Daily inter mountain., 1899-09-18
WHERE THE DEMOCRACY STANDS.

Mountain has been showing wherein the
leaders of the democratic party have
been scheming and planning to retire
the silver issue to the background. The
evidence submitted on this point, from
Colonel Bryan's declarations as to the
selection of a paramount issue for 1900
down to the apathy of the local demo-
cratic press, has been of the most con-
vincing character
Step by step the movement to effect
reunion between the silver and gold
wings of the democracy has progressed
since the free coinage cause went down
to defeat in 1885, No sooner had the
national leaders of the democratic party
recovered from the shock of defeat. than
they surveyed the field retrospectively
with a view to more adequate prepara-
tions for the contest of 1900. Having en-
joyed success in 1892 with a united party,
on a general declaration in favor of BIZ
metallism, which was not understood to
imply free coinage, they suffered defeat
in 1896 with party divided on declara-
money metals at a ratio of 16 to 1. and on
the rebound their hearts went back to the
more successful method of political pre-
cedure.
Thus it happened that the leaders of
both wings of the party have co-operated
since the defeat of Brayn to bring about
party understanding on some basis of
compromise satisfactory to each. OF
first Importance in this work was the ne
cessity on the part of the silver wing
to cut loose from political affiliaton
with other silver organizations. 1t was
understood that such affiliations made it
impossible for the democracy to retreat
from the ultra-free coinage views of 1896,
and therefore impossible to effect a COM
pete reunion With the gold wing of that
party on the grounds of mutual con-
cessions. To patch up party differences
the policy of cooperation introduced and
adopted in 1896 must be abrogated, and
the silver democrats divorce themselves
completely from the silver organizations
Which had rendered them assistance to
the extent of nearly 100000 votes in 1896
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This was accordingly done when the
campaign plans of 1898 We're laid, being
carried out through a system of political
treachery of the most dispicable type on
the part of the national leaders of the
so-called silver democracy, supplemented
by the activities of their local satellites
In Montana, these plans We're carried for
ward to the eminent satisfaction of the
democratic leadership, as forerunners OF
the possibility of the coming reunion
with the eastern wing of the party. Thi:
was soon followed by the reputation O
the free coinage ratio of 16 to l, by tn,
leading democratic press of this state
and the adoption of the gold hypothesis
that the ratio of values between gold ant
silver should be regulated by the world
exchanges. No protest against these ad
vances, looking to a reunion with tn
gold democracy, were uttered by tn
democrats of this state, and long ste
was taken by the so-calied ultra -silve
wing of the party in the direction o
bringing together the discordent ele
elements of the national democracy on
compromise that will enable them to co
operate under one standard in 1900.
But while the democrats achieved
victory in Montana, through influence
which need not be discussed in this con
nection. having heretofore been pointe
out in these columns, the party suffere
an aggregate loss Of strength through
out the country as the result of it's ne,
policy. The elections of 1898 were i'll
omened and unsatisfactory to the part
leaders, and totalized in a manner yer
discouraging to them. Too late to re
verse it's policy. and resume the co-opera
tive system of 1885, the democracy foun
itself in position where complete part
reunion became an absolute necessit,
unless all hope of victory in 1900 was t
be abandoned.
-
The silver democrats had been induce
to cut loose from their friends in othe
silver organizations, and with the clos
of the campaign of 1898 were in positio
20 be largely dictated to by the gold win