Evening star., 1896-11-07

cumStdnce5 this hight Tor supremacy WOuiu
be deferred until the next convention for
the nomination of a presidential candidate
meets. the result depending upon the change
Of sentiment that takes place during the
next four years. The gold democrats have
no Intention of giving up the struggle TO
control the regular democracy, and 1t Is be-
lieved that before long an effort will be
made looking to calling democratic con-
vention for the purpose OF declaring the
principles of the regular democracy and
forcing other democrats into line. This
cour4e would be a little unusual; but 1t Is
the unusual that has happened In the politi-
cal world lately. and the silver democrats
are thoroughly imbued with the idea that
this move will be made by the gold element
of their party in order to get into shape fo1
1909. They say the gold democrats believe
that when the dampen:ng effect OF de1eat IS
over. al! their sober judgment will favor
the handling of the silver question IN a
conservative manner. especially as 1t Will
be urged that free silver wrecked democrat
ic hopes for four years at least.
Would Have to Take Action.
Silver men would be called to take posi-
tive action were the movement to call
democratic convention put on foot by gold
democrats. They would have to choose be-
tween two courses They would have to go
to work vigorously. elect their delegates
and try to control the convention. or they
would have to regard it as not binding on
the democracy and ignore it. claiming that
they would be on hand al their regular con-
vention for the nozntHation of presiden-
tial ticket. The latter course would prob
ably be adopted. it could hardly be ex-
pected that silver democrats would respond
to a canfrorfs the gold rien of their party.
whom they ,;hold responsible for their
The SpeakershiD Nominee.
When the next Congress meets there will
p, obaby be a tug-of-war over the nomina-
80 b.
which honor h always accorded to a leader
of the minority. The death of ex-Speaker
Crisp makes an open field for the candi-
dates for this honor. and, both the silver
and the gold democrats will make effort
to name the man. 1t Will be considered
great victory for the faction that wins.
though the present Indications are largely
in fayorfof a silver man. Only in the event
that thes .silvsG question should be, crowded
to the background in the democratic party
could the victory be won by gold man or
a conservative bimetallist.
Where the silver Issue VIII Go.
These conditions cause politicians to won
der where the free silver issue will go. If
the gold men get hold OF the party ma
chinery there Is but one, place 4for- It to
land, and that is within the populist party,
where it would be unanimously received
with approval. as that party has always
held the free silver issue as one Of the chief
planks in its platform. The possibility of
this condition existing is giving rise to
much speculation regarding Mr.. Bryan's
political future. OF course he could not
exist as a man of any influence in party
under the control of gold men, and those
who believe that the latter may get hold of
the party machinery of the regular democ-
racy declare that such action could not fail
to force Mr.. Bryan out and into the ranks
of the populists. This result would really
be welcomed by the populists, and Senator
holt of hot cho,,
there have been a three-cornered fight last
Tuesday between the populists, gold demo-
Gratis and republicans with Mr. Bryan as
the presidential nominee of the populists
there would have been a greater vote poll
ed for Bryan and free silver than was the
case. Mr.. Butler argues that the republi-
cans under such an arrangement would not
have got any democratic votes, while more
free silver republicans would have left their
party to espouse the cause of free silver
within the ranks of the populist party
He reaches this conclusion because he
thinks it Is harder for a man to leave his
party and go into the ranks of an old party
which he has long been fighting than to
become a member Of a new party This
same argument would doubtless be made to
Mr. Bryan to induce him to lead the free
silver men in another party should the de-
| mocracy and the republicans both repudi-
ate free silver, and the fact that the popu-
lists have figured so prominently in a ma
tional fusion has done much to give that
organization stability.
.- Probable Republican Action,
Of course, the republican party is strong
er as an organization today than any other
party, when the elements that have SIM
ported Mr.. Bryan are regarded as merely
temporary part Of his strength, which
will be. as in the past an independent eie-
ment in politics. There is a very general
belief that the republicans will promptly
take action with view to giving them the
support of bmetallsts that have stood by
the party Organization and to bring back
into the fold free silver men who support
ed Mr.. Bryan. but who are not at home in
the democratic party because of their ideas
on the tariff. 1t Is not thought that any
suggestion for the coinage of the American
product of silver will receive any material
support by the republicans. but it Is be-
lieved that Mr.. Mckinley will in his first
message,Ito Congress recommend the for
nation ot commission for the advance
ment of international bimetallism, and this
commission will doubtless be appointed In
accordance with the promise held out by
the republican, PLATFORM which pledges that
party toado Aik possible to secure interna-
tional bimetalhsm Radical free silver men
expect no result from the work of such
a commission, sbut there are many repub-
licans who declare their belief that it
might betone successful in securing CO.
action of European countries looking to the
free coinage of silver. In which event thew
express ,thenasalves as perfectly confident
that they would have a walkoyer in the
elections of 1892
Imrs6rtnfrt Changes Possible.
These Yues99ns concerning the possible
developnknts that may determine the fate
of parties In ,dpO0 are freely discussed bv
men of all political faiths, and all agree
that there are large opportunities for very
important changes in political organiza-
tions There is one card however that re-
pubiicans are looking upon as most i'm
portant. If business revives to the degree
Of activity that prevailed in 1890 and is
maintained In healthy condition thew do
| not fear the silver question in 1900, but feel
sure that whatever may be accomplished
on that issue by internatio agreement
or otherwise. they will be sure winners in
1900. for they will simply say the republi-
can party brings good times; therefore. vote
for the republican party and don't bother
about details. But If there should not be
a sufficient revival Of business by the time
of the next national contest over the pres
idency many people will still be examining
political medicine Of all kinds. hoping to get
relief from something of a radical char
Qcter. and q condition of do,hf mill ,ro