The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-07-24
SEEKING A OUBTERFUGE.
Press Opinions on the Republican
Effort to Dodge its Bad Record
in This State.
THE FINANCIAL MATTER SET
tiled FOR A TIME.

The fourth article by the Democratic
Editors Association, published last week,
noted the efforts of the Republican party
i to evade its record in this State and to
seek refuge behind the financial issue upon
which it won last year, through Demo-
cratic votes, by pretending that the party
stood for the single gold standard. The
article also laid bare the hollow pretence of
the Republican party in this State that the
party stood for gold monometallism, by
showing up the action of the Republican
majority in Congress in passing an inter
national monetary conference BILL and by
quoting from the speeches of leading Re-
publican Senators to show that the party
is intent upon securing free coinage of sill
yer as well as gold.
Following are some press opinions on the
article:
Port Tobacco Times.
The Republicans played a nice little
game of coquetry with the gold Democrats
in the last campaign. After placing an
ambiguous plank in their platform, they
pretended to the Cleveland Democrats that
they were in thorough accord with them
in their policy of gold monometallism, and
in that way obtained the support of all
Democrats who followed the lead of Mr.
Cleveland and his Cabinet
But as soon as the election was over the
Republicans in Congress set to work in
,l,c4an 10 ,oal-o
what the campaign had revealed to be the
overwhelming sentiment of the country in
favor of bimetallism. The debate which
took place in Congress over the monetary
conference bill, referred to in the Assoc-
alton article, was in the nature of sur
prise to the coufry, as it revealed the
leading Republicans of both branches of
Congress taking strong ground in favor of
the restoration of bimetallism and in con-
demnation of the gold standard and the
evils it has brought upon mankind. In
addition to surprise, it affected the gold
Democrats with great indignation and re-
sentiment at what they regarded as breach
of faith with them. The speech of Mr.
Villas, which is quoted in the article, well
expressed the feelings of the gold Demo
Gratis throughout the country.
But ii is notable fact that the so
called independent press of Baltimore
city had very little to say in regard to the
matter The most careful reader Of the
Baltimore dailies would NOT have had any
idea that any such debate as is shown in
the Association article to have taken place
in Congress had ever occurred there. The
reason for this very discreet silence is very
obvious. The independent press, de
string to have the financial question do
duty again for the Republicans in this fall
campaign. clearly perceived the necessity
of keeping this remarkable chapter of the
Republican record away from the people;
otherwise there is no room to doubt that
those time-serving newspapers would have
been found giving circulation to the indig-
nant protest which Mr.. Villas so logically
and frankly gave expression to. That
such was the purpose of the Sun paper is
clearly shown by its leading editorial of
July 9.
Easton Ledger
The Maryland Republicans are anxious
to get away from their record in State
affairs and are seeking a refuge behind
the financial question. This trick has
been played once; it cannot be played
twice. They issue proclamation COM
manding the Maryland Democrats to take
No Step Backward in respect of prom
ises by which they were once deceived, but
which have been deliberately repudiated
by the Republican administration.
Senator Chandler, endorsing and sup
porting speeches previously made in the
Senate last winter on Senator Wolcott's
international monetary conference bill,
tersely put the situation, with a wink at
his colleagues, who smiled blandly on him:
"When the gold. Democrats declared
thus: In fine we reaffirm the historic
Democratic doctrine of tariff for revenue
only, it became no wonder that their re-
spected and respectable candidates bearing
the motto gold monometallism and free
trade, received but 136, 900 out of IA,
600, 900 votes cast Nevertheless, the
assistance of these worthy old fashioned
gentlemen in the election of Mr. McKin-
ley was gladly welcomed. 1t was time
for the passing of the Democratic party,
and they were entitled to perform an hon
orable part in the interment The Re
publican bimetallists saved the election of
Mckinley and Hobart.
The action of Congress, endorsed by the
Republican administration, has put in
allegiance for the time being the currency
question.
Maryland Democrats certainly do not
propose to aid the Republicans of this
State in their purpose to cover up their
NAL administration Of State and city affairs
under the fimsy pretext of taking no
step backward in currency legislation.