OF the peo-
pie four hundred millions of such ooliga-
tons, for which the honor OF the nation
has been pledged. have been accuuiuias-
ed. The people have at last Weakened up,
and refused 10 inpoverfsh themselves any
longer for Jeremiah's beneflt. Hence the
sad and woefuI visage which he wears
What you will ask. VIII become OF this
movement? The scheme Itself. 30 oppos-
ed 70 all the business sense OF the eoun-
try. must soon result in fat failure. and
be consigned TO the tender care or tnal
curious mental element called greenoacx-
ers. and Of the members IN the movement,
one large portion Will be found four years
hence nrnly fixed In the camp OF Demo
cracy. while another fraction. after wan
de-fug for period in the desert OF Popu-
ism. weary and hungry. viii. two or iour
years hence, come trooping back tor
time. at least) into the progressive camp.
sadder. but wiser men D. 4 AA1@-