The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-21
THE PARTY'S OPPORTUNITY.

1t is very plain that dissension over the
| silver question is dividing the Democratic
party quite as much as the question of
slavery did in the campaign of 1860. In
deed, there appears to be more bitterness
of feeling and language than ever before
in the party's history. This comes mainly,
however, from the fact that the party has
no prominent or distinguishing principle
of government to advocate other than the
money question. The Wilson German
tariff act has been so ruinous to the
country's industries and commerce has
suffered so much at the hands of the
Cleveland administration that the party
was bound to hide its incompetence be-
hind some one declaration, and then so
magnify its Importance that the people
would lose sight of other issues.
No doubt the party could present a
formidable front were the rank and file In
| harmony with the leaders On any one of
the leading questions of the hour, but the
leaders themselves are at cross purposes
and the contest for supremacy is acri-
monious and full ofpersonal abuse. They
all are agreed, though, that the tariff as
well as the foreign policy of the admins
tration has been succession of blunders,
and it was hoped for while the party
would agree upon the money ques ton and
then go forward, dwarfing everything to
that issue, and thus win under false pre-
lenses. But as State conventions are held
the fact is revealed that the leaders and
the rank and file are hopelessly divided on
the silver question. The free silver faction
does not hesitate to declare the inten-
ton to bolt the Chicago convention
if the platform does not declare unquali-
fiedly for the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the old ratio without waiting
for international agreement, and the gold
| standard wing is equally determined to
have their way or bolt.
AS a rule the average Democrat can be
| relied upon to wheel into line and support
| the party's nominee whether he likes the
declaration of principles or not, but the
| utter failure of Cleveland and the Con-
gress that went into power with him to
protect the business interests OF the coun-
| try at single point and the commercial
chaos which followed upon the heels of
| the announcement of the administration s
| policy have taught sensible Democrats to
do little thinking for themselves, which
means that they are for principle first and
party last. Western Democrats were never
so determined to have a voice, and q very
loud voice, in shaping the policy of their
| party, and no doubt they will go to the
Chicago convention with a mental reser-
vation to not be bound by Wall-street
platform.
But the Democratic house being divided
| against itself furnishes no excuse for
apathy in the ranks of the Republican
party. Indeed. the fight should be all the
more vigorously pushed. for victory next
November should be so far reaching in
effect that the disorganization of the
Democratic party will be complete. In
| California especially should the Republi-
can party be on the alert, for aside from
the moral effect an overwhelming victory
in this State would have upon the party
| in other States it would give California a
prominence in the National party that her
claims to presentation in the official
family of the next President would be
recognized almost without the asking.
OF course the Democratic party of Cali
fornia will be knocked out all along its
broken and hesitating line, but the mere
scattering of its followers will not satisfy
| the material welfare of the State. Next
November will be the Republican party's
| opportunity.