The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-19

w aSnFlgI0n, IL. u, II cb' 10. oSn''NA
James X. Jones' Chairman of the Demo
cratic National Committee, is not IN ac-
cord with Mr.. Croker, of New York,
or Mr.. Wall, of Wisconsin, regarding
the paramount issue in the next Presi-
Dental compaign. He said to-day:
ITO say that the next Democratic Nat
ional Convention will reaffirm the posi-
tion taken by the convention in 1896
is to assert what every candid man,
even slightly familiar with existing
facts. knows to be true. 1t is as GER
tain as anything human can be that
the question of bimetallism viii be the
leading issue in the campaign next
year. And it is reasonable TO expect
that the majority of the people will
next time declare for the party which
means what it says and will redeem its
pledges, and that they VIII not again
be tricked into casting their votes in
favor of the enemies of the principles
in which they believe.
"On what grounds do you base your
hopes for success next year?' he was
asked.
''Some of the reasons why ann
strongly hopeful of the future of our
cause are as follows: In the campaign
of 1896 both parties declared for BIZ
metallism; the Democrats for indepen-
dent action by the United States, the
Republicans for an international agree
ment, which they pledged themselves TO
promote True, this declaration on the
part of the Republicans was only made
to catch votes, and because the party
leaders did not dare to go to the polls
without it. / think now no one any
longer doubts that the fixed purpose
of those who controlled these leaders
was to maintain the gold standard, and
to prevent, not promote, an international
agreement. The declaration. however,
served its purpose, and vast numbers
of sincere bimetallists were persuaded
to vote for the Republican ticket, i'll the
belief that they were voting for an hon
est effort TO secure international blmetal-
ism. The leaders who were responsible
for this trick have already committed
their party to the single gold standard,
so far as they can, and if they dare
speak out honestly in their next national
platform it will declare for the single
gold standard
DO You believe that the cause of
bimetallsm is improvingT'
There are as many believers in BIZ
metallism to-day in the United States
as there ever were, and all these are
doubtless now convinced that the only
way to accomplish bimetallism is
through the action of the Democratic
party. The great effort to stop the
fall of prices-the shrinking of values
and to relieve the distress of business
resulting from these great evils. without
doing injustice or injury to any class or
business, is being more and more under
stood, and commands the respect of hon,
est and fair men always when under
stood, and another campaign of ridicule
and abuse such as that of 1S96-wheth-
or dictated by ignorance or venality-
cannot succeed against temperate argl-
ments and appeals for simple justice,
when the people have time to fairly
weigh the arguments and form a delib-
crate Judgment There was great un-
rest and dissatisfaction in 1896 through
out the country, resulting from falling
prices and shrinking values. The Re
publican party promised that If they
were entrusted with power all this
would be changed, and that prosperity
should succeed existing conditions. Mr..
Mckinley and the gold press now assure
the country that we have prosperity.
There is quite a boom in stock specula-
tions in Wall Street, but Wall Street
is not the country, as we believe. A
great famine and short cron "f wheat
I'LL over the world except in the United
States naturally raised the price OF
wheat while these conditions lasted, and
the beneficent Effects of this temporary
advance in the price of a single article,
which was so marked in the short pc
riod it continued, is likely 10 stimulate
II desire for a return to that condition
permanently and an extension of it to
all other products. This is our pur-
pose, and was our purpose in 1896, when
the Republican party denounced any eff
fort to increase prices as = crime"
How do. you account for the activity
in business?'
There has been necessarily an in
creased demand for labor within the
last few months, as the result of the
withdrawal of large numbers of Ameri
can citizens from the ordinary walks of
life to be employed in the army, whose
places had to be filed There has also
been an increased activity in and de-
mand for all products which were ne
cessary to the maintenance and support
of large army. But all these condi-
tions are in the very nature of things
temporary, and all of us know that they
must pass away with the end of the
conditions which brought them into life
Making due allowance for the indu
ence of these three causes on the pres
ent condition of the country. there K
to-day as much dissatisfaction and as
much cause for it as there was in 1896
No relief was or is to he expected under
Republican management except such
as comes by famine abroad and war at