New-York tribune., 1896-05-14
sent metropolitan newspapers pretending to
enormous circulation.
THE THREATENED RUPTURE.

1
| The disg,isted Democrat at Washington who
| described in strong words the position OF MS
party. declaring that it had no chance this year
| against any Republican candidate let out q
! feeling which Is likely 10 spoil calculations of
| party leaders on both sides. AS the Chicago
| convention draws near, it will probably be seen
| that no candidate can get the two-tlllrds vote
which will be required for a nomination there
or. if nominated, the electoral vote of many
| Democratic States. except one who is satisfac-
| tory to the silver wing. That does not mean
| this year man who can be persuaded to stand
| on a double-faced platform. as Mr. Cleveland
| did in 1892, because the Democrats in Western
| and Southern States know that in such case
they would be left stranded high and dry by
the great outrush of Democratic voters to the
Popust and silver party. The delegates ana
the men who control them. the Senators and
Congressman and State officers in those States,
would simply bury themselves If they should
try to contend for gold or non-committal can
didate When il IS seen that the Democratic
candidate must be for free silver. or else there
must be II rupture and two candidates with
inevitable defeat, the desire 10 cut loose from
Eastern influence will be greatly intensified.
Men will cry: III we must go down. at least
'let us save our organization anu power in our
Gown States.'
II will make il all the harder for Eastern men
to secure any sort Of concession that they are
confesscdly powerlcss to resist Protection In
their own States, so that they must have a gold
candidate and platform 10 give them a chance.
That argument will be urged with desperation,
but involves a confession that the people are
against them on the tariff question, so that
there is no hope of saving anything by sacri-
ticng Western and Southern States TO the Pop
uliss. The prospect of il Democratic rupture
and the certainty that in any event the full vote
of the party cannot be pollcd for any one can
didatc-at the West for any Wall Street candi-
date or at the East for any candidate satisfac-
tory TO the silver mcn-wlll operate with tre-
mcndous power IN the Republican Convention.
Ii will make many realize that the Republican
cause and candidate are going 10 prevail. no
matter what combinations are made. and that
the power of the Administration and of Con-
grcsS for the next four years will be with the
men who are now supporting Governor McKln-
Icy. They will be able TO dictate the nomlna-
ton in any event. whether it be their first choice
or not, ana the sinking ship of those who raise
the knife to stab the choice of the ma ajority will
be deserted.
If Mr.. Cleveland could BE- supported with a
possibility of election, there are some who might
fear about one or more Eastern States; but these
same men know that practical men of business
are not going to throw away votes or dollars
for any candidate who cannot carry half the
Democratic States. Could an election by the
people be prevented, and the choice be thr~n
into the House, there would still be- the GER
tanty that the present House, which must in
that case end the matter, could by no possibility
be brought to choose any except the Protective
candidate There has been entertained by some
Democrats the notion that they could arrange
Il bargain. by which all Democratic electors
would vote for the one candidate who should
secure the most Democratic votes. But that
would land half the Western aad Southern
Democrats in the Populist camp. and half the
Eastern Democrats In the Republican.
As Democratic delegates are chosen. in one
State after another. 1t will probably be found
that complete rupture can be avoided only by
yielding To the silver men No candidate thus
nominated could take single vote east of Colo
RADIO from the Republicans, who Will therefore
have the less reason 10 care what the silver
States may do. \ platform strong as any
man who * not an assistant Democrat can de-
sire. as strong as The strongest yet framed. could
be adopted in that case with the certainty that
even TWO Democratic tickets and platforms
could not prevent an overwhelming Republican
Success Absolutely nothing except the willing
ness Of Eastern Democrats to support free sill
yer for the sake Of party has made the coinage
question source Of danger. A Democratic
rupture would put an end forever 10 that
wretchcd and dishonoring alliance and settle
the question for both parties