The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-11-05
SETS THEM RIGHT.
Gold Democrats Find That They Have
Deen Duncoed by the
silver Men.

An extremely lively and interesting
controversy is in progress in New York
and other states between republican
organs and gold democrats who are
working for silver nominees or un'
committed and unreliable regular
party men under the specious pretext
that state and not national issues are
dominant in the present canvass. Fair
minded men endowed with a logical
faculty must, we think, hold that the
republicans have the better of the ar
gument.
In New York, for example, the gold
supporters OF Van Wyck pretend that
the silence Of the platform on silver Is
equivalent to recantation and repudia-
tion of the Chicago platform. Why
should not sound money democrats,
they innocently ask, support "regen-
Grated" democratic party? The an
swer Is, of course, manifest. The al
legged regeneration is figment OF the
imagination. The national managers
Of the democratic party assert rs Wig
orously us ever that the financial is
sue is paramount, that the Chicago
platform governs and that democrat
lie congress would adhere to the free
coinage proposition. Under these cir
cumstanccs silence out of mere ex-
pcdiency Is not rejection, and no hon
est gold standard defender can be de-
ceived by policy of mere tricky eva
sion.
But there is more important point
raised in the controversy. The gold
democrats are declared by such pa
pers rs the New York Times to have
been deceived, betrayed. cruelty
Knocked and "bunkocd." 1t is said to
be an 'affront" to their Intelligence
and self-respect to ask them 10 vote
once more for the administration pol
icy and candidates pledged 10 sup
port it. They helped the republicans
in 1896 to elect the Mckinley ticket, we
are told, with the understanding that
the tariff would be ignored and the
currency issue kept at the front. In
stead, the republicans passed the Ding
ley bill and neglected, forsooth, all
their solemn pledges with regard to
financial legislation. Hence they have
forfeited all title to the confidence of
democrats who believe in gold and n
tariff for revenue.
What is the answer to this queer in
dictment? In the first place, il is sim
ply not true that the republicans
promised in 1896 to maintain the status
quo in the tariff laws. On the con-
trary, the platform and the leading re-
publican orators plainly and emphat-
ically announced the intention to re-
peal the Wilson law and enact a meas
ure more protective as well as more
revenue yielding. The democrats
knew what to expect and had suisse
quently no cause for complaint or dis
appointment. Between the repeal Of
the Wilson law and silver they wisely
chose the former, and it is too silly
and unfair to pretend that they ex-
pectcd the republicans to adopt demo-
cratic ideas on the tariff.
AS to the financial question, whe-s
is the betrayal" or Hlockery? True,
TO new legislation has been adopted,
chiefly owing to the unexpected devel-
cDlIcltS III tut VII
nculty. But Secretary Gage has made
report as advanced as could be de-
sired, and il has been embodied in the
McCleary bill for the gold standard
and Creenback retirement. a repub-
lican subcommittee has prepared and
introduced n more conservative meas
are which over 100 representatives
have signified their willingness to sup
port. So much has been done in the
way of education that all doubt is now
removed as to the position of the
party. The republicans are openly a
gold standard party. In the state plat
forms there Is no cquivocation, no am
biguity. Gold is meant, and gold is
everywhere named in lieu of vagucr
terms. \ republican house and senate
would unquestionably pass q bill more
definitely establishing the gold stand
ard and taking step toward green
back retirement.
Yet in the face of so much genuine
progress gold democrats complain of
having been "bunkoed." The insin-
cerity is fragrant. 1t will deceive no
one who is not eager to be deceived
Chicago rost.