The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-05-08
THE PARTIES AND FINANCE.


The statement has been made that
in the election of delegates to the ma
tional Democratic convention, that of
those so far elected, the silverites
have a majority. According to a
table which the Sioux City Journal
gives the anti-silver Democrats are far
in the lead. Exclusive of Nebraska.
where both wings have elected dele
gates, the free silverites have elected
81 delegates and the anti-silverites
130 delegates. Giving Nebraska to
the free silverites the ants have 20
majority, and allowing them Nebras
ka they have majority of 50.
Ten days ago it was thought the
free silverites could control the con-
vention without any trouble. 1t is
| by no means certain but that they will
yet, but it is noticeable that the
sound money Democrats are possessed
Of much more courage than they were
before the Michigan convention. and
there is stronger disposition to make
a great fight to overcome the
strength of the silverites. At present
it looks as though whichever element
controlled the convention, it would
! be by a.narrow majority, and there
may be enough doubtful delegates to
cause a Straddle on the money
question. but it looks as though the
declaration would be very decided
for or against free silver.
If the sound money Democrats win,
there will in all probability be split
in the ranks of that party, as there
is large free silver element that
| will not follow the fortunes of the
| Cleveland wing. On the other hand
! it does not seem to he SO sure that
split would ensue should the silver
| ties win. In such an event thou
sands of Democrats throughout the
north and east would vote the Repub-
lican ticket, and many more will not
vote at all.
From political point of view, the
Republicans could ask for nothing
better than that the Democrats in
their national convention declare for
free silver. But the Republicans have
the lead, no matter what the Demo
Gratis decide to do, and there is no
question but that the best interests
of the country would be greatly ad-
vanced by sound money declaration
at Chicago. There is no longer any
question as to what the Republicans
will do at St. Louis. The declaration
there will be a plain, straight-fOr-
ward utterance for sound finance and
against the free coinage of silver by
this country alone. So far as this
country is concerned it will as gen.
eral thing give the people confidence
as to what the end will be, and will
do much toward securing return Of
confidence in business circles. But
silver declaration at Chicago will
initiate against return of confidence
to considerable extent, because it will
raise question in the minds of some
as to wheather there will not be
chance for that element to win.
A prominent business man in this
city, who has recently been in the east
stated to the FREE PRESS a few days
ago, that there was any amount of
idle capital in Europe ready to seek
investment in this country, but it
would not come here until after the
conventions of the two great parties
are held, and should Democracy pro-
nounce for free silver or straddle the
question, it will not come until after
the election, and not then if the vic
tory is not decisive one for sound
money They do not understand the
situation, here, and the Democracy
now being in power, they think that
the chances are equally good for it's
being continued. With both parties
declaring for sound money and the
great chances which the people look
upon the return to power of the
party of protection, there would be a
great improvement in the industrial
and commercial situation in the early
fall.
OF course, viewed in the light Of
Democratic action during the past
three years, a sound money declara
tion by Democracy would not really be
worth much, as the party of itself
could not carry it out, any more than
it was able to redeem the pledges it
made in 1892. But there would be a
general effect from it, that would be
far the best, and as this will be Re
publican year, that party will see that
the wishes of the. people are fully
carried out. ~,
WITH the invincible lead which