The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-07-01
wHrTNEY'S WARNING.
He Suggests That Free Silver at Chicago
Would BE Bolted

william g. Whitney has published his
views on silver as u question TO come before
the Chicago convention, In which he draws
the line bntween eastern and western sentl-
ment and intimates that eastern democrats
might follow Tellers example at st. Louis N
free coinagc were to be Incorporated In the
democratic platform.
For the past 10 years, leaders OF public
opinion In the south aud west have been nd
yocating as the great remedy for existing Ills
the free coinage OF silver mt 10 to I, with or
without the cooperation OF other nations.
IL has come to be believed In there, quito
generally and conscientiously. large ma
jority OF the delegates to the coming Demo-
cratic convention have been elected by the
people for the purpose OF incorporating that
doctrine into the platform OF the democratic
party.
our people, on the other hand entirely dis
agree with these views and believe almost
universally that II will bring general ruin to
the business and prosperity OF the country.
IL Is deemed n new doctrine, which IL pro-
posed to be Incorporated into the platform Of
the national democracy. II Is true that In
no previous platform of the party can IL
specifically be found; consequently, no party
obligations heretofore assumed obligo them
to subscribe to H.
Under the these circumstances. II the re-
suits OF the democratic convention should bc
to establish as the Issue Of this campaign
the free coinage OF silver mt a ratio OF 10 to |,
independent Of other nations, In tho inten-
sity OF feeling likely TO arise, II IL TO be serl-
ously apprehended that DISRUPTION OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MIGHT OC-
CUR. Certainly, no substantial following
could be secured for the doctrine among
eastern democrats, They might not vote
the republican ticket for other reasons (be-
lieving that the republican party stands for
other issues that are detrimental to tho
country, but the drmocrats In the east
would not, in my opinion vote for II.
This movement Tor FREQ coinage purports
to have Its object tho establishment aud
maintenance OF gold and silver as the money
OF the country upon equal terms with each
other.and at parity Of purchasing power.
Aside from the absence Of nny democratic
principle to sustain IL, you cannot have
such n disturbance OF value as would come
from changing from gold to n silver basis,
without such n shock to confidence, the
boarding OF gold and contraction OF our
available circulating medium as would bring
In the opinion OF our people, the worst panic
and distress we have ever seen In this coun-
try. The creditor classes are prepared for
II. Tho obligations, mortgages, railroad
and otherwise, are quite generally payable
In gold. Debts would still have to be paid
In gold, but wages In silver. The sufferers,
az usual, would be the poorer classes.
Personally, It Is my opinion that II tho
uenOcthtlO purity goes on tnut pluttOtin
at this time. they will get the most dis
astrous defeat that any party has ever
had In this country. / understand II IL
honestly believed In, and people think 1t
will bring relief from their present trou-
bles; but between now and election day
Il will be pretty thoroughly slfted, and
the people OF this country will not face
the disturbance of values, the loss of conf
dence. the general distress and ruin which
would come to their business interests In
such n change In their standard OF values "a
would arise from such action. And 1t WILL
In my opinion, overwhelm the persons who
undertake II.
II ought not to be necessary for me to say
anything OF II personal nature. | find my
self. however, spoken OF here and there as a
possible candidate-not very seriously or
prominently. but sufficiently to attract atten-
tion. have no personal motive In entering
this fight. | will add, copying the emphatic
language once used by the late Gen. Sher-
man Il think | remember 1t correctly, II
will not run II nominated nor serve II
elected"
am not foolish enough to suppose that
any eastern man could be- nominated by this
convention, much less that l could. | sym
pathize thoroughly with the feeling In the
south, that has caused the uprising that will
find its expression at Chicago; but as to the
principle which the uprising has brought
forth and the issues being framed, / entirely
disaprpe