The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-03
The National Democratic Convention
Next Week.

Inc NatlOndl IyeIlocTdtio soh'oat'"
which convenes at Chicago next Tues
Iday, is pretty certain to be one OF tn
most interesting in our history. l
will not be surprising il its sessions
are prolonged for fortnight. The
chances are that it. will disrupt the
Democratic party, as it was disrupt
ed in 1850. At least human foresight
is not sufficient to point out way that
it can avoid splitting into two parts.
Follies and blunders and unreasoning
sectonalism may again so weaken the
historical organizations as to relegate
it to a period of long minority,as worse
m adpess did in 1860, but the hippant
folk who are predicting the obliter-
alton of the party by the free silver
wave or any other cause, think very
specifically. The Democratic party
has existed, from the foundation OF the
government, in spite of all aberra-
I ions and inconsistencies, and betrayals
even of it, own principles by itself, be-
cause the nature of our institution
makes it necessity. And however in
hu man weakness it may wander from
its duty, we may be sure OF its return
sooner or later, because the vital prin.
ciple that is immortal. AS long AS
there is a constitution to interpret
and defend, there will be Democratic
party. As long as there is tendency
in human affairs, which is constant.
though ever taking different shapes,
toward over government, towards alb
sorptionl of privilege and power, there
will of necessity be Democratic par
ty with its foundation idea OF closely
limiting the functions of government.
1t stands for force, though 80 often
wrongfully directed, that is indispen-
sible to the progress of civilization
at least until the era OF safe social
ism comes.
There is hardly chance for doubt
now that free silver will control the
convention. Secretary Morton says
silver is like mad bull. 1t has got
the road, and is going to keep it. |
do not know anything that is going to
stop 1T" Even Elk Secretary Whit
1ey, who has thrown all his energies
into the effort to defeat the silver cru
'ade admits that unless the situation
changes, there is no chance whatever
for sound money. His proposal of con-
,iiliation in the New York platform,
ldmttng to the utmost the righteous
ess of the principle of bimetalism and
ividing from the free coinage men
My as to the means of reaching 1t,
whether by seeking international &C
ion for which the prospect is better
han ever before, or by plunging into
i alone, with the hope that other ma
ions will have to follow, with the GER
unity that such course would bring
t least temporary disaster such :.
q effort of compromise is spurned by :
ne silver leaders unanimously. with
le declaration that they will have
)thing less than independent and un
mited free coinage at 16 to l. Gov. =
oies, the most moderate and thought =
II of them, admits the strong prob :"
)ility that financial CONFUSION ~
ould follow free coinage, though he :.
,l;oyoe tho oftor aHocfc unuld mora -
an compensate. He also admits that o,
does not feel absolutely certain" b
at gold and silver could both be u
at parity under free coin II
Q of the latter, though he expects Il
In other words he comedies the =
ance that his scheme may result in !.
liver monometalism instead of bimet Or
ism, = simply reducing us to the Z
oney standard of Mexico South ii
merica and Asia, as distinguished al
I'm most of Europe. ~
The free silver men on the face of II
e returns have somewhat over 200 ~ ~
sjority of the convention, but even #
the silver delegations from Texas
d Nebraska are admitted, they will III
i about 40 short of the two thirds ar
cessary to nominate. The situation p,
one to invite deadlock, which Gil
are are Only three way of breaking, ot
abrogation of the two ne
irds rule or stealing control of the 70
INVENTION. Al
is seemingly impossible fr
less it includes the platform, for SO
body wants repetition of the folly
1864 and the nomination OF can ce
late on a platform which he will 81
,e to repudiate. But the silver men nj,
ieve that they can yield nothing of fol
il: demand without yielding their is
ole cause and so the prospect of any CO. 60
npromise is poor indeed. fire.
he abrogation of the two thirds
e, which has existed since the very t Ln'
t Democratic convention, ought also, is
have any semblance of fairness in ha
to include the abrogation of the me
t rule for unless it does, COMPEL
the vote of individual delegates to
cast against stheir convictions, it \
uld very often and possibly in this fro
g, permit real minority TO control pal
convention. There are lot of bla
- aolorot;os ;nstr,otod 70 yo+o no So,
- ~" GOO