Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-26
WHAT IS AN ENDORSEMENT?

the efforts Of their political leaders to
'double switch the turn on the financial
question, the democratic newspapers are
compelled to deal in glittering generali-
ties rather than attempt anything like
an intelligent analysis of the situation.
Whenever a democratic state convention,
for instance, gives approval to the prin-
ciples Of the Chicago platform it is at
once claimed by the western democratic
press that the doctrine of the free and
unlimited coinage of silver and gold. at a
ratio of 1s to I, by the independent action
of this nation, has been endorsed.
one is not only clear to anyone who will
weigh the matter logically. but it is evil
denced by the conduct of the conventions
as well. In Pennsylvania every effort to
adopt a free coinage plank was voted
down by an overwhelming majority in
the state democratic convention, vet that
body gave its general approval to the
principles" of the Chicago platform. In
Iowa a clean, clear cut declaration in
favor Of free coinage on the terms pro
posed in 1896 could not be adopted, but
the Chicago platform was endorsed.
Similar action has been taken by other
democratic conventions, the sentiment
against free coinage at the established
ratio not interfering with an endorse
nent Of the last platform declarations Of
the national democracy.
The logic of it all is simply this: The
endorsement of a principle does not imply
the endorsement Of the details which
may from time to time suggest them
selves for the carrying of that principle
into practical effect. The democratic
party declared for bimetallism in 1892,
when Grover Cleveland was inflicted upon
the public. The party professed it's belief
in the joint use of the two money metals
just as forcibly as it did in 1896, the differ
ence in the two Dlanks being one of de-
tail rather thar of principle. Under the
plank of 1892 the work of devising a sys-
tenn to make the principle of bimetallism
effective was left to the administration,
and the duly accredited law makers OF
the nation. The experiment proved a
failure, the democrats having chosen q
standard bearer wholly out of sympathy
with the use of silver as a money metal
In 1896 the democratic convention Went
a step further, and in reaffirming it's be
lief in the principle of bimetallism out.
lined the manner in which that principle
should be applied, namely, through {
coinage ratio OF 16 to 1. by the independ
ent action of this nation. 1t was a dec,
~laration calculated to bind those who
We're elected on that platform to a def
mite and clearly defined plan of procedure
in the work of making bimetallism effec
tive. AS such, it attracted to the demo
cratic party the support of thousands o
silver men in other political organiza
irons, over whom the Dimetallic deciara
ton Of the democracy in 1892 had no in
fluence whatever.
notwithstanding this, and the valien
fight made in behalf of free coinage, III,
democratic cause went down to defeat
Able to win a victory in 1892 on a plat
form which left the question Oh applyin,
bimetallic principles to the financial af
fairs of the country wholly in the hand
of the national administration and con
gress, the democracy found itself unabl
to win a victory in 1896 on a platform
hat defined the course which the admin
istration and congress should pursue. L
the n instance the democratic part
was united, in the other it was divided
1t was not opposition to the fundamenta
principle Of bimetallism that caused
division in the democratic party in 1885,
for the seceders of that year gave thei
unqualified support to that principle i
1892. but it was the method of applyin
that principle, laid down as a test @
party fealty and made equally importer
as a campaign issue with the principl
itself, tina led those men to Independent
political action.
With the democratic leaders of the sill