Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-26
A Pressing Time-TeIl the Truth.


A great section OF 4 party which -four
years ago was occupied exclusively with
tariff reform has been switched off TO thu
issue of free-silver coinage, although IN.
crusade was declared 10y its sponsors TO b.
only Il beginning. The free-silyer meI
have chosen enough delegates to promise
strong contest for control OF the Nationa
Democratic Convention at Chicago. EVei
If the gold men win. as they expect to. th'
strength of The silver faction Is sure to be
very great. II Is hurtful every day, com
mercially. according TO its strength. Al
extremely disturbing issue has beer
aroused within the Democratic party, OF
a scale which threatens to divide tn,
Democracy openly. or leave il heiples.
after Il show of harmony.
We will not contend with the orgina
and undiluted silver men as TO what I;
the prime cause OF this remarkable chang,
in the Democratic front.a of the trans
ter of the attack from protection to In,
long established monetary standard of tn,
Union: but certainly n very great cause
possibly tho greatest of all. has been the
administration saddlng upon the gol,
standard the increase in the national deb
represented by the Cleveland bonds NJ
people, of ordinary education and intelli-
Sence can see the payment of a colossal
war debt continue uninterruptcdly during
the thirty years which follow the attain
ment OF peace and then see this process
suddenly stopped and the debt begin tC
grow rapidly again. without inclining e
condemn the policy responsible for it, i
iiamed against riches and prosperity b.
the party oratory of 1872. Mr.. Cleveland
being incompartbly the leader of such ex.
element, should now vow destruction OF
the money standard which the same lead
cr tells them has compelled the new
bonds. Mr. Cleveland's appeals for the
gold standard are feathers before tn,
storm.
We ask our silver friends to look square
ly at the truth. The gold standard is 10,
the cause of this bigger debt in time oil
peace. The administration. in stating
that such is the case is hiding behind
Misrepresentation. and trcacherously per.
hitting the blow deserved by itself tc
fail upon an innocent party of which il
very ostentatiously processes TO be tbs
guardian. One hundred and fifty millions
of dollars. or more than half the proceeds
of the Cleveland bond sales. have beer
used in paying the expenses of the gov
eminent. for which that political fraud
and financial fiasco. the Cleveland Wilson
tariff, failed to provide.
These bonds have done as much tc
create anger against the gold standard as
the election of silver delegates is going
on. IF it costs nearly one hundred mil.
lions year to maintain the gold stand
ard. say the silver preachers. lets be
done with it,"
Mr.. Cleveland has 1t in his power to
render assistance 10 the cause of sound
money in the Democratic party not pos
scssed by any ten of the party leaders
Let him tell the truth about the bond
sales and the tariff. and put the RESPONSE
bil'ty for the new debt where 1t belongs
namely, on himself. the maker of a de-
lict tariff. instead of on the sound and
honest gold dollar.
Can we not hope for that heroic exhbl-
ton of simple honor? Is II too much tc
shall tell the truth regarding this most
important question. even though the con-
fesson will not flatter him? Is he not
more interested in being right than in be-