New-York tribune., 1896-02-04
AMERICAN SILVER COMMUNISTS.

The men who hope and the men who fear that
the silver question will in some way dsorganize
or disrupt National parties in the next Prcs-
dental election possibly fail to perceive one es-
sential fact In nearly all current discussions
the silver force is taken as one and men take II
for granted that 1t will hold together and act
together But the fact is that this socalled sill
yer force is composed of two elements which
are radically distinct and likely in the near
future to be hostile.
In some silver-produclng States there Is
natural public sentiment in favor OF such legs
lation as may restore silver. or partly restore
il. TO its old use and value AZ money The
mines not only employ many thousand voters,
but upon the success Of the mines and the num-
Der and wages Of the voters 50 employed de-
pend the yer, existence of many towns ana
cities. the occupation of almost every inhaDitant
in them and the prosperity OF substantially all
the people in some States. Where only parts OF
States are thus largely dependent upon silver
mining there is nevertheless, Il strong ana di-
rect sympathy between the people of the differ
ent parts, who feel that the Gripping or I'M
povershment Of one portion OF the State would
sensbly affect the prosperity OF all portions
But what is the number OF such States when
all is told? Texas does not produce half mill
ion In silver annually. Washington only SlOOooo
South Dakota say $4,000, Oregon about S26ooo
Nebraska Kansas and North Dakota not any
What. therefore. are those States doing in the
silver column: Approaching the grave mistake
which the people Of Colorado make. with their
production Of 2iOOO.OO0 ounces OF silver ana
Of Montana. with their production Of l3,Ooo'V"
will DrpiuctlOn
and Of Nevada. with their production Of 1,oVo-
600 ounces because the measure they advocate
would not help the real price Of silver one can
have sense Of sympathy for their anxiety and
deep interest, nevertheless. But what is Kansas
or Nebraska or North Dakota doing In that
company?
Here we strike the other end or the pro-sllVer
force. which IS essentially communstc. II *
the force which put the red cap on the heads of
many crazy artisans in Paris, and ended In mas
sacre and the devilish work Of the pctroleuses
Mad and blind hatred of property, hatred Of
those who appear more fortunate and seem 10
have easier lives. notions that all men ought
TO be equal in income and expenditure ana
tastes and enjoyments, as well as in legal rights
with a passionate desire TO tear down the exist
ing state Of things If it cannot be made TO suit
such fanatclSul-'nat Is lHc u'Sp'idit an"
dangerous force which only uses the silver issue
as q means Of striking at all property and all
the prosperous Does anybody ask how such Il
brainless craze came to exist in this free couii-
try? The Democratic party cultivated 1t laborl-
ously and patiently for twenty-five years espe-
cially In all the Western and Southern States,
as its only hope Of defeating the Republican
party. Every day and every night 1t appealed
perslstently 10 the mean hatred Of success by
those who do not succeed. Of property by those
who have none, Of employers by employed, or
capital by labor and contrived at last to create
communistic spirit in free America which -
as ignorant. as stupid, as vindctve and madly
destructive as that which lighted the torch and
danced around the corpscs in Paris.
But Tillman, who fairly represents this com
munistc craze has nothing in common with
Jones. Of Nevada, several times a millionaire,
whose study Of monetary questions has given
him the respect of many, and whose spirit has
never been that Of the Anarchist. Jones fights
for silver miners, and has conviction that free
coinage will make them prosperous. But Till
man fights against every mlne-Owner or miner,
and every other man who has anything Such
men as Jones or WOfcott or Dubois cannot by
any possibility be long found in alliance with the
dregs Of Democratic dcmagogism which would
tear down everything, even the faith and honor
OF the Nation, in order to be avenged on the
rich.