The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-03-14
GOT ENOUGH PARTIES.

This talk by the Republicans that
failing to secure recognition of silver at
the national convention they will bolt
and organize distinctive silver party is
not altogether reasonable. The silver
Republicans have taken the position
that there shall be no tariff legislation
until silver legislation has been secur-
ed; they claim they are able to main
tain that position indefinitely. What
occasion then for boiling the national
conYentionP What is to be gained by
it? What occasion for mourning the
risk of utterly divorcing silver and pro-
tection? A silver party cannot make
a respectable showing without uniting
the south and west. In such fusion
the free trade element would be over
pOwering. 1t would dominate every
thing and make of the party distinct
lively free trade, free silver combina-
ton. Already the Democrats of the
north and east are beginning to turn
fondly to the once cherished principles
of Samuel Randall; they are seriously
questioning the practical wisdom of
tariff for revenue only, tariff reform
and similar fallacies. Do not the last
fall elections clearly indicate that
powerful Democratic element is turn.
ing back to protective principles? The
protection Democrats are generally an
tifree coinage, which makes it almos;
certain that fusion Of free silver and
free trade will preCipitate fusion of
protection and gold standard. In
which event, the fight for free silver
will be hopelessly lost. Now, there is a
plain, clear and hopeful policy for sill,
yer Republicans to pursue. They
should maintain their party fealty; in
sist that they are equally for silver and
protection, standing squarely on the
proposition that as one is every parti-
Gle as essential as the other, there shall
be no discrimination against either.
There shall be no tariff without silver.
The silver Republicans should 90 to the
national convention, insist on having
unequiyOcal recognition of silver and
vote solidly for silver presidential
nominee, If outvoted in the conven
ton, they should serve notice on the
party that the fight will be renewed
and kept up in congress. They should
take the position that they will vote
for protection as against free trade
but they will not vote for protec-
ton as against free silver. We
do not believe it is possible to Or
ganize new party of any consequence
on platform of free silver and protec-
ton. This scattering of the silver
forces is the principal weakness in the |
movement. There are protection sill.
Verits, free trade silVerites, sham tariff |
'ilverites and silverites straight and
hey can't get together. No platform
could possibly be devised that would
mite them, so what is the use Matching
my more partiesP What earthly good
'ould come from adding another yari-
'ty to such a silver display as thatP
What better would we be with forty
liver parties II, as at present, they
iept on stabbing each other to death
m some other issue? If you are going
o leave the Republican party for the
'enefit of silver, act like sensible PEG.
lie and instead of setting up any more
me horse parties, join some orgapiza-
ion that is already working in the di,
ectiOn you want to 60.