The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-27
Use COMMON SENSE

mere Is no CONTROVERSY NhtCh Sf'hiiCb
be readily settled by the exercise of com
mon sense, or quickly abandoned If adj
iustment seems impossible. When argu-
lnent is used TO strengthen prejudice it
promotes discord The arguments used
in favor of free silver today are not based
upon the conditions of the present, but
upon declaration made in 1896. 1t Is
not free silver that is contended for but
reaffirniation of platform regardless OF
its homogeneous relations to present CON
ditions
Take the speeches delivered in favor Of
free silver during the year 1896 and you
cannot trace bit of relevancy to the fl
nancial status of the country at present.
The situation was snch during a few
years preceding the last presidential cam
paign that superficial examination
would naturally lead To the conclusion
that free silver was remedy for the
evils which oppressed us. As people
we jump at conclusions and support our
views with vehement protestations Of
their correctness The devotion born of
contention makes change Of sentiment
appear like abandonment Of conviction
and we accept a shibboleth as substi-
tute for the product of common sense
and dispassionate investigation The
LOYALTY to free silver is b8ttle-bred. The
devotion for Bryan does not come through
the possession of any statesmanlike quail
tiles he possesses 1t is the recollection
of magnificent leadership in a political
contest celebrated for its fierceness.
The present financial situation receives
no consideration The democratic party
seems intent upon entering new con-
test with a recollection as an Issue, with
faces turned to the past and using resent
ment to inspire enthusiasm There is
not much doubt that had there bee no
open detection from the Chicago nomin
ations there would be a purpose now
to examine issues in the light of the
present, and the democratic party would
not hug discredit rather than confess
error, and invite defeat rather than study
the situation if investigation has the APP
pearance of submission.
The arguments used in support Of per
petuating a theory which is both false
and repudiated are puerile Those
who wrote the Chicago platform must
write that of 1900" This is an introduc
ton of an absurd system of political
primogeniture, entirely foreign to the
spirit of democracy and inconsistent with !
all sound ideas of popular government. |
It's use indicates lack of food for argu-
ment and is mark Of emptiness 1t is |
an appeal for a privilege by virtue of
succession and not of right 1t is tying |
the future to an epoch and making an |
event elimination 1t is despotism |
sought to be established by those having |
Il little brief authority" tits the inso-
lence of power imposing censorship on
public sentiment and declaring what the
public utterances of party shall be.
1t would he amusing if it were not too |
absurd for pleasantly, to read the warn |
ings against permitting gold democrats |
to have aught to say as to the future pol |
icy of the party They may be granted |
the permission to vote the democratic
ticket-or what is labeled democratic |
if they do SO with sufficient humility and |
are properly contrite 'Gramency for |
thy courtesy, The gold democrats deem
the privilege of voting an act of individ
ual sovereignty and the right to express
their views as emanating from no organ
lzation This silly assumption of party !
iictation over individual action should |
be abandoned not because of its often |
siveness TO those for whom otfense is in
tended, but for the evidence of puerility |
it is on the part of those who presume to |
direct
Gold democrats are not seeking leader
ship in the democratic party. They are
not seeking Office III that or any other
party. They are not looking for party
patronage nor posing as the champions
Of any class. Their sole contention is
for return to democratic principles and |
taI7aony upon these lines, They are heed
less of abuse and unmindful of epithets. |
They want the democratic party restored /
to the position it occupied before its wall |
of principle was battered down to permit |
the ingress of the wooden horse filed /
with populists and silver republicans. |
That is the sole purpose which is actual
ing them. They are not debating but I
are pleading for the observance of demo
cratic doctrine
SOME [. 5. Senators seem disposed to
SCOT Droy rac-o ri Lose of ,,rapaIaptS 90 /