The record-union., 1896-07-18
Sound Money Men Must Nominate an
Independent Ticket.
Personally the Nominees of the Chi
CagO Convention Are Good Men,
But the Platform is MOnstrOus-
1t Not Only neans Reputation
and Spoliation, But is an Open
Door to Revolution.

NEW 1OIlh, July la pdlCn "
the Herald" from Geneva says: Colonel
Henry Watterson, who is sojourning
with his family at Geneva, was inter
viewed by the correspondent of the
Herald touching the Democratic
crisis in the United States. Colonel Wat
terson has sought the seclusion of the
Swiss mountains, not merely for recrea-
ton and rest, but for the purpose of
completing the life of Abraham Lin
coin, on which he has been engaged for
some time.
For more than a year." said Colonel
Watter-on, II have been out of active
politics, and on that account I have de-
clined to be drawn into the discussion of
public matters and into exposing myself
to criticisms and responsibilities which
could not be met. You see 1 am not used
to taking blows without giving them, in
controversial combat, and / am 10th to
put myself at a disadvantage in this re-
gard But the condition of affairs at
home is too serious to justify the silence
Of any man whose opinions may be de-
sired
What is it you particularly wish me
to speak OFF,"
First, the ticket nominated at Chi
cago'
Personally, it is an unexceptionable
ticket. Mr.. Bryan is a most worthy and
well educated young man, with a talent
for what passes as oratory. He is fer
vid, sincere, poor and honest. Mr.. Sew
all is Democrat of long standing and
credit. He is millionaire from Maine
who, having nothing to lose politically,
thinks he can afford to crafty caprice
and amuses himself by playing with
Populism. 1t is a ticket that may be
made to rouse a good deal of enthusi-
asn, both real and artificial"
And the PLATFORM"
"Monstrous. 1t only means national
reputation and spoliation, but is an
open door to revolution. If the leaders
Of this movement could come into power
those of them who have any sense Of ac-
countaJbility and conception of orderly
government would be quickly set aside
by the wild elements behind In this way
civil war, as foreshadowed by the Chi
cago outbreaks last year, could be pre-
cipitated upon the country. Then the
strong hand of the Federal power was
interposed, but if this were withheld the
reign of the mob would be easy enough"
Democratic ticket in the field?"
You will observe" said Colonel Wat
terson, slowly weighing and measuring
what he said, that those who are so
quick to urge the concentration of all
sound-money men upon Mckinley are
either Republicans who naturally seek
TO swell their party ranks by such an
unexpected accession or those Demo-
Gratis who, from a sense Of sheer outrage
and disgust, leap at conclusions, not
caring to take two bites a a cherry. But
there are considerations which neither
class takes into account. There are
from two to four millions of stanch
Democrats who may not be so easily
transferred from one party to the other,
yet whose votes can be made just as eff
fective in suppressing anarchy as the
votes of those Republicans who directly
support Mckinley. These Democrats
must have some abiding place. They
cannot find it under a flag of which one
half of it is for sound money and the
other half for protection. Mr.. Mckinley
cannot compromise an issue which he
has made the cornerstone of his politi-
cal belief. 1t is true that the money
issue, not the tariff issue, is in the as
cendant now, but there must be logical
consistency in all things, and neither
Mckinley nor his party can ignore tariff
pledges without disqualification.
Hence a new Democratic convention
with another Democratic ticket, and di-
rected by wise counSels, is the sole hope
of the Democratic future, and would be
the one refuge for those Democrats who
have nowhere else to go. Failure to re-
spect the convictions and demands Of
these Democrats will be in the highest
degree unsafe AS between Mr. Nc
Kinley and Mr.. Bryan, in the final out
come Mr.. Bryan would probably get as
many of these votes as Mr.. Mckinley
while many would refuse to go the polls,
get them ALL Thus after the election
the opposition may be organized on a
sound basis and not relegated to the
wild horses of Populism for three years
more of ruinous agitation with another
life or death struggle at the end of them
'It is not certain that a ticket headed
by Carlisle or Whitney and placed upon
a real Democratic platform would not
get more votes than the ticket headed
by Mr.. Bryan. Such q ticket would not
imperil the result, but would secure it.
The complete disintegration of the
Democratic party is an event to be
contemplated by thoughtful persons
only with forebodings of evil"