The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-04-10

Raymond e. Dodge, statistician for
the republican national committee,
has just completed a careful analysis
OF the probable silver strength in the
next democratic national convention.
He estimates that the free coinage wing
will have at least 100 majority. This
would enable the silver men to frame
the platform, but they would lack the
requisite strength to name the candi-
dates. In the democratic convention
1t takes two-thirds to nominate, and If
the estimates of Mr.. Dodge are correct,
and the gold men stand firm, they can
absolutely block a nomination. That
they will stand firm is almost certain.
The influences behind goldite 'politi-
clans are of such a character that they
seldom weaken. The power which
makes them. absolutely controls their
actions. The gold power is one that is
! thoroughly organized, it knows no
party fealty, and in the eastern states,
particularly, very few public men care
! to defy it.
Should the silver men absolutely
dominate the convention there is
scarcely a doubt that the gold standard
democrats would refuse to support the
ticket
The action of the cuckoo democrats
in the Kentucky legislature is conclu-
sive evidence that when the master
| speaks they obey
Kentucky democracy has always been
true to the silver cause. Until within
the last year there has never been a
shadow Of a doubt that Kentucky was
free silver state. But the malign in
fluence Of Cleveland and Carlisle.
backed by the money power of Wall
street, has done its work. We now
find small contingent of that party in
the legislature. masquorading as Sound
money" men, and stubbornly refusing
to support the regular nominee, Senator
Blackburn. That gentleman's democ-
he has guarded the interests Of his con-
stituents with rare fidelity. Up to the
very moment Of Mr.. Cleveland's cleo
ton, Blackburn and Carlisle were ap-
parently perfectly agreed on the silver
question, and their votes were cast on
the same side. Now we find q few dem
ocrats CD in the legislature oposing his
reelection, because, forsooth, he stands
on the money question precisely where
he has always stood, and where Mr..
Carlisle seemed to stand, until certain
occult influences caused him to change.
If goldite democrats in Kentucky will
thus stultify themselves, it is safe TO
conclude that the same class Of men in
the national convention of that party
will do likewise, and refuse to support
n silver candidate on silver platform.
But Mr.. Dodge suggests a compro-
mise, the silver men taking the plat
form, and the gold men the candidate.
This would substantially be the case
Of 1892 right over. More aptly, the
rituation would be expressed by the old
sag, the law to the north and the mig
ger to the SOUTH
silver platform with gold candi-
date would be the worst thing that
could happen.
Hundreds Of thousands OF silver dem
ocratG would be deluded into support
ing the ticket. and even ii successful.
no legislation in the interest Of silver
could possibly be had.
But such a combination could not
win. Not silver man outside the
democratic party would support it, large
numbers OF silver democrats would re-
fuse to be duped and the party would
be buried out of sight
Nothing would please republican
leaders better than for the democrats
to name a gold candidate on d silver
platform.
Such combination, though, is hard
ly probable.
The incongruity is too great. No gold
standardist with any self respect
could accept a nomination on a straight
out silver platform. Some qualifying
phrase would have TO go in. and that
would mean gold.
Silver Democrats will DO we'll to view
the situation with the closest care. 1t
is as pain as light itself that they can
not carry the country for free trade
or tariff reform in 1896, but they can |
make combinations by which they can
win on the great question of monetary |
reform. Will they be wise?