The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-02
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
Some Views Of a Cleveland Democrat.

Some Views Of a Cleveland Democrat
James H. Eckels was comptroller Of
the currency during Cleveland's SECOND
administration For Democrat he
was regarded as pretty bright man
with tolerably correct ideas OF some
things. Nj. Eckels recently wrote a
letter to the Times of New York, ex-
pressing his views on the political situ-
alton. One view he takes is that the
Democratic party is demoralized. That
is fairly candid, but men not nearly 80
bright as the ex comptroller had long
ago made this discovery. Another
view of the situation is that the Repub.
lican party is responsible for the ca
lamity, since "it ought to make impos-
sble the continuance on the part of
the Democrats of the leadership which
has characterized that party since 1896"
This is not bright at all, and moves the
New York Sun to make these COM
ments:
That is rather a curious accusation; so
far as we can recall it is without prece-
dent in political polemics. How can the
Republican party be held responsible for
the continued leadership OF Mr.. Bryan in
the Democratic party? Moreover, IL that
leadership is as disastrous as MI Eckels
makes out, might it not be regarded as
justifsble strategy for the Republicans to
refrain from making its continuance i'm
possible? Is it their business to run the
Democratic party as we'll as their own, so
that they are responsible for both2 Have
the Democrats nothing to say in the pre-
misses and are they political babes who can
not be trusted to pick out their own leader,
but must have him selected for them by
their opponents? How can they find fault
with the Republicans for not making 1t i'm
possible for them to follow the leader they
want to,follow2 And how under the sun
can the Republicans make it impossible7
Commenting on Mr.. Eckels' answer to
this, that the Republican party ought,
with,theladvantage it possesses, to give
the country sound and complete
monetary system, and so compel the
Democracy to choose new leader, the
Sun explains that such system is the
issue between the parties; that in 1896
the Democrats voted for silver as the
monetary standard, the Republicans
for gold, and prevailed by some six
hundred thousand majority. Three
yearsIh ave passed and no change is ap-
parent in the two parties in this re-
spect. Why do not the Democrats
givelup silver? This they can do at
any time without asking the permits
sion. of the Republicans. The latter's
consent to the substitution of Mr.. Ec-
kels for Mr.. Bryan as leader is not
necessary. The trouble is the ex-
comptroller is no longer a Democrat,
as hei,repudiates present Democratic
principles and policies. Mr.. Eckels
Democracy has been thrown overheard
by the party that is now called Demo
cratic.
The Sun shows Mr.. Eckels that it
is not truesthat the Republican party
has neglected "to give the country
acknowledgement and complete none
tary SYSTEM" for it has retained "sys-
tenn which is the best this country has
everilhad, and can only be perverted
through Democratic success in intro
ducing 1.-THE free coinage of silver Mr.
Eckels is now Chicago bank presi
dent, and he would like to have the
government adopt the vicious system
of turning over to the banks the prof
able function of issuing paper MONEY
that is what he means by sound and
completeImonetary system. Moreover,
if the Democratic party won next year
what difference would any presen
legislation on the subject by the Repub-
licans make? The Democrats would re
peal their legislation and substitute sil
yer for gold as the monetary standard.
The accomplishment of that end is the
reason for the existence of the Democ.
racy as it now is."