Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1898-09-09
THE COINAGE QUESTION
THE ONLY NATIONAL ISSUE

LIS w doDIll- Npi L Us an dbiitliiiS
tration paper differs materially from
our local Republican Statesmen. who
says Mi. Hanna has buried the com
age question beneath his hfteen-mIl
1ion-doilar campaign fund, comment,
ing on a remark of the Baltimore
American, that it seems a little
strange, but this country has no,
heard fon William jennings Bryan
for some time. Can it be that he at
length realizes that the Cause Of free
silver is dead2"
The Post says: Our Baltimore
c6ntempory is probably aware of the
fact that William jennings Bryan is
an officer i'll the volunteer army Of
the United States; that he has been il
the service ''fot some time now, ard
and that his silence on political ques-
tons, instead of indicating a belief
that the cause Of free silver is dead.
simply shows that be recognizes the
prophet es of his position.
But while nothing is heard from
Col. Bryan on the silver issue enough
is heard from his intimate personal
and political friends, and from some
of the gold standard advocates and
organs, to make it very evident the
issue Of 90. is neither fefunct nor
somnolent. but a wide-awake and
active force in politics. The Demo
cratic party is omm'ting no oppor
tunity to affirm the free coinage faith,
and most of these rcaf1irmations are
accompanied By a declaration Of low
atty to the old leader. Even the
States where the regular Democrats
are in a hopeless minority and where.
by uniting the factions, they might
have a good chance to win in the
pending campaigns. they stand
sqlarelv and bodily by 10 to I.
The simple truth is that the coin
age question is the only national issue
now in sight for the next Presjden-
tial campaign. The hope that the
war of 9S, would develop some great
issue that would dlsplace the currency
question and prevent another battle
Of the standards has vanished Dis
putes or scandals touching the busi-
ness management of the war cannot
become national issues. They NAV
be exploited with some effect in the
State and congressional Campaigns of
this year, but they will not divide
parties nor influence votes in 10 20.
All the old issues except silver have
been sent to the rear. The exception
stays at the front. The Bottom Ad-
Vertiser, referring to tn ose who hold,
with the Baltimore American. that
the Of silver is dead" saws.
The notion that nothing will he said
about free silver in the National
Democratic platform of 1900 olne IN
part from the idea that by ignoring
this topic the party can be reurite |
But it cannot. The number of Demo.
cratic voters who would be repeil, d
by such means is very much larger
than the number who might POSSIBLY
be won back IN that way
That is the truth. The gold faction
oi the Democracy has capital arc
newspapers quiet out of proportion t.
its voting strength. The States
which regularly and reliably put ny
Democratic majorities are for fre;
coinage first, last, and all the time
The States that ATE usually in tn,
doubtful column. but which went Re
publican in 90, could not be capture,
by the Democrats if that parlv, in tn.
absence of any other great, dominat
ing, inspiring issue, should drop II
only vital tennet out of its creed.
"Whlle Col. Bryan is attending t.
his military duties IN camp we fin,
his cause marching on in the column
OF the New York evening Post. Tha
paper calls or the President to remov
a member of his cabinet in order t
avert IL ''terrible national mi,for
tune of a Bryan,te majority in tn,
next House That is a possibilit,
OF TIL pending campaign. But If III
next Congress should be Democrat
IN both Houses the finances of III
nation could not be shaS-b. Fre
coinage bills might go through t.
House and Senate. but they could nc
get n the statute TO ks. The re