The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-06-27
POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES.

There is considerable speculation in
political circles as to the next move
the gentlemen who walked out of the
st. Louis convention will make. At
the present moment they unquestion-
ably stand in the position of politicians
without a party-generals, minus an
organized army. AS we understand it,
they have declared their intention to
battle unto death any and every polit-
ical organization which does not sub
ordinate every other principle to the
free coinage propaganda. In minor
degree, they profess adherence to the
doctrine of protection and reciprocity,
but they have apostatized from the
party which is the embodiment of that
doctrine, because it has given free coin
age secondary place in its articles of
faith. Senator Dubois and the delega-
ton that followed him have severed
themselves from all party connections,
and clearly for the express purpose of
uniting with any organization that
makes independent, free coinage its
cardinal doctrine. In substance they
have served notice on the Republican
party that hereafter they will lend
themselves to any scheme that prom
Uses its humiliation; they have in the
most impressive way possible, repudi-
ated it and publicly branded it as false
at heart and treacherous in perform
ance; they have cast off the name of
Republicans in tears and loathinc-
sorrowing over its dead and departed
virtues and Mortified at the spectacle of
its surviving vices. 1t is hard to be-
lieve that Senator Dubois and the other
gentlemen who attended him would
outrage their consciences by afIiliating
with any organization that bare the
name or retained the slightest odor of
Republicanism, and we cannot now
conceive of any inducement that would
influence them to recede from the Dosi.
ton they have taken after such long
and mature elaboration. Yet it is too
early to abandon all hope, as some ar.
rangement may possibly be effected
whereby they can reconcile themselves
to harmonious cooperation with the
Republicans of Idaho on account of
the strong silver sentiment which pre.
walls among them. Should this be I'M
attainable, the organization of a silver
party is among the possibilities, but
for the moment we think there is more
likelihood of coalition with the Pom.
ulist party which is sufficiently remote
from Republicanism to satisfy the
most radical temperament. Good
ground for this belief is found in the
recommendation of Senator Allen and
other Populist leaders to the members
OF their party in this state, wherein
Popuiists are urged to support Senator
Dubois. Another important fact in
this connection, adding force to this
view, is the sudden breaking up of the
Demo-Populist union which I'D to a
very recent date was regarded as an
established political fact. However
lightning changes is the political order
of the day, and if the Democrats AT
Chicago put up a strong silver man on
a pronounced silver platform, the
Idaho delegation may find congeniaI !
companionship in the Democratic fold
Consequently, in such multiplicity of
possibilities, it requires a prophet much
above average grade to foretell what
VIII happen. But from the present
outlook the thing most likely not to
happen is the return of the boiling del.
egation into the Republican party