Evening star., 1896-03-02
Mr.. WHlTNEY'S LETTER
Short, as It Was It May Still Accomplish
Something.
He May Prove to BE q Harmonfxer-He
10 Considered Different From
Mr. Cleveland.

Mr.. Whitney's reply to those Mississippi
legislators who signed a call requesting
the use Of his name in connection with the
presiden sal nomination at Chicago does not
cover all Of the ground the boomers had
in view when the movement was inaugu-
rated. The original Intention, as has al
ready been told in The Star. was to Sc
cure letter from Mr.. Whitney going at
Some length into the whcle subject of the
democracy's present embarra ssments and
suggesting in general terms line for re-
union.
But the boomers confined themselves too
much to one Questicn-the silver question
and either through ignorance of Mr.. Whit
ney's real attitude or through an excess of
zeal in prosecuting their work put him i'm
a wrong light They made him appear as
a friend Of free coinage I'm the contention
as it now stands. instead Of an advocate of
himetalfsm through the agency OF inter
national agreement. There was but one
thing to do therefore, ana that Mr. Whit
ney has done. He could not afford to be
n.isrepreseflted. even rnintentionally on SO
important proposition, and SO he has ad-
dressed himself in his communica ton to
setting himself right, not only before his
southern admirers. but the whole country.
- f'rN May Accomplish Something.
But, short as it is. and silent as to several
leading topics. the letter is regarded as an
impo rtant one, and likely to accomplish
mething. For one thing. 1t Is thought to
take Mr.. Whitney olt of the Cleveland COL
umn, 50 to speak. and insure him a hearing
among certain democrats who ordinarily
appear unwilling to heed any financial sug-
geStlon that comes from the east. A friend
ly word for bimetallism, although coupled
with the old condition of an international
agreement. uttered by man of Mr.. Whit
ney's environment is welcomed by conser-
bap
serves Ihey promise 10 give ii Tide cir
culati0n. and they predict that 1t will serve
10 soften some Of the asrerites that have
sprung from a growing conviction in the
south that gold. and gold only is the east
"rn financial creed.
Whitney May Prove "a HnrmonIzer.
A prominent democrat, friendly to silver
IN discussing this point with a representa-
tive of The Star today, said:
a.. Mr., Whitney may prove to he a har-
monizer. I'm sure l trust he may This
letter, at any rate, has good ring The
answer to 1t on the part of the extreme men
fs, Oh, Mr.. Whitney may mean we'll but
we've mad enough talk about an interna-
tionaI agreement The trouble is that We
can't get an international agreement East
ern men. democrats and republicans alike
are not only opposed to free coinage with
ou. oue an International agreement, hut .hey
are really. opposed to such an agreement
ihey throw their influence solidiy against
II whenever the proposition begins to take
shape. MI Whitney, personally, may be
rounded as he Is by none but gold mono
metallic influences. he is powerless. and
would be poweriesS to help silver even in
.he fresiasnts chair He would be more
imam ever surrounded there by New York
influences, and they would shape his policy
Difference Between Him and Clexe-
land.
nat is not my view of the matter" said
this democratic leader. Il can See a differ
ence between Mr.. Whitney and Mr.. Cleve-
lana on this money ques ton. Mr. Cleve-
land 49, In my Judgment, gold monometal-
hst. he Is in full agreement with Mr.. Sher-
r All. He would reduce silver to the condi
non OF subsidiary coin. and keep it there.
M nu. s1en ms IS hot the proposition of Mr.. Whit
ney 1 take him to lie a bimetallis of the
rignt stripe. and l believe he desires to pro-
1,lote an arrangement by which silver may
perform larger ses in our financial system
L would vote for MIN for President"
But he declines TO allow his name tn ba
rsed, was suggested.
We'll that ought to give his letter all the
more weight l think he is sincere / don't
think he has any selfish object in view"
IF he succeeds as harmonizer may nor
the Chicago convention nominate him any
how?'' '
No Drafted Candidate
ON, no. That would be bad policy If the
convention should be reduced to the neces-
sity of choosing between drafting a candt-
date or making no nomination at all. the
latter would be the wiser act of the two. A
drafted candidate for the presidency is the
most pathetic object in the world Horatio
Seymour was placed in that most embar-
Iassing attitude, and the democratic cam
palgn that year was all but a farce Mr.
VI hitney, you may he sure. will not permit
himself to be forced into the playing of any
such role. But no drafting will he necessary
at Chicago. There'll be avowed candidates
be taken"