The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-02-08

Follower
The silver men are talking again of
q separate party. devoted 10 the one Is
sue of free silver coinage. and declare
that this is the suspicious occasion for
them. II In to be devoutly hoped
that they will tal<e that step without
delay. Some OF them have been called
republicans. IL Ia true. and have sought
and obtained conspicuous places on the
senate and house committees. and In
party organizations as republicans.
who profess to be ready 10 sacrifice
every other interest and thrust aside
every other issue in order to do battle
for free silver. II would be much to
their credit and TO the good OF tho coun-
try II they would cease TO profess any
attachment to republican principles.
which they have not wherever there
IN Office or influence TO be secured by
X. und TO defeat republican principles
tunity. The republican party would
tive support. However useful or
worthy any of them may have been in
the past. the time has really come for
them TO determine and to let the world
know whether they are republicans or
not.
IL doubtless appears to them that
they have a rare opportunity TO draw
away force from other parties. There
In they are probably right. The popu-
list absurdity has made itself SO far Of
fensive and ridiculous in the states
where IL has been tested that multi
tudes are drifting away from that or
ganization. some back 10 their old par
ties, and some into silver movement,
on the ground that there is really moth
ing else that has vitality in the populist
platform. Presumably large part of
the million votes cast for Weaver~Cleve-
land in 1892 would go straight to a sill
yer party, and they would be reinforced
by some republicans and many DEM
ocrats. In well nigh half the states
which remain nominally democratic
1t is extremely doubtful whether q
clear majority of the democratic voters
would not go over to a silver party,
IL there were one.
The idea that the result of the presi-
dental election may depend on the nc.
ton OF the silver men or silver states
is not sustained by any facts at pres.
cnt within the range of human obser-
PATTON. Complete separation of tho
silver or nothing" nssn from the re-
publican party would only strengthen
that party enormously in all the east.
ern and central states. Between tho
Atlantic and the Mississippi. In north
ern states, every one of which was car
ried by the republicans at the last cleo
ton, are chosen 205 electors, not count
ing Maryland, Delaware and West yir-
ginia, which were carried last year,
and choose IL more. Beyond the Mis-
sissippi, Iowa and Minnesota would add
20 votes, not to go further. There Is
not one of these states in which n sep
nration of silver men would tend TO de-
feat the republicans; not one in which
IL would not greatly strengthen them.
III anybody imagines Mat, with such
solid body OF states upholding repub-
lican principles. every state west or
south of these could be carried in an
utterly hopeless fight for free silver.
OF LOT democracy elbncr, ne mas not
much grasp of facts.
"But that sort of division would leave
the republicans a minority in the SEN
ate" II il said. They are in n minority
now. Itwould be extremely helpful TO
them and TO the country to have IL
definitely known that they do not and
cannot control that h.ady. Also. X
would be blessing to know where
some of the senators stand. With a
presidential victory at hand. the diff.
Guilty would be 20 drive away, even
with stones and clubs, oil the men who
really ought TO be got outside the re-
publican lines. so that the country
could no longer hold the republican
party in any way responsible for them.
II they will graciously separate them
selves In advance. so many as are for
Stree silver or nothing" taking their
tin dishes and forming n party of their
own. the republican party and the peo-
pie of the country will know great
deal better whom to elect hereafter
N " Tribune