The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
Complains Of Their Indifference
to the Sound-Money
Democracy.
FEARS THE poPuI1sTs' ACTION
And Suggests What Should Have Been
Done to Make Free Coinage
Impossible.

NEW 1OhA, N. 1.I July Zo.-W lluam
c. Whitney, in an interview with repre-
sentative of the United Press to-day, was
asked if in his judgment there would be
third ticket nominated by the sound
money Democrats. He replied:
81 think events and the course of the
Republican leaders are making it inevit-
able. The general situation" he con-
tinued, sis far worse to-day, in my
opinion, than it was ten days ago. The
Republican managers and candidates have
shown no realizing sense of the situation.
They have failed to avail themselves OF
great opportunity for benefiting the
country. If the present condition of af-
fairs continues for any length of time
sound-money Democrats are bound to or
ganize and it cannot be prevented.
''The truth is there does not seem to be in
the East a realizing sense of the seriousness
and sincerity of the free silver movement.
You may call it craze, but it has captured
the imaginations of the great mass of
people throughout the entire West and
South, and it has a much stronger follow
ing in some portions of the East not
closely allied to the commercial centers
than is generally supposed. 1t is the re-
suit OF reading and agitation. 1t has
become fixed opinion and an unreason-
ing one.
81 was satisfied before we went to
Chicago that nothing could be accom-
plished in the direction of changing or
modifying the free silver idea, and 1 said
30. Nevertheless, it was our duty to go
there and emphasize the strength of the
convictions of the Eastern Democrats, and,
further, to afford the country an object
lesson showing so plainly that it could not
be misunderstood the un-Democratic and
revolutionary spirit which dominated the
movement.
"In this we were successful. The Demo
cratic mask was pretty effectually re-
moved from the face of the Populism
which had forced itself for the time being
into a position of control. That was all
that the sound money Democrats could
hope to accomplish, and that they did
effectually and unseltishly. There never
has been in any party convention such a
vigorous declaration of independence as
was exhibited at Chicago when 254 dele
gates refused to participate in the selec-
ton of candidates.
What should have beeu the next step
in the fight for the preservation of Ma
tional honor and sound finance? We had
suddenly come upon new and very great
crisis-one that called for the sinking OF
partsanship and the union OF sound
money men TO rescue the country from
disaster. Hundreds of thousands of Dem
ocrats stood ready to declare themselves
upon that issue and were ready to subordi-
nate everything, even to voting for the
Republican candidate.
"What was the duty of the hourp Clear
ly it was one that devolved upon the Re-
publican party and its candidates. There
should have been an immediate recogni-
tion of a new situation, and the Repub-
licans should have been the first to well
come sound-money Democrats to a non
partisan union, subordinating all other
things to this question of honor. 1t was a
new issue. An opportunity was offered to
fight for the established institutions of
the country-the fundamental things that
underlie party differences-law and order,
National honor, common honesty, the
integrity OF the courts-all such things
without which we do not exist as Nation
at all.
"a single glimpse at the Chicago plat
form and at the spectacle of one-third OF
the Democratic party in open revolt
should have been enough to have shown
them instantly the necessity of a new
alignment of parties upon non-partisan
lines. No greater opportunity for patri-
otto action was ever offered party. and it
has all been thrown away"
What has been the course of the Re-
publican leaders and the Republican
press2" Mr.. Whitney was asked.
They have insisted upon putting the
free-silver enthusiasts and sound-money
Democrats into one class and denouncing
all together under the name of the Ma
tional Democracy. Mr.. Mckinley con-
tinues to discuss the tariff, which has
ceased to be an actual issue in this cam
palgn as completely as slavery, and the
Repu blican press and leaders persist in
deriding all Democrats en- masse. Tbev
jeer Democracy and yet admit that the
doubtful States are those where Republi-
canism has been dominant for thirty
years.
"Such a policy persisted in can have
but one effect. 1t will arouse the innate
party loyalty of patriotic Democrats. 1t
will make them angry and will result in
drawing sharp party lines. 1t is difficult
enough for Democrat to contemplate the
possibility Of voting for Mckinley or to
look upon him as the leader of any great
cause. and the present course of the Re-
pubiicans is tending to make it impossible.
If they continue in this line one thing viii
certainly happen-the sound-money Demo-
Gratis will nominate a third ticket, and
thus divide the sound-money vote in the
great battle-ground of the Middle West, to
save the vote from drifting back to the
Chicago ticket.
The Republicans will need in Novem-
Der all the aid they can obtain from sound
money Democrats. If they think they can
hold their natural strength through the
Middle West or even in some parts of the
East by the single tendency TO party alie-
glance they are mistaken. A free-silver
enthusiasm has obtained a hold upon Re-
pubiicans throughout the West and farm
ing communities of the East quite as
strong as upon Democrats, and they can
not be diverted from their purpose by
either appeals to party loyalty or discus