The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-21

1
/ Louis convention VIII be very generally
/ accepted as a bid by Senator Teller
for the democratic nomination for PresI-
dent. IL is possible. OF course. that he
knew nothing Of the address until he
saw it IN print, but it is hardly probable
that his fellow boilers would have taken
such an important step without consult
ing him, their leader. Assuming that
he inspired the address. or, at least. that
he knew the plans Of those who issued it.
IL is impossible to avoid the conclusion
that he is more anxious to be President
than he is for the success OF the cause
of free silver coinage. That he is a sin
cere silverite few Will doubt. but IL looks
as II he has planned to reach the presi-
dency by means of the silver craze. II
the welfare of the people was the sole
purpose ne has had in mind during the
years he has been pressing free silver
coinage upon the attention OF the peo-
pie, he would not have FASTENED to make
a bid for the presidential nomination
Of another political party within a few
hours after he had severed his connec-
ton with the political party of which
he has been a member since its founds-
ton. He would have been willing 10
battle for silver in any capacity. how
ever humble, and would have expressed
a willingness to serve under any COM
petent leader.
Instead Of putting the cause OF silver
at the 'front.' however he has attempted
to put himself in that position. 1t was
evident long before the st. Louis con,
vention met that 1t would not make such
concessions to silver as the silvertes
desired. Mr.. Teller attended the con-
vention, therefore, knowing that he would
bolt. Did he not also have in mind
a purpose to make such a fight for silver
there as would recommend him to the
silverites of the Chicago convention?
It certainly appears as If the withdrawal
of Mr.. Teller and his friends from the
st. Louis convention and the subsequent
address calling attention to Mr.. Teuer's
fitness for the presidency were parts of
programme, agreed to probably by many
more than have yet become known to the
public, to have Mr.. Teller nominated
by both democrats and the populists
upon a free silver coinage platform.
Without some such understanding the
st. Louis boilers would hardly have put
forth an address practically asking that
he be made the presidential candidate
OF all the silver forces. because they
themselves represent a very small part
of the country-only six of the least inn
portant states. Indeed, it is not certain
that they speak for all of those six states.
only one of Montana's six delegates
bolted, three OF Utah's six, one of South
Dakota's eight and three of Neyada's
six The only states whose entire dele
cations bolted were Colorado and Idaho.
What prospect has Mr.. Teller for being
nominated by either the democrats or the
populists? Unless there is a very general
understanding among the silver leaders
he has no prospect worth considering.
Among democrats generally the feeling
appears to be that it is not advisable to
go outside of the democratic party for a
time ago when Mr.. Teller's name was
mentioned in connection with the demo-
cratic nomination. 1t would require
much stronger reasons to bring about
Mr.. Teller's nomination at Chicago than
are now apparent. 1t is question If
he could get the support of a majority
of the silver delegates.
If the democrats do not take him Up
it is doubtful If he would desire to have
the populists do so. He could not very
well stand upon a platform such as the
populists are likely to adopt without
stultifying himself. If he could get the
democratic nomination he would expect
the populists to indorse his nomination
without adopting a platform. But
whether his boiling friends are alone in
their efforts to make him presidential
| candidate or have the support of a large
number of silver leaders. there are no
surface indications, at present. that his
ambition viii be gratihed.
/