The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-08-20

CHAIRMAN Peck has Issued circular
to the democrats of Wisconsin, annourc-
ing the fact that Senator John Mitchell
has come out for silver, and giving an in
terview with E. G. Wall IN which he says
that he is willing to swallow silver be-
cause of his devotion 70 other principles
OF the democratic party. AS far as John
Mitchell Is concerned the democrats OF
Wisconsin have not been much n the
habit of deferriDg to his judgment on
tenets of party faith, and it is matter of
total indifference to them how he stands
on the financial question. No one will
materially change his opinion because of
Mr.. Mitchell's view.
AS to Mr.. Wall. Every one comedies
he has ability. Most people who know
him thought his convictions were deep
enough to give him fxlty of purpose and
stable judgment. He cannot explain bis
backsl1ding by claiming TO have received
new light, as his past devotion to sound
currency could only have been the result
of deliberate judgment and thorough in
vestigation. 1t was not a passing fancy
for sound money which made him antag-
onlze his party when he was member OF
the Legislature and the greenback craze
| was running its course. 1t was not i'm
mature judgment which suggested CEN
sure of Clinton Baboitt when he deserted
the gold phalanx in congress at the bid
| ding of bis inclination toward silver. MIR.
Wallis judgment on his own course must
be severe if he lays any claim to consis-
| tency.
What are the principles of democracy
announced in the Chicago platform which
have hold on Mr.. Wallis devotion suffi-
Gent to justify his recreancy to a prin-
clple so dear to him in the past? The
very platform makes the financial issue
| the paramount one, and postpones all
others of any note to this. 1t is so en-
phatic and decisive on this subject, that
person accepting it does 30 BECAUSE of it's
declaration for free coinage at 16 to l. 1t
is SO prominent a characteristic OF it that
1t swallows all others. A man devoted
| to silver and IN opposition to every other
thing on which the platform expresses an
opinion, could without serious misgiving
| Of the propriety OF his action, accept the
platform in toto because of the warmth
of it's approval and the strength of its
assertion for free silver.
What are the time-honored principles
of the party which find such generous
expression, such large countenarce, IN
this platform that the silver pill may be
swallowed without any catching at the
| throat? Tariff reform is treated like a
step-chlld and is even denied the crumbs
which might fall from the free silver
table as the favorite might need these to
complete its repast. New matters are
| lugged IN on which the party has no
| record and a denial of which is no faint
| upon party loyalty. Rejection of party
| principle is made the test of party loyalty.
| No democrat can say he accepts the Chi
cago platform in spite of its silver utter
ance. Its declaration on that issue must
be the lodestone which attracts. Teller
quit the republican party for the sole and
only reason that 1t did not declare for
! free silver. He joined the new party
which the Chicago convention brought
/ into being because 1t favored free silver
The only reason Mr.. Wall can give for
quitting the democratic party Is that the
party does not favor free silver, while the
| alliance formed at Chicago does favor
| free silver.
| Let his conduct or the campaign Git is
| conceded he will manage it, prove his
consistency. He will manage it on
silver basis. \ set of delegates elected
| TO the convention 10 be held N Mllwau-
| kee Sept. 2, were instructed to aid in
| nomlr atlng only silver men. Mr.. Wall
would not be eligible six weeks ago in
the eyes of these delegates as candidate
| before that convention. Was he demo.
crat then? If 80 he is not democrat
| now.