Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-06-25

who can do much more than can for the
party. shall not assume any position of
Leadership. My decision to stay was simply
based on the duty Of every person who be-
11eves In the party for its principles. to
stand by and lend his aid and take his
chances when great crisis is upon it.
Differences In tho Party.
There can be no question but that a
great crisis is upon the democratic party.
Fundamental differences of principle exist
inside the party, marked almost by Sec
tional lines. The great question to my mind
is whether the party meets in convention
now as in 1860, with issues and differences
that are for the moment irreconcilable.
For the past Is years leaders of public opin
ion in the south and west have been advo-
eating as the great remedy for existing
Ills the free coinage OF silver at the ratio
of sixteen to one, with or without the CO.
operation of other nations. It has come
to be believed in there quite generally and
conscientiously. A large majority of the
delegates to the coming democratic con-
the purpose of incorporating that doctrine
into the platform of the democratic party.
Views of Eastern Democrats.
"Our people. on the other hand, entirely
disagree with these views and believe al
most universally that 1t will bring general
ruin to the business and prosperity Of the
country. It is deemed a new doctrine when
PrOpOScO " Oe incorporated uIO the pat
form of the national democracy. It is
true that in no previous platform of the
party can it specifically be found. Conse-
Quently no party obligations heretofore
assumed obl1ge them to subscribe to it.
May Disrupt tho Party. -
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 q ratio
~ a1vf0on ind ont oF 4<1
nations, in the intensity of feeling likely
to arise it Is to be seriously apprehended
that disruption of the democratic party
might occur. Certainly no substantial fol-
lowing could be secured for the doctrine
among eastern democrats. They might not
vote the republican ticket for other rea-
sons believing that the republican party
stands for other issues that are detrf-
mental to the country, but the democrats
in the east would not. In my opinion. vote
for it.
A Question of Ability.
ports to have for It's object the establish
ment and maintenance of gold and silver
as the money of the country, upon equal
terms with each other and at a parity Of
purchasing power. If. by the proposed
measure, that object could be secured,
there would be no substantial disagree
ment in the party. Every national demo-
cratic platform that has heretofore spoken
upon the subject has declared for both
gold and silver money. It is our traditions
al policy. But the maintenance OF the
double standard at the present time is
not question of desire; 1t is question of
ability. The commercial value of silver
has declined greatly in the markets of tho
world. Whatever the causes are and who
ever is to blame, the fact is that silver has
declined. and free coinage now at sixteen
to one is the same as our offering for all
the silver in the world about twice what
it is selling for In the market. Interna-
tional exchanges have to be paid in gold.
And it would seem plain that If we, under
these conditions open our minis to free
coinage Of silver and gold at a ratio of
comparative value which is largely at
variance with the commercial value of
the two metals, we must take the entire
tain its parity with gold. or else we shall
go to silver basis.
Time Is Inopportune.
Mr. Whitney refers to the fact that
France closed her minis against silver in
1873, and abandoned the experiment, deem
/ ing herself unequal to the task alone He
I says Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and
Austria believe in double standard and
desire to establish It: but no one, two or
three Of them deem themselves able to
maintain the double standard, even with
the cooperation of the United States. He
continues: This movement, purportine
to be in the interest Of the joint standard.
comes at q most inopportune time, in my
opinion There has never been a time
when tn0 prospects OF international ac-
ton favorable to the joint standard were
ct al az promising ~ at the present mo-
n,ent.,,s But an il-Acvised, unsuccessful at
tempt here would dtscredit the cause the
world over. From the discussion OF the