The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-05-08
THE DEMOCRATS AND SOUND
MONEY.

THE pEMO(bAlo AM SCC@NN
MONEY.
For some time after the failure OF the
Democrats OF Alabama to declare in IA
vor Of sound financial policy, the ap-
prehension was very general that most
n not all the Southern states would fol-
low Alabama. and by uniting with the
Western states dominate the Democratic
national convention at Chicago and
plunge 1t into the hopeless mire OF cheap
money. While the action OF the Demo-
craft. convention may be OF little mo-
ment in shaping the results OF the ma
tional campaign, the action OF the party
on the question OF sound money is of
supreme moment to the party and of
material Importance te the nation.
II the Chicago convention shall declare
IN favor of free silver coinage, and thus
strike blow at the public and private
credit OF the nation, 1t would simply
end the history OF the Democracy with
one of the most overwhelming and dis
graceful defeats in our political annals
There could be no Democratic marty
thereafter. for no party can hope TO live
that is not thoroughly devoted TO sound
money and the scrupulous maintenance
Of national credit II it shall declare
for sound money with distinctness. 1t
matters not how few electoral ovtes ifs
candidates may command, or how large
a majority may be against it on the pop
ular vote because OF conditions for which
the party in power is not responsible,
the Democrats would fall with honor and
have a hopeful future Their party
would remain TO be in turn the party OF
power and the great conservative force
when the Republicans administer the
government.
The eveEts OF the last week give rea-
sonable promise that the Democratic ma
tional convention may be rescued from
the control OF the cheap money craze.
The bold. outspoken stand taken by the
Democratic state convention in Michi-
gan indicates a great revolution in the
Northwest in favor OF a sound financial
policy. Hitherto Michigan has been
committed to the cheap money folly. In
fits last state convention the platform
had but a single plank, and that was
for the free coinage Of silver on the
basis Of l6 TO !. The fact that the party
was defeated by the largest majority
ever given in the history OF the state,
probably did much to recall the silver
demagogues to more sensible view OF
the issue. With Michigan declaring in
favor Of sound money there is every rea-
son to expect that the Democrats of
Minnesota will follow, and Wisconsin is
not now in any sense doubtful.
Another movement made in Nebraska
by the sound money Democrats is pecu-
liarly significant at this time They have
held a sound money Democratic state
convention, in opposition to the free sill
yer convention held recently, declaring
squarely for the maintenance Of the gold
standard OF value, and elected a full dele
CATION to the national convention. II the
sound money delegates control that body
they would certainly admit the sound
money men from Nebraska as the only
representatives of Democracy. The fact
that the Republicans turned down the
free silver craze in recent state conven-
tIons in South Dakota, Nebraska and
Tennessee, three hitherto strong silver
states, shows that the people are study
ing the money question outside Of the
blatant harangues OF demagogues, and
that they are rapidly tending to the sup
port of the only financial system that can
give all classes and conditions prosperity.
The emphatic deliverance made by the
Democrats OF Pennsylvania must greatly
aid the sound money Democrats in the
Western and Southern states in their
battle to rescue the party from dshonor.
It is one Of the brOadest, most concise
and complete presentations Of the true
financial policy OF the government that
has ever been delivered by any conven-
ton or by any party. It is money
plank in which craftsmanship, patriotism
and courage have been exhibited in their
grandest proportions, and 1t cannot fail
10 inspire the Democrats of the whole
country in the cause Of national credit
Unpromising as the outlook was only a
fortnight ago for a sound money deliver
ance from the Democratic national con-
vention, today the skies are brighter ana
there is no reason to hope that the party
will not only render a great service to
the country, but save itself from self
destruction.