The record-union., 1896-06-28
Thinks the Democrats Cannot Win With
a Free Silver Candidate.
Will Result in a Disruption Of the Old
Party.
No Power on Earth Can Persuade
Sound Honey Democrats to For
sake Their Fundamental Principles
A Matter of National Honor
to Maintain the Present Gold
Standard.
Standard.

to Maintain the present UOlo
Standard.
NEW YORK, June pa represent
ative of the United Press called upon
W. C. Whitney at his residence, 52 West
Fifty-seventh street, and had the fol-
lowing interview with him as to the
coming campaign:
How is the campaign progressing?
asked the reporter.
Like 1860 The truth must be told"
replied Mp Whitney.
What are the chances Of sound mon
ey in Chicago?"
Unless the situation changes and our
Southern and Western friends are dis
PC sed to reason with US, no chance
whatever"
What do you hear from the South
and West?"
Judging by the letters I receive,
there is no apparent disposition to dis
cl.ss the matter at issue. I fear it has
gone beyond that point"
Have you asked Senators German
and Brice to attend the convention as
party duty?"
mo; they have no reason to believe
that they could accomplish anything.
None Of us have"
IF a free coinage candidate is NOM
mated on a free coinage platform, what
will be the result?'
Practically it will disrupt the Dem
ocratic party. No power on earth can
either coerce or persuade sound money
Democrats to forsake the fundamental
principles Of Democracy. They do not
regard this question as either factional,
sectional or political. They consider it
a matter of national honor. The Sara
toga Convention platform emphasizes
this fact. 1t says the rigid mainten-
ance of the present gold standard at
the present time is essential to the
preservation of our national credit, the
redemption of our public pledges and
the keeping inviolate Of our countrys s
honor. That is New York's position. 1t
Is as positive as words can express, and
it cannot be changed"
Then you do not look for compro-
mise?''
Compromise is impossible. Debase-
ment of the currency would be more
than monstrous in effect. 1t would be
disgrace every citizen 1t would be not
only dishonest but dishonorable. And
you cannot compromise question of
honor
What do you expect to do in Chi
cago?"
DO all in our power to save the
party and protect the country. That is
the plain duty OF every Democrat who
goes to Chicago and 1t is none the less
the duty Of those who stay at home not
to hamper the efforts of those who go.
And by those who stay at home I mean
not merely Democrats. I mean to in
clude every good citizen regardless of
politics or prejudices. The crisis which
has come upon us is the most serious
menace to national prosperity and to the
welfare of the people sinse 1860 This
is the time when all men who love their
country will stand together to avoid it's
disgrace and the wreck of hundreds of
thousands Of homes throughout the
country"
DO you not despair of success Their? ?"
mo. We cannot yet tell whether the
knowledge of the attitude Of Eastern
Democrats will effect the determination
of the Southern and Western Demo-
Gratis who have not known until within
the past week how strong the feeling
here is. The vigorous expression of our
position may cause hesitation, especially
among the rank and file of the Democ-
racy, who cannot believe want to drive
all Eastern Democrats out of the party.
/ know Some of the leaders of the move
ment assume that attitude, but am not
yet convinced that the people behind
them do. If not they will make their
wishes known and felt"
THURMAN SCORES WHITNEY.
COLUMBUS to-, June 27.-After
reading an interview given by ex-Sec-
retary Whitney in New York to-day, in
which Mr.. Whitney said there seemed
to be no hope Of saving the Democratic
party from disruption unless the South
ern and Western Democrats would lis
Allen W. Thurman gave out the follow
ing statement tonight:
There is now going on in this country
an irrepressible conflict between the
British standard (gold) on the one side.
and the American standard (gold and
slver), the money guaranteed by the
Constitution. on the other. Shall the
Democratic party declare in it's plat
form that 1t favors a violation of the
Constitution; that the eople shall not
obey it unless the Governments of Eu-
rope give them permission to do so?
This Is what all the talk about an
international agreement really means;
this Is what the Republican party said
at ST. Louis. Shall the Democratic
party merely re-echo the voice of the
Republican party on a question that
cannot be suppressed and which will
overshadow all others In the coming
campaign? If so, why should we go to
Chicago at all, Such interviews as Mr..
Whitney's will frighten no one. On the
contrary, they only intensity the issue,
and his writing about the dishonesty
of those who differ with him will only
make them more determined. The sill
yer men OF the West and South have
hong known that the Democrats of Mr.
Whitney's school would much prefer
seeing a gold Republican President
rather than a silver Democrat in the
Presidential chair.
''Mr. Whitney's interview will make
this perfectly clear to every Democrat
who will be at Chicago, and while all