The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-18
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

We have watched Win htVh '''NN' --'
the editorial columns OF our free silver
contemporaries TO see how they hKeu
the proposition Of Chairman Jones, CHAIR
man Butler. and Chairman Towne TO
ignore all other questions and TO
make common sense against the
cold standard. But thus far we have
seen nothing commendatory Of the scheme
and we do not believe that II viii be pop
ular. except with extreme partisans and
Democrats OF Populistfc tendency.
I'VE ask no man TO abandon his party
or to change his politics" says Chairman
Jones. I'VE ask no one to yield any
principle: but in this great contest we 90
appeal to all good men TO stand soldiy
together for liberty and humanity and
strit,e down forever this conspiracy for
gold and monopoly"
We can hardly believe that Chairman
Jones foresaw possible effect OF TINS
appeal lie could not have given those
Democrats who supported Mckinley In
the last presidential election better
excuse for again afillating with the Re
publicans i'm the coming contest. He dis
tinctly declares thai there Is TO be but
one issue and that Republicans and Pop
ulists may vote conscientiously with the
silver Democrats without surrendering
any political principle. And in so do
ing he necessarily argues percontra that
Democrats may consclentiously vote
with the Republican party in opposition
without surrendering aught Of their po-
litical principles.
II was argued in the last campaign
that Democrats who were opposed 70
free coinage should yet vote for the
Chicago ticket because Democracy stood
for much more than free coinage and that
the many other considerations should out
weigh "A Democrats objection 10 a sim
gle plank in the platform. But If Chair
man Jones is TO be taken at his word
all other considerations are now to be
laid aside and the one single issue is TO
be opposition TO gold and monopoly
This, We say. is emphasized by the asser-
ton that Populists and Republicans may
give their support to the movement with
out reference to their position on other
great political questions.
In that view of the case how can
Democrat who is opposed to free coinage
join in this movement? The argument
of "other considerations now falls to
the ground. There are no "other con-
siderauons," and the man who joins the
triple alliance Of Jones, Butler and
Towne will commit himself TO the free
coinage of silver, TO the opposition TO the
gold standard, and to nothing else.
But suppose the triple alliance shall
win. what is TO be the result? VIII the
Populists and silver Republicans be con-
tent. 10 yield everything TO the Demo-
Gratis? Senator Morgan thinks not and
has publicly expressed himself as being
opposed 10 amalgan alton. He thinks
that the best thing that the Democratic
party could do is TO abide by its princi-
pies and to depend upon them FOR sue
cess temporary SucceS9, Ho says
cannot be gained by fusion. and such
success would not compensate the party
for what il would lose 10y going into a
fusion movement with other and less
important political organizations It
would have TO make sacrifices If II en-
tered into such movement and to the
extent to which it would make conces-
sions it would lose the respect Of the
people"
We cannot believe that the fusion move
mont viii be popular with the great body
OF Democrats and we look for more pro-
tests yet. similar to that of Senator
Morgan.