The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-27
A SPLIT CERTAIN.
The Democratic Party Must Go to
Pieces, Whichever Faction
Wins.
CLETELAND DOOMS IT TO DE-
STRUCTION.

Mr.. Walter Wellman, the we'll
known Washington correspondent OF
The Chicago Times-Herald, writes to
that paper, May "A. very interesting
article from which we make some ex-
tracts. 1t is evident that the cam
paign Of 1896 is to be most extraor-
binary one.
Washington, May 24.-"No compro-
mise at Chicago-fight to the bitter enc, >
is the program of President Cleveland
and the administration. There is talk Of
compromise, of some sort of a straddle
like that of both political parties in 1892,
but 1t does not come from the administra-
tion. President Cleveland's views were
expressed today by member of the cab
met who said:
There can be no compromise on this
question. Either the silver men will con-
troll the convention or we will control it.
If they control it hope they will declare
for free and unlimited coinage at Is to 1.
There is no sense in trying to patch up a
peace by which the people can be fooled
again. Only two things are possible in
our system. We must have the gold
standard with as large a use of silver as
subsidiary money as we can support, or
we must have silver monometallism
without any gold in our currency at all.
If we and our friends obtain control of
the convention we will declare for the
gold standard and the use of silver as
subsidiary money. If the other fellows
get control we hope they will go the full
length and declare for silver monometal-
lism.
'We want no compromise, no juggling,
no straddle. There is no use trying to
keep the party together, as some people
are pleading, unless the party is good for
something after it is held together. The
Democratic party can do no good to the
people of this country by wabbling on the
silver question. If a party has no prin-
ciple to fight for it had better disband, or
go out of business till it gets principle
to stand on. / do not claim to repre-
sent the views of the president, but it is
my opinion that If the party cannot
stand for the gold standard it will be best
for the party and for the country to let
it go over to free and unlimited coinage.
Let the extremists try the experiment be-
fore the people. They will be so badly
whipped that we shall have an end of the
silver craze as dominating force in our
politics. If we give a square test OF the
strength of silver in this years campaign
an ultimate solution of the vexing Ques-
ton will be expedited. The country can
never have peace and confidence until the
silver goblin is laid away in its grave,
and the sooner the better"
"Do you concede that the Chicago con-
yention is to be controlled by the silver
mem" was asked of this member of the
cabinet
II do not" was the reply. "While the
outlook is not bright, the battle is still
on. Our reports from Kentucky, Indi-
ana and Ohio are not discouraging. We
believe we are going to carry those states,
or two of them at least. Illinois appears
to be dominated by local machine,
which suppresses the voice Of the mem
bers of the party. If the Democrats of
Chicago stand on their rights and re-
fuse to submit to such outrageous impo-
sition as that put upon them by the ma
chine, they will do exactly right. II a
man proposes to hold a primary with me
he must give me a chance to vote. II the
Democrats of Illinois stand on their
rights and appeal their case to the ma
tional committee, l believe the national
committee will sustain them. Ii they
have justice on their side they will be
given seats in the temporary organiza-
ton of the convention, just as the gold
Democrats of Nebraska, Colorado and
other states will be seated"
Suppose the silver men obtain control
of the convention, notwithstanding the
national committee, and go for free COIN
age at 16 to l, will there be another Dem
ccratic ticket in the field?"
.No matter which side obtains con-
troll of the convention, believe there will
be two Democratic tickets. The silver
leaders have already threatened to bolt
If they cannot rule. We do not make
threats, but it is obvious that Democrats
who believe free coinage will ruin the
country cannot vote for free silver can
didate for president. Nor do we want to
vote for Mckinley. There seems moth
ing to do but to set up ticket of our
own and give some sound money Demo-
Gratis place to stand on and something
to rally around l have no idea whom
we should nominate in case we find 1t
ne cessary to put ticket in the field. If
this were the presidents first term, am
satisfied he would be willing to run
again, deliberately sacrificing himself
for the country and the party. But the
prejudice against third term changes
the case materially, and I doubt If the
president would be willing to serve. He
would care nothing for defeat if he could
be of any real service to his party and
the nation. But he would be accused Of
possessing an ambition which stops at
nothing, while we, who know him we'll,
know his ambition is satisfied and that
nothing but great sense of duty could
induce him to have anything more to do
with politics"
The foregoing interview indicates very
plainly the purpose of the president and
his followers to fight free silver to the
end. It is well known here that the ad-
ministration plans for using the power OF
the national committee to make the tenn
porary roll of the convention favorable to
the gold standard in case the strength OF
the contending forces is anywhere near
equal. If the silver men carry Ohio, Ken
lucky and Indiana of course there will
be no fight at Chicago. The silver ma
jority will be so large that even the ma
tional committee could not change the
result But the administration men still
hope to control Ohio and Kentucky. They
have both of the Dakotas, and they say
they will have Florida and Washington
IF thew save Kentucky and Ohio they will