The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-12
A DisnppointinE Debate.

Messrs. Crisp and Smith made a very
fair beginning at Augusta in their joint
discussion, but the promise held out there
that they would conduct a campaign of
education has not been kept. At each sub
sequent meeting the discussion has been
dropped to a lower plane. We cannot
blame Mr. Smith for this. Mr.. Crisp seems
to think that it is of more importance to
him to amuse the people who gather to
hear him and Mr.. Smith than to try to in
struct them, and Mr.. Smith has been
forced, in a great measure, TO follow his
example in order to meet Mr.. Crisp upon
the plane upon which the latter has seen
fit to place the discussion.
As a matter of fact what do the people
care about the Peek letter. which Mr.
Smith wrote a number of years ago, and
in which he favored free silver coinage.
Mr.. Smith doesn't deny he wrote the let
ter. He admits he did, but says that he
now knows much more about the silver
question than he did then. But the fact
that Mr.. Smith favored free silver coin
age a few years ago. and does not favor
it now does not prove that free silver
coinage would be a good thing for the
country.
There are tens of thousands of demo-
Gratis in the state who are sincerely anx-
ious to know all that there is to be said
in behalf of free silver coinage, and they
expected that Mr.. Crisp would help them
reach the truth about silver. 1t is putting
it mildly 10 say they have been greatly
disappointed in him. The thing that seems
to him to be of the utmost importance
is the Peek letter. He Tugs IT into the dis
cussion on all occasions and devotes
large part of every one of his speeches to
it, as if he thought that by showing that
Mr.. Smith has changed his views he
proves that the country would be more
prosperous if our minis were open to free
silver coinage. This Peek letter and tho
personalities he INDUCES in a Mr.. Smiths
expense occupy the bulk of his speeches.
1t is a pity he doesn't recognize that
great responsibility rests upon him in
this matter. He has held very important
public positions, and many people look TO
him to teach them the truth. They have
placed him in positions of great honor and
they have right to expect that he will
do the best he can to show why he enter
tains the views he does on the silver
question.
OF course in every audience there are
many who would rather be amused than
instructed. AS a matter of fact they
haven't the capacity to receive instruction,
but there are others-the great majority
who are eager to learn. They want TO
get the truth, and Mr.. Crisp ought not to
hesitate to tell them his reasons for the
opinions he holds.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Crisp have pretty
nearly finished their discussion, and there
is no hesitation in saying that upon
thoughtful people Mr.. Smith has made
much the better impression. The discus
sion between Mr.. Crisp and Mr.. duBignon
viii soon be begun. We are sure that Mr..
duBignon will do his utmost to instruct
the people-to make them fully under
stand the silver question and its bearings
upon their interests. 1t IS 10 be hoped
that Mr. Crisp will undertake to do the
same thing If he has reasons for his
faith let him give them. The issue is al
together too serious for personalities that
are intended for the amusement of the
crowd.