The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-13
What Senator Morgan Says.

Senator John T. Morgan. Of Ala
bama, one Of the most ardent adyo-
Gates Of the free coinage Of silver in
the American Congress. is almost con-
WINGED that no radical candidate on an
extreme platform can be elected by his
party next year He does not say 81
III words, but the inference from what
be fails TO say is clear that no believes
the time has arrived when cOnserya
tsm and wisdom must rnle his party,
80 that the Democracy Of the North,
East. South and West can be welded
together in one cohesive whole.
II very much fear, said the Sena-
tor recently. THAT the Democratic
| Party Of the East and North cannot be
brought into harmony with the Demo
cratic Party II the South aud West
until we have candidate who Is rec
ognized for his wisdom aud his willing
ness 10 follow the instructions Of his
party when his party has the power &
issue its instructions through leglsla-
ton. | am free silver man. be
lieve the free coinage Of silver is right
aud that the country will not prosper
az il should until silver has been restored
TO it, proper place as one Of our money
metals but at the same time | do not
overlook present conditions and the
situation that confronts us TO win we
must be reasonable and wise. There
can never be force and power in our
patty until we have united it a. II was
in the days when we stood solidly un-
der one banner and fought our battles
against a common enemy. The ques-
ion that ought to give every member
Of the Democratic Party concern is;
How can that condition Of affairs be
restored.
SILVER AS CONGRESSIONAL ISSUE.
my personal views may be Of little
importance, but have an idea which
If worked out, would, | believe, bring
the Democratic Party together and get
out every vote in the country for the
man who would be nominated for Pres
deut. In my opinion we should nom
mate a man who would be willing &c
say to his party something like this
When my party is able, in Congress
to pass free coinage bill will not
veto it. but will permit it 10 become
law. Whatever my own opinion may
be. believe the combined wisdom OF
the men OF our own party in Congress
is better than mine II might be p s.
sible that | should not, personally
think free coinage Law proper
thing TO enact, bat if your representa-
tives in Congress believe otherwise. II
it is your judgment that such la~
will be for tie best interests Of the
country, such law, when enacted bJ
you. Will stand.
"A man who will make such all an
announcement and live up TO 1t could
easily, Lam sure, b elected by thu
Democrats TO the Presidential Office
Then, if the people saw fit in thei
respective districts to elect advocate
Of the free coinage of silver, we SHOULD
have it, We would not have a repeti
ton Of that deplorable incident In 1879
when President Cleveland, repudiatinl
his party and all that it stood for
vetoed the bill passed by both houses o
Congress providing for the coinage o
silver bullion held in the Treasury
When Mr.. Cleveland sent that veto &
TO Democratic Congress he commit
ted himself to the single gold standard
and became no longer u Democratic
President, elected on a Democratic
platform.
I'VE must get rid Of what we might
call fanaticism and act like sensible
men When we do this Democracy
will again bee )me triumphant. aud We
will all work again in harmony. be-
lieye man can be found who. while
not an extrexni st, on the silver question
will follow the will OF his party ex
pressed in legislation, and that, aftel
all is the way. and the only way, II
which to settle this great question
All the talking we may do on the
stump will not bring about free coin.
age, save only that in educating The
people we may elect silver men to Con
gress. 1t takes votes in Congress Il
bring us to free coinage. and after we
have cast our votes that way we mus
have a President who will permit on
will to stand. Until we have the vote
we are fighting the air. Why, then
not nominate man in whom the Dem
ocrats Of all parts Of the country have
confidence, and then go about the bust
ness of electing free silver men to Con
gress?
SEVERAL MEN AVAILABLE
Il could name several such men, bu
that is not my province. 1t does mo-
require a marked degree OF greatness
to make a good President Common
sense is of much more importance II
that position was discussing thii
question with some friends coming uI
from Virginia, and they all agreed
that loyalty, ability, tact, and common
sense we're better factors in making
a good administration than too high
degree OF what is known as statesman
ship. Pierce and Polk were not bril-
liant men. but they were good Presi
dents. wish they were here now
Il permit no man to outrank me il
loyalty to the cause Of free silver
taught that doctrine when some of the
men now controlling the Democratic
Party were yet unborn. But l see thu
uselessness of the pirty. North anC