The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06
THE INTELLIGENCER.


tefday announced tnat Nne LoulBVhle
Courier Journal, which has been leading
the Kentucky National or Gold Demo-
cratic party, had announced that It
would quit the fight and hereafter train
with the regular organization. Many
construed this TO mean that the Courier
Journal repudiated its views on the
money question and espoused the silver
cause. Our Popocratlc nelghbor the
Register. fell into this error and ecstatic-
ally hailed II as news that the gold stand
ard had lost one OF its most powerful and
eloquent advocates. Following IS In
part the violent construction the Regis
ter placed on the news item from Ken
lucky:
One OF the most notable and significant
results OF the great Democratic victories
all over the country Is the complete change
Of front in the coinage question OF the
upon reading over the returns, Editor
Henry Watterson threw up his hands,
threw down the gold standard, and came
out fiat-footed, incorporating and vigor-
ously, as only he can, for the free and un-
limited coinage Of silver at the ratio OF six
teen to one.
There was nothing in the announce
ment that warranted the Registers asser-
ton that Mr. watterson came out "fat-
footed. uncompromisingly and vigorous
ly for the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio of sixteen to one" and
as matter of fact he did nothing OF the
kind. According to his own announce
ment he has no intention OF doing any
thing of the kind. The simple truth is
that our neighbor has misunderstood the
nature of the Courier Journals CONVEX
slon." II conversion 1t may be called.
The announcement which has thus
been misunderstood. appeared IN the
form of a "double-leaded" editorial in
Thursdays edition of the Courier Jour
nal. and we commend 1t to the careful
reading of the Register. Our nelghbor
will no doubt publish It in order that its
readers may see for themselves how far
Mr. watterson has surrendered his hon
est money principles.
In Kentucky there has been a bitter
fight between the two wings OF the Dem
ocracy. each claiming to be the only real
representative OF the national Demo-
cratic party, the gold Democracy claim
ing that the free silver party was not
the party OF Jefferson and Jackson, but a
new party which had repudiated time
honored principles and substituted for
them the heresles of the Chicago plat
form.
The issue In the contest Just closed was
the relation Of the Democratic organiza-
tons in Kentucky to the national organi-
Eation of the Democratic party, and IT
was for the voters OF Kentucky to decide
which should be recognized as the regu-
far organization in national and state
elections. A great majority of the Dem
ocrats voted to sustain the silver wing as
the regular organization, and It IS this
verdict that Mr.. watterson and his Cour-
Ter Journal have accepted.
The acceptance, as Mr.. watteson
states in his editorial, does not involve
his surrender of the principles he has
been maintaining. which he claims are
the true principles; It is only recogni-
tlon of the right of the majority to con-
troll the party counsels, and is coupled
with the statement that he fears the re-
suit will be disastrous to the party's
welfare. In other words, there Is no sur
render 10 free silver but simply a with
drawal of factious opposition to the lead
ership. reservlng the right to continue to
advocate the principles OF sound money
and free trade as a worker IN the ranks.
Mr.. watterson expressly indicates that
ne will not share any Of the responsiblli-
ties OF this leadership. Here is the de-
claration in the Courier Journal from
which the nifty cent dollar people can ex-
tract small comfort:
We may regret the verdict against as,
but we accept II. We shall make no fur
Their effort to direct the party course or
sibllltles Of party leadership having done
our best, according TO our conscience and
belief, 10 divert our political associates
from a policy OF procedure tho end Of
which no man can now fOresce. the results
OF which we very much fear, both M to tho
welfare OF the country and tbs party But
we arc Democrats, not Republicans. and,
Mailing Our nag 20 the masthead OF
HONEST MONEY, Free Trade and Home
Rule, we shall In tho character OF pri-
VAte soldier In the ranks contribute what
ever Wo are able 10 the assertion and tho
YiHdicailon Of Truth.
For tho gentlemen who have by their
victory confirmed their leadership, so on
tertain not tho least lll.wlll All the hon
Ora belong 10 that leadership be- theirs;
and, lot us add, all the responsibilities. N
they continue 10 win Victories, they will
approve their commissions N they loHO
them, thoy, IN turn, viii have 10 pay tho
penalties Of defeat. Whore wO can not
support them, we shall enter no fautl0uB
opposition 10 them.
Farther on the Courier journal says.
For the present, We shall lonyo tho moral
Of tho conflict now ended 10 Impress ltrOlf
In liz own why upon the masses Of tho moo
nile. AZ VIZ aaid In tho beginning, ana hnyo
rAld during the progress u tho battle. We
repeat now; from none ~ 10 c1nHtyiunnccp
of the fight We hhYO mndn Tor Whnt Wp bo-
lieyrd lust policies and sound ideas. have
We the least disposition 10 Hhirk Had We
the whole thing 10 10 over We should not
Vtsr hairs limo from the course VIZ have
pufrurd, and reviewing tho record Wp
fsrsIiret M word of act which We would
recall What tho rest can stand We can
stand,
There IA no indication hero that Henry
Rhltsuon and hiS paper have como out