The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-25

encouraging. and II we can hold the party
true to Its principles at Chicago we will
give the republicans a lively race In the
ensuing campaign"
Leading democrats ind encouragement
in the nature OF the tangle In which the
republican party finds Itself In the senate.
AZ was some time ago announced In these
dispatches, the republicans appear too linz
potent TO effect protection legislation with
out yielding to the demands OF the silver
men. Great Significance Is attached to the
conference which took place in this city
yesterday between score or more OF
manufacturers from Pennsylvania and the
FREQ silver republicans from the far West.
The manufacturers wanted to know why
the republicans OF the senate could not
pass the tarir bill which IL pending. and
they were very plainly told by Senator
Dubois. as tho spokesman of the silver
wing of the party that neither now nor at
any other time could a protection measure
be passed through the senate unless free
silver were linked with 1t.
FREE SILVER OR NOTHING.
mo free silver no protection" said
Senator Dubois to the mannfacturers' COM
mitteo; neither now nor at any time dur
Ing the next ton years We have sixteen
senators pledged to this policy. At TIE
present time It is not necessary for moro
than half dozen OF us to show our hands.
but there are plenty OF others. Some of
VIZ may be beaten for reelection. but that
will make no difference. Our SUCCESSORS
will be silver men, whether republicans.
populists or democrats, ana pledged to the
same policy"
That this speech expresses fully and adc-
quately the silver programme In the United
States senate there can be no doubt Nor
Us there any doubt that Il constitutes a
most serious menace to republican success
after 1t shall come into power, II II Is to
carry the coming elections. What tho
democrats are Interested In Is the possible
lily of republican surrender to the demands
of the silver men, While they are not
able to make even themselves believe such
"a surrcndor Is probable. they do believe
tho idea OF linking silver and protection
VIII grow and assume an ever-increas,nE
Importance, and that the country ere many
months have passed win become thorough
ly alarmed at the outlook II the success
of ppublici,niAm Is to threaten the success
| of silver also. rcpublicanism may not sue
coed ut ALL AZ the very least. think tho
democrats. the people viii he very tlmli
about entrusting the government to IL
| party which Ia dominated by silver wing,
To which IL may bo compelled to surrender
| it's most cherished policy.
PLEASED BY REPUBLICAN STRIFE.
| The democratic leaders also take courage
from the bitterness which Is appearing In
The republican campaign for the presi-
| Dental nomination. they point to the
charges which senator Chandler has made
| against the managers of the Mckinley
movement as evidence that the strife In
that party IL becoming so desperate as TO
| threaten another factionnl split like that
| which divided their ranks Into stalwarts
and h.llf-brccds Il dozen years ago. and
opened the way for the first election of
| Cleveland. The democratic leaders do not
!
their eaEernoss to get at one another Ia
| the preliminary contest for the nomina-
| ton, manufacturing abundant and effect
| I've campaign material for the use OF the
democratic party later on--material which
| during the last few days has been mndp
to do duty IN tho defsnse of Ambassadors
| Rayar1 IN the house debate.
| For all these and many more reasons tho
| democratic leaders here arc taking cour-
| age
The administration IL Itself striving to
make a record which will help the party
| In the coming struggle. To a successful
termination Of tho Venezuela episode. with
| nnHl ana eternal sstablish'uent OF tho
| Monroe doctrine is TO be added. without
| much doubt, an Intervention in behalf OF
| Cubn which Will please II vast majority or
tho American people.
POLICY. NOT MEN, THE: ISSUE.
The question which the democrats now
OF men. There are reasons for believing
| that President Cleveland would some time
| ago have made public "A letter declining to
| be candidate for tho nomination. had 1t
| not been thought that his silence might
| help the effort TO secure majority for
! sound money In tho convention. For tho
| same reason. Il is believed. semi -aut hurta-
| tive announce ,ncnt was made a short timo
| ago OF the candidacy OF Secretary Car
| Isle. Mr. Carlisle was formerly IN close
touch with the silver men Of tho West and
| South. a few of them have followed his
| leadership from conservative advocacy OF
| s'lVer TO an aVowcd opposition 10 indepcnd-
! cnt FREQ coinage. IT was thought his name
! might hc tsod 10 cleave the nodernt ele-
| monts which IRE favorable to silver at
trnctIng the more reasonable aud inducing
| them to consent to such n programmes -
that which the president has outlined. IL
| was also believed the candidacy of MIR.
| Carlisle might help TO win strength away
from Colonel Morrison, who, though a
sound money man himself, Is diatrusted by
tho administration for rcascn ms already out
lined In these columns. The administra-
ton is opposed 10 the nomination OF Mr..
Morrison, not decmlng him a safe leader
on the currency, because his associates
and surroundings are altogether too closely
identified with free sllvorism. The fear OF
the president Is that the pcace-at- any-pricc
democrats will hold the balance OF power
In the Chicago convention and dictate a
compromise platform. and tho nomination
| OF "A compromise candidate 1t is under
stood hero that the Morrison programme IL
essentially one of harmony, even ut the
sacrifice OF frankness.
| -