The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-13


ment TO tho Democracy.
Maj. Mckinley being apparently NOM
mated, with quiet understanding be-
tween him and Mark Hanna that the
campaign is TO be made as far as possi-
BILE on the tariff, attention turns 10 Chi
cago. What will the democrats do?
This question is frequently asked,
but never answered. No officeholder,
no member of congress-, no leader. Is
willing even to guess. A few weeks ago
the administration and the nugwumps
had 1t all Enthusiastically laid out. the
lines drawn and fixed. Then the plat
form was to be for sound money and the
candidate was to be named by Grover
Cleveland, in the event OF his determine
ing at the last moment not to take II
himself.
But all that Is changed. The condi-
tion of the administration is almost for
lorn. IL any hopes are entertained for
the nomination Of the president for a
third term, they are nursed secretly and
by those only who Turk In the very
shadow OF the candidate. That they are
entertained at all Is inferred only from
his refusal 10 speak when TO speak, IL
not candidate. would relieve his party
and his faction of almost fatal embar-
easements.
Mr.. Carlisle's candidacy has withered
under Cleveland's deadly cilence. Billy
Russell's is dying under the suspicion
that he was brought out as n sort Of
forerunner of the third term schemers
The power which Mr.. Cleveland seemed
TO have six months ago TO shape the
convention and frame the issues has
been frittered away and lost, or worse;
for the active favor of the administra-
ton and it's peculiar friends would now
iniure more than IL could help any can
didate.
The termination of the Cleveland reign
would be relief to the party IL the
collapse. Just on the eve of the conven-
ton, did not involve certain disaster to
the cause of sound money. II the sill
yer men are in n majority ut Chicago.
and in n temper to reject all compro-
mise, and thereby insure the election OF
Mckinley. with n republican congress
uncertain on the money question, the
sound-money democrats may thank Mr..
Cleveland and his agents and officehold-
ers for their plight. Three things have
recently contributed heavily to depress
the sound-money side and to raise the
silver side, or. thanks TO Mr.. Cleveland's
course, the anti-Cieveland side, in the
democratic fight.
II President Cleveland is not n can
didate for third term is there any rea-
son why he should not say so? He
knows that the party Is staggering
under the weight of the charge that he.
it's official head. three times honored by
it's nomination ard twice elected by it's
votes. contcmplates this assault upon
the cherished traditions of the republic.
He knows that the cause of sound money
Is failing because il is. by his silence,
identified with the third term; and that
the outgivings of his friends and Office
holders encourage the belief that his
nomination at Chicago is to follow the
control OF the convention by the sound
money wing. In all the great states
where the fight for sound money IN be-
ing made against growing odds the
sound-money men encounter the in
vincible conviction that sound money
and the third term are TO be combined
IL the administration can command &
majority. II knocks them over in piles.
1t is doing more than anything else
TO carry Illinois. Indiana, Ohio and Ken
lucky over to free silver. Senator Bricc
started In 10 stem the tide In Ohio,
but the very fact that ne did so MT
Cleveland's request was handicap. and
now he AYERS that he and all other sound
money men are parnlyzed, and every
thing is going TO the devil everywhere
for want OF letter from the president
saying in plain English that he is no
better than George Washington and
Thomas jefferson and that there must
be no nomination for third term.
Brice's experience is only that OF every
one else. 1t is doubtful II any relief
is practicable nt this time of day.
Should the president now decide TO get
Oft the neck of the party and give it a
chance. IL would be too late TO afford
much relief The damage Is done. the
delegates are elected, or the fight IL
about over. No wide-awalSe democratic
politician in Washington has the least
idea that Illinois. Ohio. Indiana or Ken
lucky can be saved. The administration
Is simply amazed and Numbering.
If sound money is killed at Chicagoit
will have been killed chiefly by Mr..
Clevelnnd's selfish silence on the third
term.-N. Y. Sun Dem.).