The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-06-25

New York, June William c.
Whitney to-day sent the following to
the press: 81 find it necessary to
make public statement embodying
my views of the situation to correct
misconceptions and to save the time
now occupied in answering questions.
"Far too great importance has been
attached to my decision to 60 to the
Chicago convention.
81 have been practically out Of poll
tics for four years and there are now
many Eastern Democrats who can do
much more than / can for the party.
| shall not assume the position of
leadership. My decision to stay about
is simply based on the duty of every
person who believes in the party for
its principles, to stand by and lend
his aid and take his chances when
great crisis is upon it. There can be
no question but that a great crisis is
upon the Democratic party. Funda-
mental differences of principle exist
inside the party, marked almost by
sectional lines.
"The great question in my mind is
whether the party meets in conven-
tion now as in 1860 with issues and
differences that are for the moment
irreconcilable.
"These differences" Mr.. Whitney
says, "are between the Southern and
Western sections of the country and
the Eastern section over the silver
question"
Continuing he says: ''Under these
circumstances, if the results of the
Democratic convention should be to
establish as the issue of this campaign
the free coinage OF silver at a ratio of
sixteen to one, independent of other
nations, in the intensity of feeling
likely to arise, it is to be seriously ap.
pretended that disruption of the
Democratic party might occur. Ger
talnly no substantial following could
be secured for the doctrine among
Eastern Democrats. They might not
vote the Republican ticket for other
reasons believing that the Republi-
can party stands for other issues that
are detrimental to the country but
the Democrats in the East would not,
in my judgment, vote for it."
Then Mr.. Whitney gives at some
length the history of the fight between
gold and silver in various parts of
the world and describes what he be.
lieves would be the baleful effect upon
the business and finances of the
United States if free coinage should
be adopted by this country. Supposing
the adoption of free silver, Mr.. Whit
ney adds: "The creditor classes are
prepared Tor it. The obligations,
mortgages, railroad and otherwise,
are quite generally paid in gold.
Debts would still have to be paid in
gold, but wages in silver. The suffer
ers as usual being the poorer classes.
This movement purporting to be in |
the interests of the joint standard,
comes at most inopportune time in
my opinion. There has never been
a time when the prospects of interna-
tional action favorable to the Joint
standard were at all as promising as
at the present moment. But an i'll |
advised, unsuccessful attempt here
would discredit the cause the world |
over,
"Personally it is my opinion if the |
Democratic party goes on to that |
platform at this time, they will meet |
the most disastrous defeat that any |
party has ever had in this country. | |
understand it is honestly believed it |
will bring relief from their present
troubles but between now and election |
day it will be pretty thoroughly sifted |
and the people of this country will |
not face the disturbance of values, |
the loss of confidence, the general |