New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-27
Just ONE CHANCE.

II is reported that Il conference will soon he
held in this city of Democrats OF New York and
other Eastern States who are DESTROYS of ex-
changing views concerning the financial ques
ton prior to the Chicago Convention. If this
intention is carried out. among those present
at the conference will doubtless be Mr.. Whitney
and the delegates-at- large from this State; Mr.
Perry Belmont if lie arrives from Europe in
time: Mr.. William t. Russell. of Massachu
sets, and as many other actual or putative
lenders Of Democratic opinion In the Last as
can be induced to attend 1t may reasonably
be expected that such men will execute with
energy whatever plan of action they may agree
upon in the hope of making their Influence felt
in the convention and therefore the most inn
portant question is what course they will adopt
BY saying that Democrats of this stamp,
representing formally or Informally their party
at the East, will exhibit the skill and address
of veteran campaigners at Chicago we do not
mean to imply that they will accomplish large
practical results. 1t would be foolish TO sup
pose that by courage or adroitness or any com
bination Of moral qualities they could wiring
n declaration for sound money, as that express
sion is understood in this part of the country.
out of a free-slver coinage convention. Indeed,
IL seems 10 us dllOStiilti IlbIiophDN ''"' '"''
will be able TO modify the action Of the con
yention in any important particular. There Is
however. one thing that they can do. and MOI
only Democrats of the class that they assume
10 represent but an overwhelming majority of
Republicans also are keenly des'rous, we De
lieve, that they should do IT,
Even more distinctly than Mr. Whitneys re-
cent letter. the Saratoga platform. of which
Grat ,lraf US
the impression of an ardent desire on the part
of those who framed it to find some basis OF
agreement with the majority at Chicago, to
whom II is 10 all ntents and purposes addressed.
Come and let US reason together is its mes
sage TO the delegates who will DO gathering
for the convention week hence. The mood in
which that platform was prepared was n mood
of cancellation tending toward surrendcr-n not
an open, complete acknowledged surrender, OF
course. but a concession of principles which
would be instantly and universally recognized
as such. 1t is from such betrayal as that If
we are not greatly in error as 10 the prevailing
wish and purpose, that those Eastern voters
Of their party whom these Spokesman ostcnsby
represent are praying to be delivered. Mr.. Whit
ney, Senator Hill and other Eastern delegates
cannot really expect to save anything ntrn-
sically worth saving ont Of the Chicago wreck
except their own honor and the respect Of
those in whose name they Will act and speak.
1t will make little practical difference, so far
as the convention Is concerned, and none in the
result of the election, whether they truly or
falsely represent their constituents. Even II
they should be able to effect the compromise
which they apparently have in view. 1t could
not be ratified at the polls and they themselves
would be repudiated. not indeed by the Demo
cratic riffraff in whose opinion principles are
rubbish but by that element to which they are
proclaiming their fidelity. 1t is, however, in
their power to acquit themselves like men, to
speak and act the truth TO which they profess
devotion. and to return victorious in defeat.
That is the one creditable thing they can do.
and that is what honest men of both parties
hope they will do But there is little time left
for the reconstruction Of bad programme and
# anybody-Mr Russell for exampc-has a
substitute for the New York Democratic plat
form, he should produce it without delay.