Evening star., 1896-07-18

stake. The platform will be a full indorse-
ment of the national platform. but for
candidates, none has appeared for any Of
the offices on the list II Pingree should ba
turned down by the republican convention,
ne would probably be taken up by the DEM
ocrats, and would be sure of the silver con-
vention Endorsement, and also of the popu-
hsts. Barring Pingree the convention will
meet without candidate. and there viii be
as nVeiy combing of the state TO find
them as there was two years ago. when
spencer U. Fisher was finally prevailed upon
to jump into the breach.
win the exception possibly of the first,
eighth, ninth and tenth districts the demo-
cratic congressional candidates will stand
on silver platforms, and the ninth and
tenth are more liable to do so than not A
large majority of the legislative and coun-
ty conventions later in the season will
adopt silver resolutions.
Why Silver is Strong.
1t is easy to understand why the democ-
racy in Michigan should he so thoroughly
fmpresnated with the silver doctrine
Michigan was one Of the banner states for
greenbackism in the days Of Peter Cooper.
The greenbackers polled a vote of over
10000 in this state in 1873, and of y 900 in
1880. Then the democrats and greenbackers
both hopelessly in the minority running
alone against the republicans, fused, and in
lSS2 elected Governor Begole and several
Congressman. The fusion came within
$500 of defeating General Alger in 1884. and
within 1900 of defeating Governor Luce
two years later. The fusion of the two
parues Tor the election of candidates, al
though maintaining distinct organizations
was continued until 1888, and then the
sreenback organization was allowed TO
lapse ana disappear. A large proportion of
the Old greenbackers remained with the
democratic party, and this element is the
backbone OF the silver sentiment In the
democracy today. Many OF the green
packers drifted INTO the republican party
and they are the most earnest of the renub
mean siiverites now. The siiver movement
IN this state is legitimate successor to the
oid greenback movement, and Michigan
useo 10 De the banner greenback state.
BoitGhx Newspaperx.
The financial question is affecting the
political organs in the state as well as the
voters. The Detroit Tribune, long consid-
cred the republican organ of the state, stiIl
supports Mckinley. but it has boted the
republican financial plank, and is advocat-
ing silver.
The Detroit Free Press. which for sixty
years has been the democratic organ of the
state, has bolted both the platform and
ticket of Its party, and announces that
hereafter it will be Independent in politics
The Grand Rapids Democrat, which h was
vociferously for gold up TO two weeks ago,
uiops Hnto ME LOT SILVER and Bryan, al
though II laments that Cleveland was so
emphatically turned down in the national
convention.
The Lansing Journal bolts the democratic
convention action, and the Grand RAPIDS
Herald, republican, is singing low on
Frances, and keeping the tariff TO the front
as an issue.
The smaller republican papers through
the state do not grow enthusiastic i'm sup
port of the republican financial platform
In Difference to their country readers. but
they are supporting the ticket, and declare
the republican party, always right, can lie
depended upon 10 do the right thing in the
present emergency IL restored to power.