The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-02-10
a LETTER EROM MIR. WALL.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. Feb. 9Th. 1895

experience with you however, Is that
You criticise vieor-
ousiy, you are falr to your opponent. /
and | say this in recollection of your
kindly treatment Of me in 1890. de
spite the radically opposite views that
We held at that time. For that reason
| write you, after having read your
comments upon my note to the La
Crosse Chronicle as to democratic
duty"
What | am about to say is hardly
intended as an explanation and is GER
tainly not a defense of my position
taken after the convention of 1896, but
rather gives some facts that are worthy
Of consideration. As a preliminary
however, let me say that ] hardly
think yOu will differ with me in the
view that when parties to a contro-
versy submit their differences TO arbi-
tration they should abide by the re
suit thereof, for by submitting to arbi
iratlOn they are III honor bound to do
50. Submitting to arbitration is
voluntary REIMBURSEMENT Of ones in
dlvidual Judgment. and when anyone
agrees upon such a settlement of diff
terences with mental reservation to
only abide by the same in case ii is
satisfactory to him, he is, to say the
least, not treating his adversary fairly.
My note to The IL Crosse Chron-
lcle vas Ia answer to a circular from
the editor Of that paper asking as to
the prospects III Wisconsin for 1898
and the duty Of Democrats" This
circular would hardly have been sent
out had it not been for the differences
Of opinion that resulted ia the Demo
cratic party by reason Of the Chicago
convention. Hence my note should
be read with that convention and its
attending circumstances in mind
shall pass over your declaration
that | must be disciple of Emperor
William of Germany, and your refer
ences to George Washington and
Runnymede, and proceed with my
statement
Prior to the convention of 1896 diff
ferences Of opinion on the money
question were rife among the members
| Of both Of the great political parties
of the country. Bimetallism was and
always had been professed by both of
these parties. The discussion regard
ing gold and silver as the standards
Of value reached its height after Mr.,
Cleveland's Inauguration in 1898, and
Mr.. Cleveland became the leader and
| defender of the single gold standard
in opposition to the Is to one theory.
Some years prior to the national
| Democratic convention of 1896, it was
| obvious to some that the advocates OF
the doctrine Of sixteen to one were
most active. that the largest number
of It's followers were from the Demo
cratic party and that systematic
campaign had been inaugurated with
a view to making that one of the ten
cts of the Democratic party at its next
national convention. Mr.. Clevelands
attention was called to this through
those who were close to him, and be
was urged to give his personal en-
dOrsement to as active and aggressive
a campaign within the Democratic
party TO offset the work of the sixteen
to one idea. It was never apparent
however, that he was in sympathy
with that suggestion. for no system
attic work was inaugurated. notwith
standing the appeals that were made
to him through members of his cab
| met and others.
Mr.. Cleveland, members OF his cab
met and his close advisers were fol
| coma roosor oDDvipcot +boI tb, n, n iOr
ity of the Democratic convention
would be in favor of his views on tn,
money question. and it was we'll known
that they were strong endorsers of the
| principle that the acts of the conven
ton should be binding upon every
member OF the party. | am sure tha
| Mr.. Cleveland held this view from ,
statement made to me by distin
guished gentleman from Montana
(Who was former delegate to con
| gresS from that state when it was
territory as TO a conversation that he
| had with Mr.. Cleveland several month:
befOre the convention met. He sale
to me th9t after an interview with Mr.
Cleveland on the money question 9TH,
/ gentleman referred to being q sup
porter Of the free and unlimited coin
age of silver the President said t.
him that he hoped whatever NIGH
happen in Chicago IN reference tt
that question, th8t he-the Montana
gcntleman-w 0nld remain a Demo
Graf and fight with the party.
The questions of the single GOLD
standard and the free and Unlimited
coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteer
to one were discussed widely within
the Democratic ranks and everyone
knew that it would be the principa
contention at the Chicago convention
The preliminary advantage seemed t
be with Mr. Cleveland, for the major
ity of the National committee agreed
with him on the subject.
The convention met. The organic
alton was tremendously perfected, anC
the silver men triumphed. The com
mittees of the convention were regu
larly appointed. Their reports were
regularly made, and, after heated and
anle debate, were regularly adopted
The candidates for president anC
~ ti V1lNitilt Wei w tut
requisite two thirds majority; anC
from the beginning of the convention
| to the end. not a single delegate with
drew therefrom, not a single stt te
ceased to be represented by its entire
delegation during all the deliberations
OF the convention; hence by their pres
ence giving assent and endorsement
to the proceedings of the convention
| am not unmindful of the fact that
there Were some two hundred and
fifty delegates who did not vote after
the adoption of the platform. But
TINS cannot be of any consequence, for
1t did not prevent the requisite two
thirds. vote of all the delegates elect
being cast for the nominees. And
furthermore. bv not withdrawing from
the convention hall, they gave. bv
! their presence the sanction ~ +bo;,