The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-07-04

rroublsd and Anxious over the comi.s
ConnicG

49, - ~ - - -
rroublsd and Anxious over the Coming
Connict
A good deal of interest has attached
20 the expressions of the leaders Of tho
sound money wing of the democratic
party since the free silver men have OBJ
tanned practical control of the party or
ganization. 1t Is apparent that good
many OF them are troubled and anx-
ious, not only a. TO the party future,
but as to their own course of action.
What shall they do in the event OF the
nomination of a free-silver candidate
for the presidency upon free-coinage
platform: Shall they violate all con-
sistency, abandon their principles, and
support n candidate and policy which
they believe TO be full of danger to the
country? Some of the leaders. we no
tlce, arc already talking of compro-
mise, and suggesting that, after oil, IL
may be possible TO support n candidate
In favor of free coinage on the basis of
sixteen to one. hese gentlemen have,
obviously, no real regard for principle.
and are prepared 10 swallow the whole
free-silver abomination rather than CO.
operate with republicans TO secure its
overthrow. Others argue that IL Is the
duty of the sound money men to enter
a determined protest ut Chicago, and
then, failing TO make any impression
upon the convention, TO let the national
election go by default. But this, too.
Is really surrender OF principle.
Postmaster-General Wilson, who ranks
among the more conscientious leaders,
declares unqualifiedly that IL the de-
mocracy shall embark upon crusade
against the financial credit, prosperity
and progress of the union they will
cease TO be great national party, and
become q small and powerless section
al party wholly unworthy of the pub
lie confidence. But what will Mr.. Will
son do personally in the event that his
party puts free-silver man at the head
of its ticket? He carefully refrains
from telling US. And what will Messrs.
Whitney, Fairchild. Flower, Hill, Villas,
Dickinson and all the rest of the repre-
sentative sound money men do, actual
ly. IL compelled 10 choose between a
free-silver man and a sound-money re-
1t IS quite clear that democrats who
have some remnants of conscience arc
not likely TO have a pleasant time OF
IL during the next few months. Some
OF those who profess overmastefing
solicitude for n sound financial policy
will. we suspect, compromise away
their principles when they come TO act.
There are others, of course, who will
stand by their guns and even brace
themselves TO the point of voting for
republican. There is one point, how
ever, in connection with this dilemma of
the democracy which should not be for
gotten. The leaders have brought all
the trouble upon themselves by their
coquetting with the populist and free
silver delusions in the canvass of 1892.
II will be remembered that in that
campaign, when the question OF alli-
ances with the populists in the western
states was presented TO the considera-
tion of the party leaders in the east.
practically all of them acquiesced in the
proposition to fuse with this faction
IL necessary 10 carry certain states. IL
is even said that Mr.. Cleveland con-
scented TO this policy. II was inevitable
that the discordant forces thus brought
into temporary relations would event
usually dissolve, and that even for the
time being genuine conference would be
improbable. Presuming upon the con-
cessions made 10 them, the populists
have ever since that canvass demanded
more and more at the hands of the dem
ocratic leaders, and the result is that
to-day, In remote Oregon, as well as in
some more eastern states, the democ-
racy has been practically absorbed by
the populists, VINO themselves are in
full sympathy with the free silver
hcrcsy. The discord and confusion and
utter Indifference to principle which
now menace the party with oyerwhelm-
ing overthrow are largely the result OF
these conditions. 1t Is impossible To
feel any real pity for the men who, in
their eagerness for success in the can
vass of 1892, made these conditions pos
sible. IL Mr.. Cleveland and the man
ayers Of his last canvass are now per-
suaded that they were guilty Of fatal
mistake, as well as Of disregard of prin-
ciple, when they entered into their dis
reputable bargains with the populists
of the western states, they are vastly
more dull of apprehension than they are
generally supposed to be. = Leslie's
Weekly.
No wounds Left.
Now that the battle Is over, the vic