Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-16

ing ventures the following:
Anxiety on the part of some Of the
alleged silver republicans concerning the
attitude of the democratic party on the
silver question is. far and away. the most
pathetic feature Of today's political situa-
ton.
1t is gratifying to note that such ably
edited journals as the Standard are be-
ginning to feel and realize that the atti-
tude of the silver republicans presents a
serious aspect to the democratic party.
Not many moons ago the Standard was
quite sure there was no such thing on
earth as a silver republican,; a little later
it made the discovery that such beings
actually existed, but they were only a
joke. 1t now recognizes them as factors
in a political situation that is daily grow
ing more serious when looked at through
democratic eyes. After criticising the
silver republicans for pointing out the
inconsistencies of the democratic party in
it's treatment of the free coinage qtes-
ton, the Standard adds:
These political purists are not disposed
to wait and see what the democracy
actually does when the time comes to act.
before visiting upon it the whole weight
Of their righteous indignation.
Just as if the democrats had not already
acted! Just as if they are not acting con-
~tinuously whenever they can secure a
hearing!
Did not the democracy act last year..
when, after a long campaign against the
fusion of the silver forces, it completely
reversed the policy hat was deemed alb
solutely essential to the success of the
free coinage movement in 1895?
Did not the democracy issue it's ulti-
matum tina it would no longer co-oper-
ate with other silver organizations?
Did it not thereby demand that IL
man who wished to act with it thereafter
must pledge his answering fidelity to all
the declarations of the democratic plat
form, as of equal Importance with free
coinage?
Did it not thus drag the question of
free coinage down to the level Of the
most Objectionable plank in it's platform
of alleged principles?
Did it not in this manner invite the re-
tirement of silver as the paramount issue,
and make room for any question which
strength for the time being?
Has not this result followed? Did no
the Anaconda Standard itself help pave
the way for the retirement of the free
coinage issue when it declared that the
ratio of 16 to l was irrelevant, and tina
the ratio between gold and silver mus
be fixed by the worlds exchanges?
Can any man make an argument II
favor of free coinage and leave the ratio
to be fixed by the worlds exchanges?
Every gold man in the United States
} including Colonel Sanders. Will accep
} that kline of bimetallism and no question
asked. Argument ceases, debate is de
molished, controversy vanishes and tn
e issue disappears, when silver men an
: gold men can meet on the common prop
r osition to permit the exchanges Of tn
world to regulate the ratio Of values be
: tween silver and gold.
Did not William Jennings Bryan resig
from the army, instead of waiting fo
the early disarmament of his regiment, i
order to develop a paramount issue t
take the place Of the one that mad
memorable the campaign of 1896?
Did he not bend every energy to max
so-called neutrality-suspicious. the leadin
issue for 1900?
Did he not visit Andrew Carnegie, an
other noted advocates of the single go
6 standard. but who are opposed to CON
mercial expansion in the Pacific on tt
q theory that it may build up the west
the expense of the east. and did he M
lie conspire with those gentlemen to mai
neutrality-suspicious." the paramount issu
before the American people?
Later on, when the tentacles of tt
trust octopus began to reach for tt
throat of the American public, and IL
F. rumblings Of discomfort threatened
break forth into a storm, We're not IL
- leaders of the democratic clans hasti
summoned to conference in st. Louis, ar
is did they not all, including Mr.. Bryan, d
clare that anti-trusts should be the wa
cry for 1900?
Did they not officially decide to plat
' the paramount issue of 1896 into the bacl
N