Evening star., 1896-07-10

Boiling on the part of the sound money
democrats begins very promptly How far
1t will extend remains to be seen. Already
a division appears among those who can
not support the Chicago platform. Some
are going over openly TO Mckinley. while
others. insisting that they are democrats
and that the trainers of the Chicago deliv-
erance have abandoned the party, are i'll
sisting a ticket of their own
1t will take little time for these men to
get their L earrings. Anger and resentment
are uppermo st now. and they are not safe
desirable guides of action Reputation
of the Chicago platform will of course
stand. but the serious question relates 20
how that may be made most effective.
A greater than a party question is in
volved- Sound money democrats see in the
action of the majority at Chicago not only
an offense against democracy. but a men,
ace to the government itself. Which calls
for the prompter consideration? If the
country is ruined. what matters it about
the party? If the country is saved the
party can be reorganized. The country
first. the party afterwards. That. nat i'm
probably. will in the end be the line the
protesting sound money democrats will fol-
low; and so. for this years engagement. a
their way into the republican camp.
The silver republicans are likewise grow
ing FESTIVE. and are Debating the action
most desirable for them to take. In Kan
sas and in several of the northwestern
states clubs have been formed of men who
have never voted any other than the re-
publican ticket who by formal declaration
reject the st. Louis platform. They have
not pledged themselves to the Chicago
nominee. They are waiting for the air to
clear before committing themselves fur
ther.
Then the populists are to be taken into
account. They are to meet in st. Louis on
the 22d in national convention, practically
to pass upon the work at Chicago. 1t ought
to please them in many particulars. 1t
does not go far enough in others. More of
Tillman and less of Jones of Arkansas
would have suited them better. Populism
as at present organized is essentially sec
tional- 1t is attempt to array the great
agricultural interests of the south and
west against the great manufacturing and
commercial interests of the middle states
and the east.
Out of all these elements another ma
ional ticket. and possibly several more
may be evolved. These divisions may con-
tinue, too. until the campaign is well ad-
vanced. But 1t is to be hoped that before
election day arrives there will be a con-
centration of forces which will insure an
emphatic decision at the polls The coun-
try. six months hence. will be in no condi-
ton to sustain result at the polls so
divided and unsatisfactory as to require
the more delicate governmental agencies to
choose and seat the President. The
campaign opens with an almost passionate e
feeling on both sides, and this will be kept
alive and increased by the appeals from the
stump. Very unwisely, as all conservative
men consider. purely business question is
to be made the text for excited and excit-
ing political pleading. But the issue IS
Joined. and the fight must now go on, and
both the silver men and the sound money
men will be called upon to consider the
value of the old maxim, that in union is
strength.