The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-06
the Situation at chicago.

The spectacle of Altgeld debating 10
q great National party, which, in his
expectation at least, is going to carry
the next election and become dominant
in American politics, would not be a
very reassuring study for the Fourth OF
July. were it not THAT it serves to bring
out in strong contrast the men and the
forces that the country possesses arrayed
on the side of patriotism and honor ana
In opposition to fraud and anarchy. 1t
Is d blessing of our political system that
ia great crises there is always a large
enough supply Of sane leadership to give
the voters a chance to rally for the
right, while, when the worst comes TO
the worst, the duality of parties gives
the people the means of choosing between
evils.
The situation in Chicago is not with
out its redeeming features. The SPLEEN
did eight being made by David B. Hi,
William c. whitney, Donald NJ. Dickin-
son, Allan L. McDermott and their allies
IN the cause Of sound money is just as
inspiring as the riotous aseendency Of
Altgeld and Tillman is disgusting. A
party which numbers among its chiefs
these able. devoted and courageous
statesmen offers to the nation high SER
vices when ii passes from under the tenn
porary cloud which has settled upon it.
In one of his most recent u~tterances
Mr.. whitney speaks hopefully of the
situation. In a New York morning paper
we find him saying it was obvious that
the silver men had been given a distinct
set-back-that public sentiment had COM
PEELED the silver leaders to abandon some
of their revolutionary tactics. The pro-
posed caucus had failed. The ~aFbrogation
of the two-thirds rule was abandoned.
The scheme Ito reject the National Conn
msttee's choice for chairman had fallen
through, according to the best informa-
ton o~btainable. All these things. sadd
Mr.. whitney. indicated a change Of
4nnss5ant attributable in most part to
the valiant work Of the gold men since
their arrival. backed by purer Democratic
sentiment the country over. Mr.. Whit
ney said it was a step forward which
had not been hoped for on Friday night.
when the situation was gloomy for gold.
He thought the conservative, fair-minded
silver men resented the leadership of
Altgeld. But the conspiracy was still on.
and a graver danger was now to be
fought. and fought lercely. Whitney
said the last desperate hope Of AltgeId and
Tillman was TO use the Committee on
Credentials and to throw out gold dele
gates enough to complete the necessary
two-thirds. This one part of the original
conspiracy was now in progress. In des-
peration the silver leaders had decided
to t~yrannically and u~njustly steal votes
enough to carry out their plans. Mr..
Whitney speaks of the realization of this
scheme as productive of chaos and an
arehy, but he takes it for granted that
his associates in the anti-repudiation
cause would never submit to such a sub
ordination of the country's welfare n
the integrity of the Democratic party"
This is the right kin of talk. We
hould a had more of it in the past.
We should have more of it now. The
bluff and buster of the Altgeld-Tillman
gang have had to give way in many I'M
portant respects before THE force of pub
lie opinion c-ourageously expressed and the
reaolute demeanor Of the real party lead
ers viii have the effect, no doubt. of
forcing the abandonment of all their
most evil designs. In this way, a plat
form and a candidate may be secured
that may be at least tolerated by Demo-
erats. # this is not accomplished. the
leaders Of the Democracy, who have the
good Of the country at heart, should
show that their words are not mere
empty breath. If they act vigorously.
they viii be surprised. themselves, to find
how strong their following is.