The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-08

Eoweftoi Ahifu Tsrty Will niso-Uu-
certainty OF the Outcome Unssttiss Busi-
mesa.
WASHINGTON. May 7.--[ Special. MANY
able men in public life regret that there IL
not TO be square fight ON the silver ques-
ton this year. Assuming that President
Cleveland and his lieutenants will obtain
control OF the Chicago convention and lie
clare against the free coinage of silver-an
assumption not altogether warranted by
the facts--they say the two great parties
Will have no issue on the finances. This
they regret because, In their opinion, the
silver question has been raised in this
country In such way and has attained 30
much popularity and strength that IL will
have 60 be settled by overwhelming defeat.
Until IL Is overthrown on a test vote of the
people it will continue To be problem In
politics. IL 10 were only political ques-
ton, these men say, to agitate the politi-
CLANS and the parties, not much harm
would be done. 1t might go on forever,
and the country would be all right. But
10 Is commercial question as we'll. 1t
enters into the prosperity OF the country
In a very intimate and very harmful way.
As long as uncertainty rs To the outcome
continues the country cannot have real
prosperity. According TO this view, the
question of the monetary standard should
be settled one way or the other and as
speedily as possible.
Prospects of Financial Peace.
Accepting this ms n sound view, without
hazarding an opinion as TO which way the
question should be- settled, IL will be I'M
fortunate perhaps, II the Democratic ma
tional convention declares against the free
coinage of silver. II the Democratic party
were TO take up the cause of silver and
the Republican party the cause Of gold,
the battle could bo fought to finish. The
Republican party would attract all the
antisilver elements and the Democratic |
party all the people who believe In the sill /
YER standard. Thus there would be- but |
two parties in tho field. Wherever the Pop. /
1list party has strength its votes would be
thrown TO the Democrats, either through
formal fusion or by the individual action
If voters. II the issue were raised in this |
manner and one or the other party were |
% get great majority OF the popular vote
md of the electoral and congressional vote |
rs well. possibly tho struggle would be
yer. The losing side would yield. We
hould have financial peace, and with the
'attle of the standards at an end the
armers and the business men and the
could go ahead with con.
dence that the measure of values was not
D be disturbed for years 10 come.
There are men in Washington, thought
al, studious, conservative men, too, who
AXE the view that IL Is more important to
sttle the monetary standard question |
ome way than to settle il in any particu-
" way. They say 1t is unfortunate that |
he question ever entered into our political
Citation at all.
Meantime Prosperity Waits.
These same conservative men of whom | /
am speaking-and they are both silver | ,
nd gold advocates-say that IL the ques-
on OF the standard were not in our par
es and our politics, if IL were not q
'otball for the politicians, the schemers
nd the dernagogues, and, if IL were placed
! the hands Of commission of experts,
could be very easily settled They claim
lat IL is not complex matter at all and
lat what the great majority Of the people
ppear to want-bimetallism, with use of
9TH silver and gold-could be attained and | \
In practice without the slight
c difficulty.
But the question is In politics, 1t Is in | c
10 hearts and minds and passions and I
'eJudices OF the people, and 1t will have | 1.
be fought out. While 1t is being settled
osperfty will have to wait. No matter U
hioh party comes into power, no matter |
hat Is done with the tariff or other pol
les, 1t IL probably true that settled pros
rity will not come to the United States
j the financial standard battle has come
an end. re-
If President Cleveland and those who | j
Ink with him triumph at Chicago, and | d
9 regular Democratic party sticks to the | @,
Id standard, the result may be n post -
nement of the end. One effect thereof
vi surely be the rise Of third powerful
rty. While 10 is not probable the formal
lt Will be very large In either party the
lmber OF voters who will leave the Re
blican party and the Democratic party .,
go to the silver party will be great. y.
lat third party will surely carry several "
nthern states and number of the far CT
stern states. 1t will make good show. M
3 In the electoral college, and also in 7
next house Of representatives. In the
ter body 1t may have almost as many
'mbers as the Democrats.
The Third Party. VI
hat the effect Of this will be upon tho pi
IA uispositlon Oh the question Is mat ! CO
: In which every American citizen must IN
10 the deepest interest. II this third
-ty, representing the cause of free silver,
's not become strong enough to hold the
anoe OF power anywhere; If its leaders
weak and unskillful, It may not gain LII
all In the popular esteem. II may re. r.
We itself into sort of guerrilla party, or
ihout the power to effect anything. It
y fritter away what strength IL has. al
that way the silver question may grad
ly disappear-ground to pieces, as It
re, between the two powerful forces of all
older organizations Its members, or ne
ny OF them, may suffer n reaction and w
ten to really themselves with the par ',
whence they came. PHI
IN the other hand, the third party may
We strong enough to WELD n powerful
uence In the affairs Of the nation. 1t ua
hold the balance Of power in the house I'm,
become In sense master of the stu -.
N. Its success may be great enough to ''e
nulate the ardor and confidence OF it's
overs and lead them to renew the fight
T years hence with increased vigor and | tri
nbers. H.
All things considered, the prospects for
aarly settlement OF the silver question ia
this country are not bright. II the
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