The record-union., 1896-06-22
Highest Of IN n Leavenng Powu-Lasex US Govr Repm
R&!A!!!! a. kBsktdes
ABSOLUTELY PURE

its dominating position in Germany this
cause. One of the original organizers
of the Bimetallic League in Germany, he
is entitled to be called one of the leaders
of public opinion in Europe upon this
subject. 1t was upon his motion in the
Frussian Chamber of Deputies that the
position of Germany was modified with
in the last year.
"He expresses the opinion that free
coinage undertaken by the United
States alone would simply end in silver
recommendation and discredit, and put
back the cause of the double standard
the world over.
1T is a question not what we wish,
but what we are able to do A strong
man may undertake task too great
for his strength and break down.
ut cannot be denied that. the feeling
among our people is that this free coin
age by the United States alone will not
give us the gold and silver money at
parity with each other (Which is the
assumption upon which it is under
taken), but will bring to US silver mono
metallism and a change in the standard
of values.
And that change, it is believed,
means immediate ruin to our industries
and no permanent good to anyone. This
feeling is general and intense. Whether
these differences can be reconciled it
is impossible ITO anticipate. The Demo-
cratic party stands for principles desir-
able to be maintained for the good of the
country. Almost any sacrifice might be
asked of Democrats for the sake of the
party and they would cheerfully make
it. But if the delegates from this local
ity should go to that convention and
represent that the rank and file of the
party would follow the lead of the
Southern brethren and vote for the free
coinage of silver by the United States
alone, they would be misrepresenting
the state of public opinion here.
Whether it is so or not, it is consid-
cred a proposition to debase the existing
standard of values. Ard the same feel
ing of indisposition to compromise
with that matter our votes or anything
else is alive and dominant here in our
party as it was found in the Republican
party when it bore down and overpow-
cred the Mckinley machine.
Personally it is my opinion that if
the Democratic party goes on to that
platform this time they will meet the
most disastrous defeat that any party
has ever had in this country. l under
stand that it is honestly believed in,
and people think 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 viii not face the disturbance of
values, the loss Of confidence the gen
eral distress and ruin which would come
to their business interests in such a
change in the standard of value, as
would arise from such action. And it
will, in my opinion, overwhelm the per-
sons who undertake it.
1T ought not to be necessary for me
to say anything of a personal nature.
/ find myself, however, spoken of here
and there as a possible candidate-nOt
very seriously or prominently. but suffi-
GENTLY to attract attention if / should
fail to notice it. 1t sometimes affects
ones influence in cases like the present.
I have no personal motive in entering
this fight. I have said that I would
not be a candidate. I will add, copying
the emphatic language once used by the
lete General Sherman Il think I remem-
Der it correctly, L will not run if nom
mated, nor serve if elected
Il am not foolish enough to suppose
that any Eastern man could be nomi-
rated by this conventiOn-much less
that I could. I sympathize thoroughly
with the feeling in the South that has
caused this uprising, and will find its
expression at Chicago, but as to the
principles which the uprising has
/ 1N<f,1
framed l entirely disagree.
'sWITTTAM c. WHITNEY,"