Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-15
TT wOuID RE FooI,IsH.


Senator Hill of New York Is quoted as
expressing 1t as his opinion that the con-
test in the democratic convention at Chi
cago Between the single gold standard
advocates and the advocates of the free
coinage of gold and silver will be so close
that in all probability fhe contest from
Nebraska will settle the question as to
which element will predominant. That
is pretty considerable concession for 50
strong an advocate of the gold standard
as Senator Hill has grown to be since the
campaign for the presidential nomination
in 1892 to make. If, perchance, 1t should
develop that Senator Hill is correct in
his estimate of the probable strength. or
the contending factions in the party, Is 1t
at all proba BILE that we will have decla-
ration for the single gold standard by
that convention and nomination in line
with that declaration? Is 1t at all likely
that any democrat who really wants to
see democratic success in November
would contend for a moment that the
democratic convention could afford to
disregard the demands of the democratic
states, and by small majority, composed
Of delegates from non-democratic states,
commit the party to platform ana d
candidate favoring a perpetuation OF the
single gold standard? To ask the ques-
ton is to answer 1t. If the states that
furnish the electoral votes to the demo-
cratic party are to be voted down by the
states that are safely republican, what
are we to expect when the time comes to
send up that electoral vote? Would 1t be
reasonable to suppose that the democrat
10 ,.fx xriT al a action
that on the part of it's convention?
1t appears that Senator Hill, II he really
thinks that when 1t comes to the showing
down of hands in Chicago that there Will
only be few votes difference either way,
and that the supremacy in the eonven-
ton will probably be determined by the
result of a contest from single safe
should frankly admit now that the party
will declare for the free coinage OF gold
and silver. He has exclaimed 4 am
democratr' too often to be willing now
to see the national convention or the par
ty. take such action as he must Know
would leave it without any posslple
chance of success in the November elec-
tions. When nearly or quite every saleiy
democratic state declares for bimetalilsfi,
as they are certainly going to do, II VIII
be time to close the contest INSIDE the
ranks of the party over this question. TO
add the vote of the republican states to
the vote of the doubtful states, and with
them commit the party to principe
against the will and demand of the demo-
cratic states, would be to declare in ao-
vance that the party is getting ready 10
accept defeat in November.
What if the democrats of Maine YER
mont. Rhode Island and Connecticut
should become dspleased with the action
of the national convention and refuse TO
support the ticket? 1t would only IN
crease the republican majorities In those
states. which majorities are already IN
surmountable. The same thing Is appli-
cable to every other republican state. 10
endanger democratic success in nearly
every reliably democratic state in order
to placate the democrats in hopelessly re-
publican states, and possibly make new
York and New Jersey "a little more oouot-
full would be a reckless species OF poll
tics that we are not ready to believe any
democrat who wants to see the party WIN
the next presidential election VIII De
found engaged in when the time to act
oonas