The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-22
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS.

The Washington correspondent OF the
Baltimore Sun. who IL usually accurate
in his statements, says that there is evil
dence Of disintegration Of the silver
forces in the Senate in Connection with
the war revenue bill. which may lead
to further divisions in the Democratic
party on the money question. That the
eagerness with which Senator German
and some other Democratic senators
have seized upon the present opportunity
TO dissent from the views expressed by
the free silver advocates IS thought 10
indicate willingness on their part to de-
nounce some portion at least Of their
allegiance 10 the Chicago platform and
to draw away from the Populisito COM
binatlon, which Is demanding more green
backs.
We have before referred to Senator
Germans attitude towards this question.
and it is perfectly well understood that
he resigned his position as chairman
OF the Democratic caucus because he was
unwilling 10 be party to the movement
TO take advantage Of the present emer-
gency to promote the interest Of free
silver.
The Suns correspondent says further
with reference 10 this that not few
persons believe that the Senator's real
purpose is TO separate from the Popu-
lists. Silver Republicans and Silver Dem
ocrats with the hope of raising an issue
In the Democratic party over the money
question. TO be settled in the future.
That the Democratic party as now
constituted must change its course or be
disintegrated seems to us to be a per-
fectly plain proposition. There are many
men in the party to-day who were not in
the beginning Of the campaign Of 1896
and who are not to-day in sympathy
with free silver and other doctrines Of
the Chicago platform. They went along
with their party in the hope that all
differences would some how be adjusted.
and they were not willing to believe, as
The Times and other Democrats told
them. that the inevitable end of the
movement then begun, If carried 10 its
logical conclusion. was Populism. Sena-
tor German and men like him have now
reached the same conclusion and they
are now determined TO retrace their
steps.
We have also said time and again that
the logical end of free silver was fiat
money, and that prediction has been
strangely verified within the past seve-
raj days. Here we are, a great and
powerful nation, with our credit unim-
paired. with our treasury full OF gold,
and yet there is a demand on the part OF
the free silver forces in Congress for the
issuance OF N50,OeOooO Of fiat money.
Populists and Silver Democrats are
working together to this end. The Sill
yer Democrats have gotten a taste Of
Populism and they like it 50 well that
they seem TO be willing to swallow the
whole lump
Is it surprising that Mr.. German and
Olhc4S IiAe AiAi H@'0 Ail"alg DN5Nii ~ OPN"
their eyes to the real conditioner The
party has now reached a crisis, 1t has
come TO the parting of tho ways. The
Populistic Democrats are going on TO
Popuhsm. and those Democrats who
DO not chose TO so with them must get
out OF the procession and return to the
Democratic fold. There is no such thing
as standing still in this movement. a
man must either go on TO Populism or
come back to Democracy, and the right
about must be made in short order.