The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-30
LITTLE HOPE FOR SILVER.


better claim to be clasSed as the free
coinage party than the Democrats. 1t
is true that along with many vagaTies
some Of which they have dropped, they
have been consistently for free coinage.
1t is true the Democrats have never in
| dOrSed free coinage at the ratio Of 16
to 1 in any national convention. II is
true the Democrats have about four
times as many votes as the PopulistS.
1t is true that the PopuliSts have
| agreed among themselves 10 have a
little more sense than usual and to
throw aside temporarily, the rest of
their vagarieS and espouse the cause
of free silver. 1t is true that the
would-be leaders have proposed free
silver Republican Teller for the presi-
/ dency. These things being true and
the Democrats having no more show
TO elect president, without the aid Of
POpulists, than the goldbugs have Of
carrying Colorado, it would seem but
| plausible to expect that the Democrats
| would yield point in favor of Teller.
| But they will not do it. They will in
| sist since they have about six mil
lion votes, that Mahomet shall come
! TO the mountain.
While it is true that the Democrats
have the more votes the Populists have
| the best record on the silver question.
| The record in both cases being a mat
! ter of words. of course the Populists
have the advantage, for if the Populists
are noted for anything it is vOlubility.
Besides 1t is not that the PopuliSts
bave had free coinage in their state
and national platforms while the Dem
ocrats have never as yet had the unlim-
tied free coinage of silver in a na-
tional platform. Since the Democrats
have the advantage in numbers and the
POpuliStS the advantage in fervor. it
becomes a question whether numbers
or fervor shall count for most in de-
termining whether the Democrats shall
go to the Populists or the Populists TO
the Democrats on this cOinge question.
The Populists are willing TO put aside
for the time being a lot of burning
issues" and take up the cause of silver
only. This ought to satisfy the Demo
Gratis. But Will it? VIII the Demo
Gratis drop a lot of vital issues which
IT has been unSucceSSfully urging upon
! the American people for thirty-five
years and eSQouSe the cause OF silver
only?
The chances are the Democrats and
Populists will make promises like the
prayers of the PhariSee and there the
matter will end. The Democratic party
can hardly mean sincerely to be for free
silver The Populists who so volum-
inCusly portray so many dangers from
SO many sources, can hardly be expect
ed TO sheathe their sword and leave
the plutOcratic bastileS unattached
while they go after the milk and
water" issues of free coinage. which
would only be a step in the great
monetary reforms Tor revolutions con-
tended for by this political aggregation.
It would be an awful responsibility If |
the Democrats should find themselves |
with free silver president and CON
greSS. They are not looking for this. /
II by some chance they should get the I
president. that they might have a new I
Democratic deal on the Offices. that I
would be about their size. Wherefore |
the nomination of Mr.. Teller who has
a quasi PopuliSt Endorsement. is about .
as likely as the nomination of Mr.. |
Cleveland, who doesn't have such in ]
dorsemenL The nominee will prob {
ably be a gentleman OF the Democratic
trade mark, that hungry Democrats
may be fed at the public pie counter.
The hopes for free silver by the union
Of silver forces when it contemplates
the union Of Democracy and PUpuliSm.
are a little gloomy. The POpulists have
said al along that the things dearest
10 them could never be attained with
out the destruction of one or both of the
old parties. Just now the thing chief
in their minds i the destruction Of one
OF the old parties. Then viii come sill
yer, 80 dollars per capita, = per cent
loans nG-plutOcracy, the political mil
lennium- Can they destroy the Re
publican party? Not this year. Can
they destroy the Democratic partv:
Possibly. How: BY the nomination
Of Teller. a Republican indnrsed by
PopuliSts. In case Of election il would
not be Democratic victory; in case
Of defeat il would be the ruin Of Dem
ocracy. On the other hand il the Ponu-
iiSJS indOrSe man Ike Bland. silver
though he BE-, his election would in
VoiVe the eternal ruin OF the PopuliSt
party. They would raise u power
party and elect 4 man the eternal
enemy Of Populist principles and pur-
poses on al questions save that Of coin
age. which Is but step in the direction
Of monetary reform
There * but one possibility Of uniting
the silver forces and that step viii not
be taken The nominee cannot be a
Democrat whose election means Popu-
list DETERMINATION lie must De
man whose Success does not mean the
enThronement OF the DEMOCRACY
Traditional enemy Of all the pzternal-
Isle doctrines Of the PopuItsts. TIE
contact OF PopuhSm with southern
Democracy has emphasized the fact
that Democracy and Po2uIisn cannot