The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-08

WHAT DID ALTGELD SAY:
The interesting question among the poll
ticans is, what did ex-Goy. Ahgeid say IN
the interview which he gave out in Chica-
go last Saturday relative to the
silver question? Some of the New
York papers quote him as saying
that il he could have his way be
wouldn't make the Democratic national
platform in 1850 top heavy with 16 to
declaration-that in fact he was in doubt
whether he would make any mention OF
ratio.
Naturally such a statement from the
leader Of the silver forces caused vase
amount of speculation, because Mr. Altgeld
has all along been extremely outspoken in
favor Of the declaration in respect to sill
yer that is in the Chicago platform. It
was Immediately assumed that if he bad
weakened on the silver question it would
be an easy matter TO practically keep ST.
yer out Of the next Democratic national
platform, and there would therefore be no
obstacle in the way of a return of the Gold
Democrats to the regular Democratic par
~.
It seems, however, that either Mr.. Alt
geld never said what il was reported he
said, or else he experienced a change of
mind within a very few hours. 1t is for
the correspondents who furnished the in
terviews TO say whether or not they mis-
understood Mr.. Alleged, or purposely gave
to their respective papers something ne did
not say. In our dispatches yesterday he
is quoted as denying having said in an in
terview that the ratio might be abandoned
or that the Democratic party might weak
en- on the ratio. He declares that he
stands as TO silver just where he stood
when at ST. Louis and Louisville recently,
he said that "to abandon the ratio would
be TO abandon the cause"
But all Of this discussion in respect 10
silver as an issue in 1900 shows one thing,
and that is that the Democratic party is
by no means harmonious as to the course
that ought to be pursued in making its
platform in 1900. The Gold Democrats
would OF course like it if no mention of sill
Yer were made in the platform, but they
don't hope for so radical a departure from
the Chicago platform. There are great
many Silver Democrats-men like Senator
Morgan OF AldDaf0a-WnO DelleNe II WOulQ
be good policy TO practically side-track the
silver question in the campaign next year
The argument they make is a pretty
strong one. IL is in brief that the Dem
ocratic party will not have much chance to
elect its candidate for President if It
makes free silver coinage the paramount
issue, and 1t will be such an issue if il is
admitted into the platform next year I'm
precisely the same language as il Is in the
Chicago platform. Besides, the free coin
age of silver wouldn't become fact even
if the Democrats were to elect their ticket
on free silver platform, because there
can be no legislation in favor of silver I'M
til there is a silver majority in both
Houses of Congress. The Senate is certain
to be against silver for the next six years,
and perhaps for a longer period. Therefore
it is a wiser plan to make a fight for free
silver representatives, and senators rather
than for a President on a free silver plat
form.
Something more will be heard of this Alt
geld interview. The correspondents who
wrote it must take the position that they
reported Mr.. AItgeld correctly, or as they
understood him, or admit that they DELHI
erately misrepresented him.