Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-22

tcally out of politics for four years and
there are now many eastern Democrats
who can do much more than can for the
party. 1 shall not assume any position of
leadership. My decision to stay was sini:-
ply based on the duty of every person who
believes in the party for its principles to
stand by and lend his aid and take his
chances when the great crisis is upon the
Democratic party. Fundamental differ
ences of principle exist inside the party,
marked almost by sectional lines.
Paramount Question in whitney's View.
"The great question to my mind is
whether the party meets in convention
now, as in 1850, with Issues and differences
that are for the moment irreconcilable.
For the past fifteen years leaders of public
opinion in the south and west have been
advocating as the great remedy for exist
Ing ills the free coinage of silver at Is to !,
with or without the cooperation of other
nations. 1t has come to be believed in
these sections quite generally and consci-
entiously. A large majority of the dele
gates to the coming Democratic conven-
ton have been elected by the people for
into the platform of the Democrats. Our
people, on the other hand, entirely dis
agree with these views, and believe almost
universally that it will bring general ruin
to the business and prosperity of the coun-
try. 1t is deemed a new doctrine when
proposed to be incorporated into the plat
form of the national Democracy.
Might Result in a Split.
'It is true that in no previous platform
of the party can it specifically be found
Consequently no party obligations hereto
fore assumed oblige them to subscribe to
| 1t. Under these circumstances if the re-
suits of the Democratic convention should
be to establish as the issue of this cam
paign the free coinage of silver at ratio
of 16 to Independent of other nations. in
the intensity of feeling likely to arise it is
| to be seriously apprehended that disrup-
| ton Of the Democratic party might occur.
Certainly no substantial following could
be secured for the doctrine among eastern
Democrats. They might not vote the Re-
publican ticket for other reasons (believ-
ing that tho Republican party stands for
| other issues that are detrimental to the
country, but the Democrats in the east
would not, in my opinion, vote for it,
Free Silver Means Disastrous Defeat,
Ihe ex-secrctary then makes an extend
ed and vigorous argument against the
free silver policy, while declaring the double
| standard, or bimetallism, is that the tradi-
tional policy of the Democracy. He says
there never was a time, however, when the
prospects of international agreement were
| SO poor. In closing he calls attention to
the stand Of the southern and western men
for free silver, and that of the eastern men
that free silver means ruin to the indus
tries and no permanent good to any one,
and says the gold men have no disposition
to compromise for votes. He says he be
lievcs free silver platform means disas-
trous defeat for the Democracy. Refer
ring to the proposition to name him for
the presidency, he says he will use Gen.
eral Sherman's words (if he correctly re-
members them) that II will not run il
nominated, nor serve il elected"