The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-05-04
HOMOGENEOUS.

menced, Grant in ~; Tilden in '76;
but as MIR. Tilden was counted out, we
reckon he don't count at all.
1t is all as easy as falling off log.
If machine made democrats and repub-
licans, or those who vote party tickets
as a matter of habit, are any way equal
ly balanced it can be readily seen that
the transference of goldbug influences
to either party would easily give that
party election. Beside, at the end of
each administration there are many
voted for it who are dissatisfied and go
over to the opposition. Thus goldbugs,
republican and democratic, actually use
the dissatisfaction caused by the gold
standard to keep themselves in power
continuously.
OF course, it would be mean in silver
people to deadlock this most admirable
program after it has worked so well
and so long. And goldbug democrats
are inclined to credit silver democrats
with being fools, more or less. if they
neglect the golden opportunity in
1900. IN
1t somewhat depends, however. II
the voters sole business in political life
is to put party in power and thus give
a certain class of politicians an Office it
is very foolish in silver democracy re-
fusing the aid of goldbugs to put de-
mocracy in on condition gold stand
ard administration is assured, some
such administration as Cleveland gave
us. Perhaps not foolish after all, for
if democracy by nominating a gold
man re-inforces its head with O lot of
goldbug republicans it will lose q much
larger tail of silver democrats. Some
how silver people have got into their
heads the uncomfortable idea that bust
ness is business, and that the business
Of the voter is to put those men in Of
ice and that party in power who and
which will do something for them.
Naturally these conclude that so far as
financial relief goes goldbug democra-
cy is not any better for them than gold
bug republicanlsm, if not little worse
since they oppose international BIZ
metalism and no doubt would pass the
Gage or monetary commission bill if
they have the power.
Having these uncomfortable and un-
heard of ideas, not any doubt there will
be silver party in the field in 1900
and that it will be Loyalty supported by
the great majority of those who believe
bimetalism will be best for them. You
can't implicitly rely on the party name
holding the voter regardless of what
the party proposes to do. This is speci-
ally true of the democratic silver men,
and will be true of republican bimetal-
lists to much larger extent in 1900,
than at any previous period. All for
the reason that the voter is at last
thinking in the direction of his own in
terests, and is slowly realizing that he
can not afford to wholly ignore his own
interest and that of his family in his
enthusiasm to give certain men an Of
ice and for party rally. OF course it
is all very foolish, but facts are facts
whether comfortable for the machine
politician or not
| Another uncomfortable feature is that
the peoples memory is lenghtening
out, with the result that they are iudg-
ing the effects of the gold standard by
results since it started up in '73 and
not exclusively by results since McKin-
ley came in. If it is attempted to palm
off goldbug democracy as something
better than gold standard republican.
ism the people will say "what need
have we for any more Cleveland jubi
lee; enough of thing like that is 9
| Go rs plenty"
| Evidently democracy, owing to the
new circumstances, has not cinch or
the election in 1900 even if it does de-
clare for the gold standard. If the par
ty sacrifices its principles and also loses
the election it will be in bad way
The rule that he who runs away viii
live to fight another day, won't hole
good.
The only chance for goldbug democ
racy would be for the republican party
to declare for silver and thus put ont
goldbug party against some three silver
parties. If both the republican ant
democratic parties declare fora on
and out gold standard neither will
stand any chance against united sill
yer party, which opposes not only tn,
gold trust, but also manufacturing
transportation and commercial trusts
and which holds that wealth shoult
contribute in the way of taxes. 1t
however, is the usual luck of democra
cy to champion 'lost cause;" there
fore natural that it champion the gol
standard onthe eve of its collapse. We
} however, shall see what we shall see
in the meantime, let us pray for bette
luck.
We would be sorry to interfere wit
a horse swap; but really this goldbu
swap of parties regularly every fou
years has become little monotonou'
Give us Il rest. Ii tired Of the republ
cln party, there is j. Sterlings ne
goldbug party bornin'. Go for it.
We make this fatherly suggestion
| mn Il. u Al