Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-07
4 PRecAR/OUS SITUATION.

In 1896 the democratic party found itself
in a most embarrassing position some
months prior to the date of it's national
convention. The hard times which had
come upon the country during the admin
istration of the only man they had been
able to elect to the presidency since the
days of Buchanan, had demoralized the
party and made a venture in some new
direction absolutely imperative. To en-
dorse the policies which Cleveland had
carried out, and which had, up to the
time of their practical applications been
ism, meant ruin. 1t was necessary to
bring about a change of front. But how
to drop Cleveland and endorse the demo-
cratic principles which had made his ad-
ministration odious, was a problem that
could not be solved. The need of a new
issue was apparent. -
1t was then that the free coinage issue,
originally pushed coward by the popu-
lists, and subsequently supportedsby the
silver republicans in congress, was seized
upon by the democracy and adopted as
a campaign slogan. Bryan was nomi-
mated, the silver men of all parties
flocked around his standard, and the
battle was fought and lost. With the
democrats. the free coinage issue was a
pickup in 1896 which relieved that party
from a most embarrassing position.
| The trend of events seem to indicate the
possibility that our democratic friends
may again find themselves in the sweat
box for an issue in 1900. AS both parties
will declare against trusts, and as all
the antitrust legislation now in force
was enacted by republican legislatures.
there is no room for the democracy to
make a special fight along that line. If
the war in the Philippines is concluded
within a few months. and congress this
winter provides a stable form of govern
ment. giving to the natives all the rights
and privileges consistent with their own
welfare and the best interests of that
country, the question Of anti-expansion
will have regulated itself before the cam
paign opens. and the democratic party
will have to look elsewhere for a para
mount issue.
The question as to whether the gov
eminent has a few more or a few less
troops under arms will not amount to the
dignity of an issue, when it is in evidence
that their mission is a useful one. Thus
''imperialism'' will go to pieces of its
own weight.
The silver question alone may be left,
and the efforts now being made by the
democracy to relegate free coinage tosthe
rear will prove a most vexatious memory
should the party find it necessary to &C
tually make the fight on the old lines
of 1895. With silver in issue, however
forced to the front as it may be, despite
the efforts of the silver democratic lead
ers to keep it in the background in the
interests of party h~armony-the democ-
racy will again find itself divided into
two warning factions. Not only will it be
divided as it was in 1896. but the silver
wing will find itself destitute of the sup
+, port dccOIueu IL III the past Dy the SILVER
men in other political organizations
Insofar as cooperating politically will
non-democratic silver men is concerned
they have already outlined a policy from
which they cannot re~treat-they have
crossed the Rubicon and burned tn
bridges behind them. Thus the POSSIBLE
ity exists that the dominant wing Of tn
democratic party may find itself prac
and as to voting strength.