Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-02-25
A SILVER REPUBLICAN,
Replies to a Middle-of- the-Roader IN
Lane County,

bDAlOh JOOhNAi.- Il ttt MIlltI
exceedingly gratified TO think tha
his criticism of the middle-of-th,
readers has called forth the reply fron
Mr.. n. N, Matthews,of Coburg, which
appears in your issue of the 18th inst
There is a man who knows what b,
wants, and also what he doesn't
want, and has some reason TO show
for the faith that is in him. If all
reformers, Popnlist or otherwise
we're imbued with the exact ideas ex
pressed In his letter, there would not
be much difficulty in forming union
party. But, you see, "they aint;'
and therein lies the difficulty.
The writer does not believe that we
sO-called Silver Republicans have had
time to become inordinately attached
to that designation, or to the organ
ization, such as it is; and besides, the
name "Republicdn" itself has come TO
be too much of a stencil in the nos
trils Of honest men. There would
probably be a more nearly unanimous
joining Of an entirely new reform
party on the part Of Silver Republi-
cans than would be the case with
either the Democrats or Populists.
But we must remember that, in or
der 10 accomplish results, we are some
times Obliged 10 take things as We
lind them, not just as we would wish
to have them; and il is results that we
are after now. In spite Of the fact
that IL might be better, were it pos
sible, TO abandon the old organization
In this state at this time, and form a
new party, than TO form union as
proposed, yet 1t is a self-evident fact
that IL can dot be done now, For var
lous reasons which are not necessarily
discreditable TO any one, it is out Of
The question, and the idea may as well
be laid on the table for the present.
That is the situation, and we must
face 10 as IL Is and do the best we
can. To quote the numerically pou-
1erous Grover Cleveland, who has
oeen politically gathered to his fathers.
at is condition and not a theory
that cOntrOnts u.s."
AS 1t Is question OF union and vic.
tory or scattraction and defeat, is it
not better TO accept the only honora-
ble union that is possible at this time,
even though that union may not be
formed by the best process TO all
tntents and purposes the union would
be practically the same as that pro.
posed by Mr.. Mathews. That is, the
platform would be identically the one
named in the resolutions which were
unanimously adopted by the Populist
club Of which Mr.. Mathews is chair
man: 1.-THE free silver and currency
plank and Initiative and referendum
and imperative mandate and such
other planks OF needed reform as
might be agreed upon" That would
be the platform indorsed and adopted
by all three parties to the union. The
candidates would all be obliged to
stand on that platform, without
equiYocation, and, il elected, they
would know exactly what would be
expected Of them. The principles we
contend for would triumph at
the polls and would be put,
at least partially, into practice. Not
only that, but the Union sentiment
would be strengthened just as it
was strengthened by our work
ing together in the last campaign;
jealousies and distrust would be still
more softened; future amalgamation
would be greatly simplited; and the
silver forces would be highly encour-
aged for the struggle in other states
this fall. On the other hand, If Union
fails or Union ticket is defeated by
detection of the Populists, then the
effect will be the exact opposite at
each poiut. This "will make our en-
emy the Goldbug quake" indeed, but
IL will be with unholy mirth.
Another thing which we must con-
slider is that although it would be
bioeiiglhe SOulu VIC VI NiIekOu |
form the nucleus for a new national
party, yet we have no assurance that |
we could carry others with us unit
they are ready, aud 1t is, IN fact,
pretty big contract for us TO under
Jake single handed. When the Pop
llists, Democrats and Silver Republ-
'ans OF the nation become sufficiently
10 wish TO amalgamate in
new party, then we shall try to
laye as much "say" as Others, but we
AN hardly hope to have more. In the
mean time let us all work together in
'he only way In which 1t is now posi-.
Die 10 do so, and let US try 10 have
ome faith In each others honesty Of
purpose, 'just for practice"
Now isn't 1t better, Mr.. NJ athews,
% be a little gentle, for the present,
With our erring brothers who can not
et quite bring themselves To let 20
4 the old aSSOciations2 Thav win