New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-11
C.y-SrS OE THE DEMOCRATIC WRECK.

CAUSES or THE DEMOCRATIC WRECK.
The silver epidemic runs through the Demo
cratic party like yellow fever through the
Sims Of n tropical city. 1t sweeps not only the
South but the West, and men who have known
the marty longest are nevertheless amazed NJ
the completeness of its seizure. To every can
did observer it is an astonishing evidence OF
the efficacy Of political teaching on different
lines that the Democratic voters are so car
ried away by this fanaticism at the very time
when Republican voters are declaring Tor non
est money and against free coinage in States
where they have never done so before IN the
surface IT is incxpicable that the silver fanat-
icism is as rapidly vanishing among RepuD-
lcans as it is spreading and submerSing every
thing else among Democrats. But there are
natural and sufficient reasons for this remark
able difference. The first of these Is, or course.
that Republican leaders and journals have been
laboring for many years TO teach voters the
necessity of sound money. and the reasons for
the often-repcated refusal Of the party 10 permit
free coinage Of silver But the Democrats have
for thirty wears been constantly teaching that
the Republican, monetary policy was wrongful
and wicked, and was robbing the people. On
both sides all this teaching has borne fruit.
influence to ripen suddenly and ut the same
time such hostile growths. That influence, ana
the underlying cause Of the wreck Of the Demo
cratic party came in the attempt to carry out
its Free-Trade theories, and the consequences
of that attempt The worst disaster for half
n century was enough to set men thinking. and
70 ripen their opinions rapidly The Democratic
voters had been taught all their lives that re-
Of Inf, Of Protection.
be great blessing and could not possibly bring
disaster. They .were thus made incapable of
accepting the true explanation Of financial and
industrial prostration. The idea that the pro-
posal to uproot Protection had precipitated a
panic. and that the partial overthrow OF FRO
tective duties had prevented recovery. was
barred out of their minds Another explaha'
ton was TO them mental necessity. They
were absolutely forced TO conclude that the
silver question was at the bottom Of all trouble
The Dollar Democrats franlcally declared
that agitation for free silver was the cause of
woe. and the Fifty-cent Democrats answered
that refusal Of free coinage was the cause
Each was as certain rs the other that it could
not be the change of tariff which had closed
shops by foreign competition and depressed
prices and thrown mul,ltudcs out OF work. TC
|
What Republican workingmen and farmers saw
at a glance. Democrats in the same towns ant
the same occupations utterly refused to see
Thus they fell TO fighting over free coinage, ant
because there was neither logic nor common
sense in the pretence that fear Of coinage hat
for the first time become pcrniclous and deadly
after coinage had been stopped by the act o
1890. the great majority Of Democrats were lii
.cilx lo al lion
and TO conclude that the limited coinage from
1873 to 1890 had barely deferred disaster whcl
came with accumulated force when even TIT
purchase of silver was stopped In 1S.2
The Republican millions have been taught b.
the very same events that neither limited coin
age nor purchase Of silver did any good an'
that their prosperity rested mainly upon tn
protection Of their industries. With that pro
lection they had money enough and increasing
demand for labor and advancing wages, so tha
every laborer had better chance 10 get rea
dollar and was less likely to be dcludcd int
clamoring for a flfty-cent dollar Perhaps Their
has never before been such rapid and whole
sale education Of mems minds as has resulted
from the victory Of Frec-Trade party and tn
panic which followed. Vast numbers Of Demo
Gratis have been educated Also and are with tn
Republicans to-day In demanding protection 70
their industry as the one thing needful. But tn
greater number who were thoroughly BLINDED
by many years Of error have rushed of to tn
Popust quack doctor for remedy Thus tn
very same series Of events has rapidly destroyed
the silver heresy among Republicans In state
, like Kansas. Nebraska and the Dakotas, an
even Illinois and Michigan which were all car
ried or nearly carried by Popullst tickets o
: ideas less than five years ago, and Mt the sam
time has swept three-quarters OF the Demo
cratic voters over to the Fifty-cent camp.