The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-05-12
THE NEXT PLATFORM.

staunch Democratic free silver paper,
and published in section OF country
which makes its judgment worth listen
ing to, declares that our judgment is
that tits useless to make another stand |
for silver in this country until con-
ditions change Free silver will not go
down in the East-that is a certainty
it has lost its hold In the West, as last
falls elections show; the South Is go-
ing Democratic whether or no, so why
be stubborn? The man who does not
possess the political foresight, not to
say common sense, to know that free
silver at 10 to is the very thing the
Republicans are hoping and praying
that the Democrats will put in their
platform and make the foremost issue,
l. not worth arguing with. AS long as
free silver at IS tn is the main plank
In the Democratic platform the RepuN-
licans have not moment of uneasiness.
Eliminate free silver and see the change
which VIII come over them. We do
not think the hopes Of success of the
great Democratic party should be ruth
lessly sacrificed in order to crafty the
pride or opinion of a few leaders who
have prophesied that free silver would
be the leading issue in 1900 and are de-
termined that their prophecies shall be
sustained Nashville American.
The paper the American quotes
from, Is about as "staunchly" demo-
cratic as is the American itself; but
in democratic circles neither of
them are regarded es democratic at
all. Among leading democrats all
over the state the general cry is that
1--WE need a democratic newspaper
in Nashville;" and the recent law
compelling all news agencies to
serve all papers alike, who were
willing and able to pay for their SER
vice, was the outgrowth of that SEN
| timent.
We mention these facts simply to
show how misleading and deceitful
are the tactics of the gold-bug press.
They were so badly worsted in the
argument of the question that by
common consent they have ceased to
argue. They tried for long time
to belittle Bryan and kill him off !;
but that effort proved so ridiculous
a failure that they were compelled
to abandon it. And now they are
quoting from each other to prove the
"uselessness" of Democracy adher-
ing to the principles enunciated in
the Chicago platform.
The American quotes from the
Salt Lake City Tribune, being care
full to credit it as "staunch demo-
cratic free silver paper" And the
Salt Lake City Tribune will quote
from the Nashville American, being
careful to credit it as "a staunch
democratic free silver paper" And
the Louisville Courier-J Journal will
quote from some other worthy, and
this worthy from the Courier
Journal, each being careful to cred it
the other as "a staunch democratic
free silver paper"
And thus they proceed in their
unholy alliance to deceive the peo-
: pie. But their efforts are in vain
: To quote from the American, "the
man who does not possess the politi.
cal foresight, not to say common
sense, to know that free silver at Il
to is the very thing" the Demo
, Gratis who supported Bryan aud en-
f dorsed the Chicago platform ia 1896
: care hoping and praying" for, ais
| not worth arguing with" ave dc
not think the hopes of success of the
great democratic party should b.
ruthlessly sacrificed" by abandon
ment of principles, just ito crafty
the pride or opinion of few" smar
ties who followed a decoy duck il
1896, and still fiatter themselves tina
they have influence enough left b!
which they may force trade so a
; to preserve their dignity.
If the American and its railroad
ownership cannot see their way t,
support Mr.. Bryan and the Chicago
platform, which of course they can
not do at heart and will not do il
u good faith, then the democrats o
Il the state ought to see to it that tn
. party has an organ at the Stat
= Capital, and one that may be relic,
upon not to desert in the yer,
> thickest of the fight when the grea
i battle of 1900 is on.