The herald., 1896-08-23
FUSION

Fusion for the sake of offices alone can
never be justifiable. The motive is sell
fish, the object unpatriotic. But fusion
for a patriotic public purpose like that
of securing the free coinagesof silver Is
not only permissible, but duty, and TO
oppose fusion for that purpose is a be-
trayal Of the cause of free silver and a
violation Of duty.
The platforms of the various parties
voice the views of their makers on many
subjects of more or less Importance, but
this year to an extent not known since
slavery was the issue, single question
occupies the public thought All who are
sincere recognize that there is but one
issue. To defeat free silver, free trade
Democrats declare their purpose of vot-
ing with high tariff Republicans for Nc
Kinley. The country is for free silver
and II its friends will also recognize that
free silver is the only issue and work and
vote together 1t will carry, even If not
single new convert shall be made. But
there Is a great peril. The Republican
party is an immense power, it has per-
feet organization. great political wis
dom and experience and unlimited cash.
1t is reinforced by bolting Democrats
and the fears of the very rich of all
parties. United action and the best or
ganization possible on the part of the
opposition will alone save the cause of
free silver from defeat. To secure this
the first thing needed is plan of union
which evidently is fair to all. On such
a plan any friends Of silver who places
the cause first, can. with proper self
respect unite with others to secure its
triumph.
The plan generallS recommended and
already largely acted on is equitable and
will therefore secure united action II car
ried out in patriotic spirit. 1t is that
where several officers of the same kind
to be elected they shall be apportioned
to the Democratic, Populist and free sill
yer parties, according to their vote at
the election four oA two years ago and
that in districts, where only one officer
is to be elected the naming Of the can
didate be given to that party having the
larger vote the fusion to apply to presi-
Dental electors, congressman and sem
ators and assemblymen of the state
legislatures on whose election the choice
of United States senator will depend.
10 put lFCG SllNCl III tiiC oldtutCS us
friends must secure the president and
both houses of congress. AS to all other
officers while each party is to be at lib
erty to do as 1t pleases, yet 1t is expected
thas a fusion on. them will be made to
satisfy the free silver vote in all parties
and secure a cordial union. Presidential
electors apportioned under this rule will,
If elected, vote, each for its own party
candidates; that is Democratic and free
silver party electors for Bryan and
Sewall and Populist electors for Bryan
and Watson. But II to do so would elect
Hobart, then all to vote for either Sewall
or Watson, according as one or the other
has the largest number of votes In all the
electoral colleges which would be known
before that time. This Is perfectly fair
to all. unites all ana does not jeopardize
the final result.
In a county like this. where several
assemblymen are to be elected. they
they should be apportioned to the sew
eral parties on the same principle as the
electors in the state. that is the number
to each party should be proportioned to
its vote.
This arrangement as to electors is
based on the idea that Democrats, Pop
ulists and free sifverites. each had the
same right as the others to nominate a
ce-presidential candidate. Whether
the action of any party in that respect
was wise or not, is not to be now con-
sidered. Each has acted and had an
equal right to act as 1t did. Each vice.
presidential candidate Is, therefore. to
receive the same consideration as the
other. That removes all cause for jeal-
ousy on that point and a great hindrance
to union during the campaign, and yet.
as any one can see, will not interfere
with the desired result in the least. This
| Is one of the most important features of
| the plan.
| The truth is that the three national
committees, those of the Democratic,
| Peoples and Free Silver parties, ought
| to unite in formulating such q plan of
| fusion and in joint address to the coun-
| try urge its adoption. Such action
would help to get free silver voters to-
| gether for the sake of the cause and
| in disregard of the trivial interests of
| candidates and parties.
TuE EHPT ODN IJnDr