The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-15
WHAT TO DO WITH GOLD DEMOCRATS p.
CONVERT THEM.

| orr OK Presidents" The example of eX
Presidents Cleveland and Harrison, de
voting themselves to rearing their young
children has set a precedent that settles
| that old query.
| What to do with gold Democrats is 4
| question that has been much discussed
during the past few months. In Texas
they have been formally kicked out Of
the party. In PENNSYLVANIA, following
Cleveland's advice, they have resolved "a
do anything to keep the gold standard
thus reading themselves out. In Indiana
they have generally walked into the Re.
publican party. In New York most of
them have decided to submit to the
arbitrament of the national convention"
In Virginia most of them have come
back into the ranks of the party, to
live or die for Dixie" In Illinois they
are not allowed to participate in the
primaries.
Mr.. Bryan has taken the only proper
course with the erring brethren. He
is converting them by retail and whole
sale, and thus making the problem solve
itself. That's the only way to solve
it. Last week Mr.. Bryan made half a
dozen speeches on bi-metallism in the
chief cities of Georgia. Among other
cities he spoke in Macon, and as re-
suit of his speech in that city Mr.. 10y
less, the brilliant editor of the Macon
News, was soundly converted" and
gives in his experience in the follow
ing editorial:
1T is putting it mildly to say that
Mr.. Bryan's speech, delivered in this
city to an audience of five or six thouS-
and people last night, surprised, even
amazed, his most ardent admirers and
most devoted adherents of bimetallism.
1T did more; it convinced, converted
more people who were opposed to the
free silver than any argument. oral or
written, ever presented to them before.
And, after all, the best way to Judge of
a speech is by the result-the effect pro-
duced upon those TO whom it is address
ed.
I'VE believe we do not exaggerate the
effect of Mr.. Bry2nS effort in Macon
when we say it has converted nearly
every man who was open TO conviction
Mind, we do not say it converted every
gold standardist who heard il, for there
were many Such-eYen though they will
not admit Rt-who, for some reason or an
other. are not open TO conviction
Speaking for ourselves, and we think
we also speak for several hundred 9TH
ers, we were not of Mr.. Bryan's way of
thinking on the financial problem. We
accepted, but could not Endorse the Chi
cag0 platform. For the sake of party
regularity, and for the sake of other
interests and other principles which
Democracy involves, we preferred TO
swallow the free silver plank rather
than jump overheard, to be picked up by
a craft manned by crew association
with whom is worse than submission
yea, debasing and unbearable to one for
whom Democracy has done so much,
and to whom Republicanism has done
its worse-a Southern born white man.
For these and other reasons. we pre-
ferred to accept the Chicago platform.
free silver plank and all. Twelve months
Gle us even more to that platform. but
we We're still unable to honestly believe
in it's free silver plank-we were simply
on the mOurner's bench. And it has
been our observation that there were
thousands of other Democrats in our fix.
We went to hear Bryan, willing to be.
but not expecting to be, converted. We
came away with scales removed from
our eyes-cOmpletely converted. and
happy in our conversion. And from con
versation with scores of other Demo
Gratis who were in our fix, we find that
their conversion was as complete as our
own.
Mr.. Bryan's visit to Macon has de-
monstrated, beyond the shadow of
,.Jlbt, that bimetallism is the sure~t,
swift solution Of the present problems,
and that this conviction viii grow the
more this great champion of equal
rights for all and special privileges for
none expounds to them the true princi-
pies of that doctrine.
1T has been our privilege to hear
some Of the ablest arguments ever utter
ed in opposition to Mr.. Bryan's theory
of finance, but we fail to recall any oh
lection that Mr. Bryan did not fully an
swer and completely annihilate last
night.
Speaking for ourselves, we are glad
that we have been convinced, and like
the man, we imagine who has found the
light Of religious faith, we want every
one else 10 become convineed-to see the
light.
Democracy, With it's free silver theo-
ries, has been to us heretofore merely a
necessity. II is now a conviction
This method of dealing with our err
ing brethren is much better than the
Texas method, and we hope it will be
universally adopted. Most of them are
in the darkness because they have not
been shown the light They merely need
10 have the question illuminated by n
master mind like Bryan or Daniel or
Morgan or Vest or Turpie or Jones or
Warner or Barker Either of these, or
lesser evangclists Of the white metal,