Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-06-26
lis OUT OF POLITICS
wM. c. WHITNEY SAYS HE rs NOT 4
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY.


and makes his position clear as regards
his decision to rar.ain in this country.
instead of going to Europe, and concludes
by saying that he is not n presidential
possibility; that he would not run v
nominated and would not serve If elect
ed"
The text of the statement is as follows:
Il find IL necessary to make public
statement embodyng my views on the
situation, to correct misconceptions and
save time now occupied in answering
questions. Far too much Importance has
been attached to my decision TO go to
Chicago.
Il have been practically out of politics
for four years. and there are now many
eastern democrats who can do much
more than l can for the party. l shall
not assume any position of leadership.
My decision to stay was simply based On
the duty of every person who believes in
the party and for its principles. to stay
by and lend hts aid and take his chances
when the great crisis is upon the party.
Fundamental differences of principle ex-
list inside the party, marked almost by
sectionalsm.
THE great question to my mind is
whether the party meets in convention
now, as in 1860. with issues and differences
that are for the moment irreconcilabe
For the past 10 years the leaders Of
public opinion in the south and west
have been advocating as the great rem
edy for existing ills the free coinage of
silver at l6 to 1. with or without the CO.
operation of other nations.
1T has come to be believed In by these
men quite generally and conscientiously
A large majority of the delegates to the
coming democratic convention have been
elected by the people for the purpose of
Incorporating that doctrine into the plat
form of the democratic party.
Our people, on the other hand, en-
tirely disagree with these views and be-
lieve almost universally that it will
bring general ruin to the business and
prosperity of the country. 1t is deemed
new doctrine when proposed to be
Incorporated into the platform of the ma
tional democracy. 1t is true that in no
previous platform of the party can 1t
specifically be found Consequently no
party obligations heretofore assumed
oblige them to subscribe to 1t. Under
these circumstances II the results of the
democratic convention should he to cs-
tabish an issue of their campaign, the
free coinage of silver at ratio of l6 to
/, Independent of other nations, in the
intensity of feeling likely to arise. 1t is
to he seriously apprehended that IA dia-
ruption of the party might occur. Ger
tainly no substantial following could be
secured for the doctrine among eastern
democrats. They might not vote the re-
publican ticket for other reasons. believ-
ing that the republican party stands for
the country. but the democrats in the
east, would not. in my opinion, vote for
1t.
This movement for free coinage pur-
ports to have for its object the establish
ment and maintenance of gold and silver
as the money of the country upon equal
terms with each other and at a parity
of purchasing power. If, by the pro-
posed measure. that object could be Sc
cured there would be no substantial dis
agreement in the party. Every national
democratic platform that has heretofore
spoken upon the subject has declared
for both gold and silver money. 1t is
our traditional policy. But the mainten-
ance of the double standard at the pres
ent time is not a question of desire, it
is a question of ability The commercial
markets of the world.
Whatever the causes are, and whoever
is to blame, the fact is that silver has
declined, and free coinage now al 16 to /
is the same our Offering for all the
silver in the world about twice what II is
selling for in the market. International
exchanges have to be paid in gold. and it
would seem plain that if we, under these
mi mi to hn frnn
coinage of silver and gold a: ratio of
comparative value which Is largely at va
rance with the commercial value of the
two metals we must take the entire sill
yer surplus ourselves, maintain its parity
with gold, or else we shall go to q silver
basis
1T Is felt, aside from the absence Of
any democratic principle to sustain it.
that you can not have such a disturbance
of value would come from changing
from a gold to silver basis without such
a shock to confidence, the boarding OF
gold and contraction of our available cir
culating medium as would bring. in the
opinion of our people. the greatest panic
and distress we have ever seen in this
country. The creditor classes are pre-
pared for it. The obligations and mort
cages of railroads and otherwise are quite
generally payable in gold. Debts would
still have to be paid in gold. but wages In
silver. The sufferers, as usual, would be
the poorer classes.
This movement. purporting to be in
the interest of the joint standard, comes
at a most inopportune time. in my opin-
ion. There has never been time when
the prospects of international action ia
yOrable to a Joint standard were at all a g