The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-26

viii strxddIe the Financial Question
and the Democratic Opportunity to Get
Solid With the Nation VIII Have Come
His Remarks Were Confidential But
They are GoIdbus Throughout
Chicago. Feb. 25.-walter wellman
writes as follows 10 the Chicago Her
aid. from Washington:
The Democratic party can win this
year" said President Cleveland few
days ago TO a member of his cabinet,
IF it viii declare unequivocally for
sound money. No stradddle. no com
promise viii do. on straightOut plat
form, with a candidate 10 match, We
can carry the country"
During the hast two weeks there has
been an unusual amount of politics in
the conversation at the white house
The president has shown a keen inter-
est in the coming campaign, and has
talked the matter over with the MEM
bers Of his cabinet as they have called
to confer about public business. II
may be said the administration has
agreed on program, though not upOn
the details of the manner in which an
attempt will be made TO carry il out
The keynote of this program, as in
spired by the president himself, is no
compromise with silver This means
direct antagonism to the Morrison idea
of a straddle in the Chicago convention
To this policy the administration is
now thoroughly committed. and from
this time forward the president and
his followers, in a quiet but none the
1aS= nf roIx
the campaign. Mr.. Cleveland has Civ
en- it out that there will be no more
straddle on the currency question if he
can prevent. The time has passed in
which either of the great parties can
temporize with that question, he said
recently, and retain the respect of the
country. 1t must be one thing or the
other. The people want frankness, not
juggling with words Consequently
the administration forces will gather
at Chicago determined to secure. If pos
sible. adoption Of an unequivocal dec
laration in favor of the present none
tary standard and retirement of green
backs, as recommended by the presi-
dent and the secretary of the treasury
in their communicat ton to congress.
President Cleveland, l am able TO
say on competent evidence believes il
would be better for the Democratic
party to take this position and lose the
election than to declare for free coin
age and win 1T. He believes the Chica-
go convention will mark crisis in the
history OF the party and Of the country.
III the party succumbs TO the tempta-
ton 10 gather within its ranks all the
peculiar elements Of modern politics on
a free silver platform, it will go to ruin.
nr -
the sound money, conservative and
party of the country. it
will have before it a long life of useful
ness and power. In the opinion of the
president the silver craze will soon
have run its course. 1t is too illogical
to live in the minds Of a people as in
telligent as our people area people
who read, think, study and analyze a.
DO no other people in the world II the |
democratic party grasps at this tempo |
rary proffer OF reinforcement il will /
only seal its own doom, and deserve its /
fate.
President Cleveland believes the Re
publican national convention at ST.
Louis Will compromise with the silver
element. He has eagerly watched every
phase of the program of intimidation
which the silver Republicans have car
led on In and out of congress with a
view to forcing their party to make
to silver at St. Louis. and
lie has reached the conclusion that this
will in part succeed. In the
PRESIDENTS opinion the Republicans.
caring loss of the new states of the
ar west. and placing their main depen-
ience upon the charms Of high protec-
ion, will juggle with silver and sub
.titute rhetoric for frankness. If they
10 this Mr.. Cleveland thinks they will
cave an opening for the Democra tic
'arty, an opportunity which, grasped
'1th courage and bOldness by the con-
'enuon at Chicago in July. will lead 10
uccess at the polls in November.
This is the idea upon which the ad-
plan Of campaign is ar
anSed. Mr.. Cleveland himself. with
he boldness for which he is noted. has
uggested it. Moreover. he has inspir-
d some Of his followers with conf
ence. He has reused I'm their minds I
he hope that, after all, the Democratic /
arty may retain power. He has ar
ued that the slightest sign Of Repub-
can wavering on the financial ques-
ion may prove fatal to that party. If
let in the proper spirit by the Democ-
acy. He has expressed the belief that
IktDuUlc1uS D
ing with silver and the Democrats
landing squarely for the gold stand .
rd-many OF the states OF the north. I
eretofore looked upon as reliably Re .
ublican, VIII cast their votes for the
emocratfc nominee. In support Of
lis belief, ne points TO the fact now
recognized by students OF the 4
ohucal condition of the country. thai {
8rty ties rest more lightly upon voters
ian ever before Indeed. the balance
power between parties is held by the
100000 or 1000. 600 voters who vote first
le ticket. then another. as their con- :
ction, passion or prejudice may dc ?
tie. These are the voters who are i
sponsihle for ground swells' and IT,
IL waves
1t is the belief Of the administration -
at in many OF the northern states q
IS vote VIII fall 10 the Democrats on y
2 currency question. With the issue q
avn as here.nbefore indicated. they .,
'heve that New York, New Jersey. =
1nnecticut and Indiana. states which
I'VE been regularly or frequently car y
"a by the Democrats in presidential
ections. viii be found on the side OF >
amocTacy and honest money. n ad-
ton they hope 20 carry both Illinois I.
ID Wisconsin. and possibly Iowa, In
: west In rhe east they would have 80
-ong hopes OF MaSsachuse-ts Rhoda -
and and New Hampshire. Nearly
OF the states % the south and the =
rider belt they would expect 70 carry
the impetus OF Democracy. They ..
ruld not fear for Delaware. Maryland -
est Virginia, Virginia Kentucky u
ssOuri, Arkansas. Mississippi. Louis %,
"A. Alabama. Georgia. Florida or
nth Carolina. The states of Tenn -
see. North Carolina. and. oddly e. =
gh. Texas. they would fear % Iose -
= two first r.amei are showing =