The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 25.-Iu re-
ply to your inquiry, What is your opin-
ion OF the future of the gold-money
Dem ocrats?'' [ will say: l presume you
refer to the National Democratic party"
organization. / can only repeat what L
said to the convention of national Dem o.
Gratis, assent bed in State Convention at
Columbus, Ohio, on September 10 last. l
am OF the opinion that the elections this
fail will show a loss of strength by the
free silver people and that the next three
years will witness a change toward con-
servatism in the Democratic ranks, and l
hope that by the time the national con-
ventions to nominate Presidential candl-
dates are held in 1900 The party Will be
fully reconstructed upon the Old conserva-
tive lines; that is 10 say on the linee OF
sound finances and good government.
Those Democrats who did not subscribe
to the revolutionary declarations OF the
Chicago convention, but who remained
faithful to the true principles of the Dem
ocratlc party, should keep their organiza-
tion intact by nominating Candidates not
only in California, but i'll very State of
the Union, and making vigorous contests
in the elections.
AS said to the Columbus convention,
| am of the opinion that Democrats who
have remained faithful to the true princi-
Piles of the party, as they were understood
prior TO the revolutionary declarations of
1896, should preserve their organizations.
If we honestly believe in the rectitude of
the course we have heretofore pursued, it
is our duty as loyal Democrats and patri-
otic citizens to maintain, by all the means
at our command, the independent and
conservative position we now hold, and 10
appeal to our old political associates, who
still entertain many opinions on public
questions in common with US, TO repudiate
the new and DANGEROUS doctrines incon-
siderately proclaimed at Chicago and st.
Louis, and return TO the simple and
honest faith OF our fathers. Populists
and free-silver Republican protectionists
are neither competent advisers nor trust
worthy allies in contest for the genuine
principles of Democracy, and j; may be
safely assumed that public policies sug-
gested or dictated by them, or to which
thew can give their support, are not such
as will conduce to the general welfare of
the people or promote the permanent
success of the political party to which
they have been opposed.
Those who. at the dictation of their own
enemies discarded their old friends and
attem pied TO revolutionize the creed of
their old party will iu tly be held re-
sponsible for all the results that have
heretofore followed or shall hereafter fol-
low their departure from Democratic prin-
clples and traditions, and we who have
refused to desert the old standard and
coalesce with the advocates of fatists.
socialism, protectionism or any other form
of government paternalIsm, can we'll af-
ford to stand where we are and wait for
the deiiverance which is sure to come.
The advocacy of free. unlimi ited and inde-
pendent coinage of legal tender silver by
the United States at a ratio which would
at once have destroyed more than half
the exchangeable value of our currency,
while it was wholly inadmissble az an
exposition of Democratic doctrine, was
not by any means the only Objectionable
feature OF the new declaration of prin-