Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-04-30
silver to be the Issue.

marvellous, something that, at present,
is demonstrably impossible, occurs be-
fore the Democratic National Conven'
ton assemblies in Chicago, the Demo-
cratic candidate for the Presidency will
stand upon an out-and out Is to J. sill
yer free coinage platform and the can
didate will be pronounced friend OF
silver, Bland of Missouri or a man OF
his type, one whose public acts and ut
terances render doubt as to his friendli-
ness toward silver impossible.
South of Maryland down the Allan
tic coast to Florida and thence to Tex
az, including Kentucky and Tennessee
and west of Indiana to the Pacific, ex.
cepting at the most, Wisconsin and Ne.
braska, all this territory, vastly more
than is requisite to control, is to- day,
as surely certain to send free coinage
delegates to Chicago as that Maine will
send Tom Reed delegates to St. Louis
Well, what Of it7
This; the Cleveland wing Of the De.
mocracy, the gold standard East, will
be called upon to make choice between
the free silver candidate of the legiti-
mately organized convention OF the par
ty on the one hand, and one named by a
rump convention Of a minority, boiling.
It is a most interesting situation in
several respects; first, because Of the
surprising strength that the free silver
movement has developed during thepast
three months; it has shown itself able
to rupture the strongest old party ties,
there scarcely day passing that does
not record the utterance Of public men
and of bodies of men in the South and
West, to the effect that they are Demo.
Gratis or Republicans subject to the one
condition that their party shall favor
6lVer 1Teo CoIuake'
Another interesting feature of the
situation is the manifest doubt evinced
by the Eastern Democracy, while they
strive toshow howcon6dent they are that
the gold standard policy of the Cleve'
land administration will be endorsed by
the Chicago convention. They realize
that the sentiment Of good working
majority of the party is against the pol
icy of the administration to-day and will
certainly be found in the same frame OF
mind at Chicago, but they dare not open
ly confess it, being more or less con
fession that the administration no long.
er leads.
Again it is interesting to note the
change that is coming over the spirit Of
the dream of Republican success, erst
while to all so safely and certainly assur
ed, but now no'longer so, due to the
promise of a great poolingof interests
as disturbing to Republican calculations
as it is allowed possible to carry States
in the West, otherwise Republican, but
certainly essential to the success of that
party.
A ticket named by gold standard bolt
ers from the Chicago convention would
not carry three States; on the other hand
it might insure Republican plurality
in States like Maryland and Kentucky
Whom State like Kansas instructs
her delegates to St. Louis for free silver
as she has done, one can better under
stand the fallacy Of the claim that the
silver movement in the West is con6n.
cd to the several silver mining States. II
is q reckless and inconsiderate state.
ment to say that it is at all confined and
when the proclivity Of the American
people to engage at times. almost as one
man, in the uprearing of tidal waves. ia
taken into this account, prophets who
are at all concerned about the style and
fit of their mantle, had best be somewhat
chary in horoscoping defeat to the ell
YER movement.