The times., 1899-09-18
MONDAY. SEPTEMBER Is. 1899.
is silver an Issue.

is Silver an Issue:
The Times would like to know if it has
become the definite and deliberate purpose
OF Messrs Jones and Stone of the Demo
cratic National Committee, and Of Mr..
Bryan. unattached, TO abandon the silver
issue for the purposes of the Presidential
campaign OF 1900.
The London interview of Senator James
x Jones, in which that gentleman dis
iinctly treated silver and trusts as minor
questions, and imperialism as the prime
issue in 1900. would seem to justify such
an inference. Except upon the hypothesis
that these leaders are preparing 10 desert
sheir old standard-standard in more
senses than one-it is quite impossible to
understand this ''imperialist' business.
What does it mean?
We can think of just one consideration
which might justify Jones. Stone. and
Bryan il an attempt to substitute an ac-
complished fact for a vital question as the
leading vote-catcheT in the next Demo-
cratic platform. We 90 not in The remoteSt
degree coubt the sincerity of Mr.. Bryan's
faith in bimetaliism; and probably Mr.
Stone is equally strong in his silver views
MS to Mr. Jones CT Arkansas. his record IS
80 unquestionable that We may speak Of it
with confidence IS a guarantee that party
or personal expediency would have to be
practically Irresistible to affect or modify
his opinions or course.
But it might be possible. if he and his
associates thought a Democratic defeat in
evitable. that they would deem it good po-
litical strategy TO exalt proposition upon
which they. Of course, know the party
would be beaten in any case and elect TO
accept disaster on that. in order TO save
silver for use as more hopeful grand issue
in 1904 Partisan diplomacy and opportun-
ism are apt 10 take little account and
less heed Of national interests and honor
where either clash with the objects of a
pending campaign.
Dropping theory. and getting down 10
concrete facts, everybody knows that there
can be only one main, dominating issue in
great political contest for the control OF
the country. In 81, IS. and '92 it was the
tariff In sc 1t was bimetallism. In 1900
st viii have 10 be something equally wen
defined None OF our more prominent
Democratic politicians can possibly imagine
that Imperialism as the first number on
the programme. viii safely array the Ger
man vote against the Republicans and hold
millions OF patriotic Democratic expansion
lists in line. and reafhrmation OF the Chi
cago platform as a secondary matter safely
gather in all the votes that were cast for
its candidate in the previous contest. Such
q projection would SAVIOR unpleasant!
either Of paresis or insineerity.
Seriously. has not the Democratic party
enemies enough now2 Or is the necessit.
imperative that Jones of Arkansas, Stone
Of Missouri, and Bryan Of Nebraska, should
combine their several plants and form q
trust for the manufacture Of fresh ones,
We do not know precisely what these
gentlemen, ali or singular. may think abou
it, but The Times is convinced that tn,
platform of 1886 represents the complet,
faith and doctrine Of Democracy today and
that the financial issue as presented In &
is the one upon which the masses OF tbs
country alone can be united. We think so
because, as Mr. Hanna truly says, IN,
campaign Of 1896 was campaign of educa.
tion. while that coming viii be one base.
On conviction and experience. On tn
Republican side the former taught tn
great employers Of labor how they coult
affect elections by antecedent lockouts. de
claring them 20 be permanent in case tn
outcome should prove unsatisfactory. /
also served TO satisfy the protected trust
that they could really count on any legis
lation they might want. on payment OF /
sufficient sum into the campaign corruption
fund
On the peoples side the lessons OF is9
have been plain and burned In. They shoE
us that the gold standard is at The bottom
OF trust, monopoly. and tariff oppression
and that. when We wreck it. we gain tn
power to wipe out the others. Republicsi
managers. Of course. oeeIare that the