The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-06-25

chances when great crisis Is upon II.
Differences In tho Party.
''Thcre can be no question but that
great crisis IL upon the democratic party.
Fundamental differences Of principle. exist
inside the party, marked almost by sec
tional lines. The great question to my mind
is whether the party meets In convention
now az in 1880, with issues and differences
that are for tho moment irreconcilable.
For the past IL years leaders Of public opin-
ion in the south and west have been advo-
eating as the great remedy for existing
ILLS the free coinage Of silver at the ratio
OF sixteen to one, with or without tho CO.
operation Of other nations. It has come
to be believed in there quite generally and
conscientiously. A large majority Of the
delegates to the coming democratic con-
vention have been elected by the people for
the purpose Of Incorporating that doctrine
into the platform Of the democratic party.
Views Of Eastern Democrsts.
''Our people. on the other hand. entirely
disagree with these views and believe al
most universally that 1t. will bring general
ruin to the business and prosperity Of the
country. It Is deemed a new doctrine when
proposed to be Incorporated into the plat
form OF the national democracy. It to
party can 1t specifically be found. Conse-
quently no party obligations heretofore
assumed oblige them to subscribe to it.
May Disrupt the Party.
'Under these circumstances, II the re-
suits Of the democratic convention should
be to establish as the issue Of this cam
paign the free coinage OF silver at ratio
Of sixteen to one. Independent Of other
nations, in the intensity Of feeling likely
to arise it is to be seriously apprehended
that q disruption Of the democratic party
might occur. Certainly no substantial fol-
lowing could be secured for the doctrine
among eastern democrats. They might not
sons believing that the republican party
stands for other Issues that are detri-
mental to the country. but the democrats
in the east would not. in my opinion. vots
for 1t.
A Question Of Ability.
'"This movement for free coinage pur-
ports to have for its object the establish
as the money Of the country, upon equal
terms with each other and at a parity Of
purchasing power. II. by the proposed
measure, that object could be secured.
there would be no substantial disagree
ment in the party. Every national demo-
cratic platform that has heretofore spoken
upon the subject has declared for both
gold and silver money. It is our tradition
al policy. But the maintenance Of the
double standard at the present time Is
not q question Of desire: it is q question Of
ability. The commercial value Of silver
has declined greatly in the markets Of the
world. Whatever the causes are and who
ever is to blame, the fact Is that silver has
declined. and free coinage now at sixteen
to one Is the same as our offering for all
the silver In the world about twice what
It Is selling for in the market. Interna-
tional exchanges have to be paid in gold
And 1t would seem plain that II we, under
these conditions. open our minis to free
coinage Of silver and gold at q ratio Of
comparative value which IL largely at
a ASofa1. ~
tho two metals, We must take the entire
silver surplus ourselves and alone MAIN
tain it's parity with gold. Or else we shall
60 to silver basis.
limo II 1nopportune.
Mr.. Whitney refers to the fact that
France closed her ntints against silver In
1878. and abandoned the experiment., DEEM
says Germany. France. Belgium. italy and
Austria bsaieve In double, standard and
desire to establish It: but no one, two or
three OF them deem themselves able to
maintain the double standard. even with
the cooperation Of the United States. He
continues: This movement, purporting
to be in the interest Of the Joint standard,
comes at q most inopportune time, In my
opinion. There has never been a time
when the prospects Of international nc-
at all as promising. as at the present mo-
Ment. But an ill-aevised. unsuecessfuI at
tempt here would discredit the. cause tho
world ever. From the discussion Of the
last. 20 years. It has come to- pass that
among the persons in Europe who are
trained. recognized scientists upon the
monetary and economic questions, scarcely
ono 10 not'at tho present moment advocat-
ing the destrability of the Joint standard
as the real solution Of the monetary diff
dculties Of the world. This includes every
professor engaged in teaching or lecturine
6n these subjects In the luniversitiesao
Great Britain. They are agreed upon the
deslrability of 1t. ana that It is entirely
practicable II established and maintained
by agreement Of the principal commercial
nations. Ets;%f rim s7sgTfstt~,, ~
t4'aa a,WS0ld 19ffng Inlaediets Ruin.
s1tssssuos dId i ithS eaesaine
81 sss Gss ssss sss ssss ss AZ
M the gold and silver money at . parity
With each other (Which IL the assumption
upon which ~ IL .undertaken>. but win