The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-11
PARTY FUTURE FULL OF PERIL.
SILVER FANATICS MUST BE SENT
TO THE REAR.

form the Party on Sound Money
and TariR Reform Lines-ScnatOr
Smith and Representative BOatner
Talk on the situation.
Washington, Nov. 1O.-Wherever two or
more democrats meet, during this after
election period, there you are sure to
hear discussion of the future prospects
of their party. Within the past few days
number of prominent democratic sena-
tors and representatives have been in
Washington, and all of them express the
keenest anxiety concerning the fate of
the once formidable organization that
elected Tlden once, and Cleveland twice,
during the past two decades.
The eastern democrats, many of whom
voted with the republicans at the recent
election, are anxious to reform the party
lines on a sound money basis, with
tariff for revenue only policy, and renew
the fight on that line four years hence.
Senator Smith of New Jersey, who is
one of the shrewdest politicians among
the democrats of the east, was here dur
ing the past week, and he says he can
see nothing but failure ahead for the dem
ocratic party if it continues its wild chase
after free silver. He stood with his party
organization in New Jersey, with a view
to preserving the traditions of the party
in that state, not because he believed in
the doctrine laid down in the Chicago
platform. He simply announced before the
election that he would stand by his party
and then quietly await the verdict. which
he felt certain would come. Senator Smith
says he has not had an opportunity to
discuss the situation from a national
standpoint, with his democratic associ-
ates, and until he does he is not prepared
TO venture prediction as to the future
AS to the prospects of any tariff Iegisla-
tloh, on the line of the Dingley bill being
enacted during the coming short session
OF congress, the senator says the outlook
IN that direction is not bright. He antici-
pates the same opposition to that hin now
that occurred last winter 1t is possible
ne says, that the free silver men NAV he
ulsposed TO accept that measure rather
than be subjected to a complete revision
| Oh the tariff after Mr. Mckinley takes
possession of the white house. He admits
Ihat the outlook in New York and New
Jersey, at present, is not agreeable or
| peasant TO the democratic party. and no
Tears that Maryland and West Virginia
| Win pc hard to recapture from the renuh
| means for long time to come
among southern democrats, who are NOT
Weuded 10 the silver question, there is a
general disposition to break away from
the free siverites of the west and the non
ulists of the south. This idea was vigor-
ously expressed yesterday by ex-Renre-
sentative Boatner of Louisiana. whose seat
IN the present congress was declared va
cant last winter. Mr.. Boatner has served
several terms in congress, and he belongs
to the progressive element in the south
he says that although the southern states
cast their votes for free silver in the con-
test just ended, there are perhaps but two
states, Arkansas and Mississippi. willing
to go any further in the race after free
silver.
AS Mr.. Boatner has been conspicuous
| figure in democratic caucuses, his expla-
nation of the motives which prompted
many southern men to fly to free silver for
self-protection is interesting al this period
He says there are but few men in con-
gress from the south to-day who honestly
believe in the free silver theory al the GER
tain remedy for the trials and troubles
which now beset the farmer and the labor
ers of that section of the country. Their
constituents do not believe In it, but they
have been led away by the teachings of
such men as Bland and Hatch of Missouri
both jealous advocates of free coinage
and anti-option. The people of the south
ern states have nothing to gain by the
adoption of a free coinage law, but they
have been, in many Instances, mislead by
the glittering promises of the free silver
boomers of the west. to break away from
the democratic party and join in the popu-
listic movement.
Continuing, Mr.. Boatner says that when
farmer sees the banks of his township
prosperous, but unwilling to loan money
except at an enormous rate of interest
while he has to struggle along on about
$50 a year, the best he can get from his
crop, he naturally becomes desperate and
seeks any offer of relief that comes to
him, no matter how visionary it may be.
without caring anything about free sill
yer, many Of the southern people have
in a fit Of desperation, followed the teach
ings of political demagogues, from the
sound principles and doctrines of the real
democratic party.
Some of the southern leaders have had
the courage to stand up against the un-
holy combination of the free sllverites
and the populists, but others have, as a
matter of self-preservation, yielded to the
pressure, with the hope that something
might turn up to rescue the party from
the clutches of the rule or ruin" ele-
ment, which now seems to be in control
In many of the southern states. 1t is not
for public Office that 'actuates them, and
they are ready to join any combination
that is calculated to give them power.
They are no respectors of ancient trad-
tions or honorable ancestry, as was shown
in North Carolina, when they swept the
gallant Senator Ransom aside, just as
soon as he refused TO bow to their wild
demands. In South Carolina Wade Hamp-
ton, who saved the state from carpet-bag-
bsm in 1876, was also pushed aside by Till
man and his followers. So It Is in Ala
bama where Gen. oates and Gen. Clarke
are thrown aside because they are brave
enough to stand up and tell their people
that they are being misguided by the free
silver fanatics.
Mr.. Boatner says the people of the south
are anxious and willing to diversity their
crops and resort to any honorable method
to Improve their condition II the owners
OF money will give them but half
chance to make a living for themselves
and their families. They have been prac-
tically forced into the free silver issue,
and they would gladly renounce It IL
helping hand is held out TO them from the