Evening star., 1896-11-11
Future of the Silver Movement.

The national democrats have decided to
keep up their present organization, and tire
republicans are considering the advisa-
bility of continuing their present execu-
tive committee arrangements. And this
is in response to the declared purpose of
the silver men to continue their activity
and put Mr.. Bryan forward again in 1900.
The silver program. however diligently
adhered to- will be subject to many risks.
Except to silver enthusiasts. it cannot
hold out the pleasing prospect of sure
thing Those enthusiasts, it Is easily to
pc seen, are building on the confidence of
being able TO hold fast to all that they
demonstrated the possession of on the
Sd instant. and of being able 10 add TO
it by four years of unceasing and success
full labor Their present foundatiol. they
are persuading themselves. will admit of
the rearing of great pile. But it may
not. The chances are. indeed. that it will
not.
The strength of silver when the recent
campaign opened was the result of a one
sided effort. Nobody had been resisting
silver The friends of the white metal
had gone about preac hing their doctrine
without opposition or reply. Clubs We're
organized. literature distributed and lee
lures delivered throughout the whole of
the south and west and northwest. Dur
ing all this time the republicans were TAX
ing the temper OF the people the tariff
issue. and feeling assured OF national sue
cess by the responses received. The only
Interpretation put by them the 'csuts
of the elections held in 1891 and in 1S!t5,
when they swept the country. was that a
demand for return of the policy cf proIec-
tion was Imperative
extent of their organization stood revealed,
and the organization was so formidable
it had to be met on it's own ground. The
republicans. therefore. after preparing for
battle on one issue were Obliged to face
about and meet the enemy on another is
sue They did not hesitate. and the sue
cess with which their efforts were crowned
in the end due in large measure to
the courage and skill they exhibited in
executing this maneuver. Silver lost from
the very day it was seriously tackled. The
arguments that had sufficed to bring dis
contented men by the thousands into sill
yer clubs We're inadequate to keep them
there as against the arguments when pre-
sented of the other side AS soon as the
full meaning of silver coinage AT IL to l
was grasped by the people they rejected
the proposition. Only in those states where
silver mines are found did silvar's majori-
ties when the test of election day came
realize in their size the claims and ex-
pectations of the silver men.
From this time forward silver will not
be permitted TO run a cat-footed course.
Its movements will be noted, and prompt
ly met, by the friends of sound money.
Never again will the country be called
upon practically at a moments notice to
meet the silver men on grounds of heir
own choosing.
So far as Mr.. Bryan is concerned he en-
ters upon period of serious trial Whether
his party will remain as deeply enamored
of him il is at present is a question.
1t was a case of love at first sight-a sort
of runaway match. The democracy was
unable 10 resist the suit of ardent and
eloquent a man. Now come the realities.
so to speak How will she enjoy living on
crusts with him for four years? How will
he wear in the everyday companionship?