The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-21
THE SILVER QUESTION.


II IL interesting 10 note the tone OF
the Eastern press since the election
upon the free silver question. The New
York Observation-Disclosures Republi-
can, says:
1T is significant that The greatest Demo-
cratic gains in the house OF representatives
are furnished by New York. Pennsylvania
and Maryland, where the Democrats dodg-
ed the money question Some OF the new
Democratic representatives from these
states are known also to he supporters OF
the gold standard. while most OF them,
there il reason 10 believe. are opposed 10
any further silver legislation. This, to-
gesher with the defeat OF free silver cardi-
dates in many Western districts hereto
fore represented by free silverites. shows
that the drift OF public sentiment is stead
lily away from Bryanism and reputation.
1t Will add materially to the strength OF the
Eastern states In the next Democratic ma
tional convention, and perhaps prevent the
Democratic party from committing itself
two years hence TO such extreme cheap
money doctrines as IL did In 1ss6. Incidefl-
tally. the Democratic congressional gains
IN these states deal a severe blow to the
leadership of William ]. Bryan"
The Brooklyn Eagle. Democrat, under
the caption, NO More Free Silver
Honest Money Next Time" says:
by refraining from opposing homes,
money. the Democrats have made great
gains on the vote for state offices, in the
choice of legislators and in the election OF
Federal representatives in this state The
result, with free silver left out in ISIS, ex-
ceeds both in performance and in promise
the result reached with free silver put in,
1.zret IT, F,5yaey fro ell
YER out Is the argument of fact. The ar
gument for putting gold in the next time is
Freely and unequvocally presented by the
strong probability that by doing so. the
Democrats can demolish the difference De-
tween The gains which they have won and
those which they yet need 10 win. to make
victory certain. overwhelming and COM
plete. One who does not see this must be
blind. All the aceessions of strength which
the Democratic ticket has just received
could De lost by return, in 1860, 10 the
folly and dishonesty Of free silver. il-dis-
sembled anarchy and their kindred errors
or viilanies. which should be buried in the
unhonored graves wherein Mormonism,
slavery and other national reproaches were
long ago put, not without struggle but
wherein they remain certainly without
tears"
Here we have the views Of two lead
ing daily papers of New York of oppo-
site political faith. each arguing that
the result of the election proves con-
clusively that the free coinage of silver
as political issue is thing of the
past. AT the same time the Western free
silver organs are trying To convince
themselves and thei. readers that the
gain OF Democratic congressman in the
Eastern and Middle states indicates q
gain for the silver forces in those states.
II Is probable that there will be
| Democratic national convention to force
| the free coinage issue to the front.
desperate effort will be made By the
| states east Of the Alleghenies to pre-
| vent this being done, and the result
| mast necessarily be either party split
| or an ambiguous straddle Of the ques-
| ton which will prove unsatisfactory to
| both parties. The Republican party. be-
| Ing the party Of honest money without
| any quihbllng or chicanery, will receive
the support OF the honest money voters
| Of the country. which means that that
party will be successful by an over
| whelming majority.
The apparent inability OF the free
| silver advocates 10 realize the sentiment
| az the country is inexplicable.