The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-02-26

| We beg Democrats and their silver
allies of other parties to realize the over
whelming importance of continued unity
In union there ID strength. Nothing but
! the false pretenses Of the Republican
party that it favored bimetallism gave
them the election of 1895 President
Mckinley. Secretary Gage and ex Senator
Edmunds have now hung millstones
around the neck of the Republican party
in the shape of gold standard measures
now pending in Congress. That party
has forever parted company with every
earnest bimetalllst, including those who
had hoped for International bim.tallism
Victory, is, therefore, absolutely sure this
year, and again in 1900. if we do not
allow our enemies to divide US. They
must not be allowed to SOW tares among
the wheat. The one overwhelming ques.
ton before the American people Is the
restoration of gold and silver on equal
terms to their constitutional place as
money metals.
This great movement is for the common
good. Without it there lie before US years
Of disaster, retrogression, and general
distress. The utmost good feeling 10 nee
essary between all the elements which
acted together 10 1896. Earnest advocates
CT free coinage will recognize the import
ance of cultivating good will and Of over
looking personal advantages in the coming
campaign. The contest for the possession
of both the United States Senate and the
next House of Representatives Is near ut
hand. 1t is not in the nature of things
that every friend of free coinage to be
elected will csme from the Democratic
party, nor is it al! necessary that the for
mer party divisions should he thought of
among the friends of our cause.
A good rule to be adopted would be
that where there is a true-blue supporter
of the free coinage of silver already oc-
cupying seat in the House or Senate %
the fruit OF generous and hearty fusion
between Democrats and their Populist or
Republican allies, it would be unwise to
swap horses while crossing the stream"
in the coming campaign. 1t ought not
to be difficult for Popuists and Silver
Republicans to join hands in the re-elec
ton of true and tried Senator or Rep.
resentative of Democratic antecedents
aud 1t ought not to he difficult for Demo
Gratis to continue IN place a stall wart and
unwavoring friend of free Coinage who
has hitherto been either Popufst or q
Silver Republican. In other words, sue
cess will be made the more certain the
less inclination there Is to make seats ia
Congress merely the prize to be contended
tor IN sharp struggle in our rauks for
the ascendency of An individual in u given
locality.
1t would rejoice every Democrat that
his party has planted itself on such broad
lines and has so completely restored the
old Democratic landmarks ON the money
question that its ranks are being recruited
every day by accessions from the Repub |
lican party Of men who refuse to he in
cuded in the sale of that party to the
gold trust which took place in st. Louis
10 1895.
In union there is strength; divided We
tall. We earnestly exhort all those who
'eek the establishment of bimetallism to
waste no strength in personal struggles
within their lines. Democrats anu their
lllles should only engage in q generous
'trife to see who shall carry farthest the
standard. Sustain the man
who seems most likely to lead the allied
orces to victory in any given state and
district, scorning either to ask or remem-
yer who were his political associates in
oriner contests with which the present 10
q uowise concerned.