The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-04
pemoctaey Again for Silver.

Predictions. estimates and condolences
that free silver will take a back track
in next years Democratic campaign are
not as strong as they were not many
weeks since. Take. for instance, the
Ohio convention of last week, the en-
thuslasm over the declarations Of the
platform upon which Mclean was nom
mated indicated forclbly the tendency
toward the nomination of William Jen-
nings Bryan and the re-adoptIon OF the
Objectionable features Of the platform
OF the Chicago convention OF 1896. 1t
IS conceded generally that had not Nc
Lean yielded to the sentiment on this
line he never could have been nominate
ed for governor.
on good authority 1t is said that Nc
Lean had drafted resolutions which
were so evaslve that the committee was
not satisfied. and reported resolution
heartily reaffirmIng the entire Chicago
platform, including the free and un-
limited coinage of silver as equal in
primary money in the ratio of Is to /,
independent OF all other nations OF the
world, and declared for the renomlna-
ton Of Bryan. There is no retraction
Of this, and the English of the reso-
luton is Enthusiastically correct, and in
capable of misconstructlon.
While the Ohio convention was per-
forming this act of hari-kari, Bryan
was making speech out in his ma
tive state of Nebraska, in which he
emphatIcally said:
IT doubt whether any opposition at all
TO the reafTirmation Of the Chicago plat
form in Its entirety will manifest Itself IN
the Democratic National convention or
next year, and all the indications JustlIy
his forecast. a dispatch to the New YORK
Times from Richmond, In Virginia, also on
that day. gives the information mat ev-
cry county In the state has declared LOT
free silver"
Ohio is not the only state in which
the Democracy has pursued this course.
In no state has gold been recognized
as the standard, and free silver
has been made the paramount" Issue.
Bryan's nomination is better assured
to-day than It has been at any time
since the Democratic paralysis pro-
duced by his defeat three Yeas ago sub
sided. All this has Significance that
no one who is not politically blind can
not help noticing. 1t is certain that
only miracle can prevent the Demoe-
racy next year from repeating the mis-
take of 1896. The New York Sun, com
menting upon this phase of the sItua-
ton, comes close to the truth when 1t
declares:
ANY superfiuous effort by Republicans to
re.efact me gold standard already estnb-
lished by the act Of 1873 Will only the more
assure that result and lneite the Demo
cratic party TO even wilder ehortA 70 SUP
stltute the silver standard. ~ 10 IgiS ~
turn away from this certainty. wisdom
can only look 1t sQuRrely In the race
This is undoubtedly fact, and 1t may
be depended upon that, notwith-
standing other issues that are being
talked OF. such as "anti-expansIon,"
and "apti-trust," for 1900 the Republi-
can party will be for gold. and the
Democratic party will be for silver.
The truth cannot be downed. The
Democratic leaders who will control the
convention fall to realize that those
Republicans Of the east who differ from
the administration on the Philippine
policy are likewise but more determIn-
odly opposed to free silver Moreover,
that the Philippine question is more
than likely to be settled by Congress
long before the campaign begins, leay-
ing this senseless issue out OF the held'
The sun is right when 1t says that the
main issue will be that of 1896 and all
the voter will have to do is to take his
place accordingly.