The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-03
A CRISIS.
Revolutionary Tendencies OF the
Chicago Platform Alarming.

New lOrk Letter III ultdQCiplnd Il .
have been held this week by those who.
without any hope of profit. have agreed
to furnish the federal treasury with gold.
to be understood how far from spon-
taneous. how purely political. and how
thoroughly subservient 70 political ambi-
tons this newly revealed movement has
been.
As a political force it was organized
some two years ago in washington. Its
first incitement. SO far as the politicians
were concerned. came from resentment.
anger. and the desire for revenge which
a group of Democratic senators and some
influential Democrats In the House enter
tanned because of the manner in which Mr..
Cleveland avoided. rebuked and despised
some Of the leading influences In the DEM
ocratic party. t
These men accepted his treatment with
apparent resignation. but they began to
counsel among themselves that they
might determine what would be best to
do. They realized that IL Cleveland had
his way. their influence would be impaired.
many of them would be compelled to re-
turn to private life. They found the ad-
ministration opposing them in their States
and districts. They discovered that a vast
number of Democrats had come to look up
on Cleveland as a man who thought him
self greater than his party and who had
contempt for partisanship.
The panic of 1899 and the business stag
nation which followed II had made the
people, especially in the agricultural dis
trictS. discontinued. and that condition Of
Tered these DlOtterS the opportunity which
they sought. They began with all the arts
of the demagogues TO attempt 10 increase
this discomfort. to embitter those who
were in distress against those who had
possessions. and finding something of an
organization for free silver. used that doc
trine as their chief argument. 1t furnished
them with fine opportunity for just the
sort of oratory which De Quincy says laid
Athens in ruins. They found that their
appeals were well received, and at last had
nfamed a vast number of citizens. who.
when reason was with them. Were as abid-
ing in their faith and loyalty to the gov
eminent az any other one.
They builded even better than they knew.
They fixed nearly a year ago upon Bryan,
who had the peculiar gifts necessary for
the conduct of such a campaign as they
proposed. as their candidate for the presi-
dency. They knew that he would be as
putty in their hands.
Hill understood this only in part until
after he was present at the Chicago con-
~vention. There the whole plot was re-
vealed TO him. partly by his intuitive judg-
ment. and partly by actual knowledge. He
themselves in something of awe at the in
fiuences which they had created and the
strength of them. feeling doubtful of their
ability to restrain them.
Some men who went from this city un-
heralded TO study the Chicago convention
brought back reports Wnieh indicated that
the first stage. which was that of pure
politics. and were evidently contemplating
thas revolution of spoliation which is only
diilAi o6CNeN - - BHotiO ~.
They brought back here reports that the
intensity of the malice which is displayed
toward some sections of the country is
greater than that which is witnessed in
war times. These men contemplate
spoliation by legislation. and when such
course is begun no one can tell where il
will end.
So now. nearly three weeks after the
Chicago convention has made its record.
there begins to be full understanding OF
what it all involves. The Inspirations here
are all toward common and united action.
Ii is not expected that there can be any
Roadway made against a majority of those
who were represented at Chicago and st.
Louis.
The best that can be done is TO stay the
influence. keep 1t within its present lines.
reason with the hesitating and doubling.
expose the naked truth. and show that in
evitably the adoption by legislation of the
: principles named in the allied platforms
begins the overthrow of the American Re-
public. which have been sufficient for more
than one hundred years
Mr.. Whitney has already limited at this
In his letter. In private he says: "Repub-
lican democracy is itself at stake. and IL it
now fails. civilization itself will be al
tered"