The news & observer., 1897-01-09
WEBSTER ON PRITCHARD.
(Webster's Weckly.l

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How bong are the people TO wait for
free silver? Until international agree
ment is obtained. How long will that
be? Senator pritchard does not tell us.
What will he do Il other nations will
not agree to it? There are but two
courses open-one is abject submission
TO an admitted wrong and the other IS
to make an effort to help ourselves. If
we cannot help ourselves, why go through
the farce OF passing a free coinage bill
for Mckinley to vete. If we can help
ourselves, why ask consent Of anybody
or vote for man for President who
will not give us what we need =? There is
neither logic nor reason in Senator Pritch-
ards position. Free silver is either right
or wrong. If it is wrong, no honest man
should advocate It. If it is right, every
legitimate effort should be put forth in
it's behalf Carlisle believed in the JUS
tiee of the cause so intensely in 1878 that
he advocated loading the appropriation
bills with silver legislation, thus saying
to the Government: 'If the people cannot
have relief, you shall not have any mon
ey. " That was practical and sensible.
Mr. Bwart's statement in his behalf
has no other object than to ease the way
for the necessary number of PIE counter
pOpusts to vote for hiqn. 1t is a miser-
able subtcrfuge. No independent silver
bill can possibly become a law during
McKinley's administration. The silver
Republicans viii have to link it with
the tariff bill and tell Mckinley that he
must kill protection unless he will do
something for silver. The Senate being
close. he woud be forced to concede some
thing. Pritchard proposes to put silver
at McKinley's mercy as was done in the
fight over the Sherman law in 1893 Sen
ator Vance said then that the professed
friend Of silver who would throw away
the opportunity Of forcing a compromise
and trust the honor OF the money
power was either a traitor or fool.
Time has vindicated his wisdom.
Who is simple enough to be-
lieve that Pritchard would avow
his friendship for silver if the
Republicans had a majority Of the
Legislature? 1t is all a sham to ease
the consceuces of few ,Iudases The
game VIII fool nobody. Watch and see
If the traitors are not all provided for
Ordinarily we would prefer that the
Republican party have free rem, so that
the country prosperous, but if pritchard
is elected his term will extend not only
through McKinley's administration, but
half through that Of his successor 4
man whe has evinced such talent for
changing his convictions as he has might
prove an insurmountable obstacle in the
way of relief when a silver President is
elected. If he could not stand by silver
in the first campaign after ne was elected
to a short term, what insurance have we
that he would not desert again when the
piRch came? Was he not elect
ed as silver Republican two
years ago? and did he not
make convenant with the siver Sena-
tors to sink or swim with them on this
question?
Honest and intelligent Populists need
not be argued with on this matter. They
know that Pritchard has forfeited all
claims upon their support. Any Populist
who votes for him simply bctrays the
cause of silver and goes over bag and bag
gnge to the Republican camp.
If only one vote had been needed to
give the country free silver in the last
election Pritchard would not have cast
It. Re-eiect him and he viii not only use
the Federal patronage to strengthen the
gold party in this State, but in the next
election, as in the last, Will do all in his
power TO defeat the silver candidate for
President. Populists have him in their
power now, but let him get elected and
he will snap his fingers in their faces and
ask in the language of Boss Tweed,
what are you going to do about it %