The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-10-06
and the South.
From Baltimore sun, sept -.

Much more than the election Of William
Mckinley or William J. Bryan to the Presi-
dency for four years depends on the national
contest now in progress. Democrats who are
hesitating as 70 their duty because il NAV be
of their belief that the currency issue at 1896
should have been abandoned ia name Il has
been in fact, or because they are not IN full
agreement with Mr. Bryan views uu some
other question that is neither Of immediate
nor vital importance, should seriously
consider the other aud far more Imminent
evils that threaten the country e the Achin-
ley program is 20 be- a Continuous perform
anee.i Democratic principles are worth
fighting for, and Democratic policies are worth
restoring. No earnest, conscientious Demo
crat can afford TO assist, even by his inditier,
enee, ia re -eleciiug Mr. Mckinley This is
not a year, like 1896, Of a single issue All
the primary and fundamental principles Of
Democracy, As Jefferson and jackson taught
them, and as a long line Of Democratic al.
ministrations practiced them. are denied by
the McKinleyized party of Lincoln aud sum
ner. The Democrat who voted against VIM.
]. Bryan IN 1896 could and did say that he
stood for old-fashioned Democracy against
candidate who. in that campaign, represented
chiefly If not solely one single aim aud pur-
pose and that one not ia accordance with the
historic monetary doctrine Of his party. The
Democrat who votes against Mr. Bryan this
year cannot say that.
The situation Of 1909 il wholly different
The single issue Of 1896 has disappeared en-
tireiy, except as a Republican preiense. The
Gold Democrat and the Silver Democrat OF
four years ago had clear right to part com
pany at the polls, as thousands Of them did.
because il was then the immediate political
10. 81.
IN sight of equal or nearly equal Importance
But that condition has completely passed
away The course Of events has eliminated
that issue, and substituted for il issues that are
as broad as the Constitution, and go down to
the very roots OF free government il this
country.
II, indeed, this were not so, and there was
any truth in the hysterical aud bumbngging
cry of danger TO the gold standard which the
Mckinley partisans are trying to raise. this
would be a reason IN itself for refusing
TO re-elect Mr.. Mckinley. As Mr. Schurz
has pointed out the gold basis eau
not be in any real danger unless Mr.. Mckinley
and his party have deceived and betrayed the
people. They were given the Presidency in
1896 and the control of Congress Tor four
years on their express promise to revise the
currency laws so ms to securely establish the
gold standard. Ii they are now telling the
truth when they say that the currency laws
have not been thus revised. and that the mere
election of Mr.. Bryan, even though the Sen.
ate has safe majority for sound money for
the next Presidential term, might bring
us to a silver basis. it is clear that their pledges
of 1896 have been shameiully broken. II that
is so, then they have tricked the American
people and cheated them with "a delusive show
of sound money legislation which is of no real
efficacy or value unless they are kept in power
to maintain it by special administrative inter
probation.
No fraud more basely dishonest could pos
sibly be practiced upon the nation than tina
which the Republican leaders have practiced
if their confession Of the inadeqnacy aud in
security of their gold standard legislation is
anything more than campaign expedient.
But every intelligent man knows that it is
confession for campaign purposes only. The
moment any Democrat is asked to accept it
seriously he should treat it as an additional
and very solid reason for voting against Mr..
Mckinley. If they have played the people
false and broke their sound money pledges
of 1896 what confidence can be placed in any
new pledges which they may offer in 1900?
1t is clearly case where the old maxim APP
plies with great force "lf a man cheat me
once shame on him. but if he cheat me twice
shame on me-" If the Republican party,
aided and sustained by million Democratic
voters has deliberately kept the currency of
the country ON an insecure aud easily shaken
gold basis for four years with all the power in
its hands to make impregnable to assault--or,
at least, able to withstand the shock ofthe cleo
ton of President with his hands tightly tied
by a hostile Senate-then it is plain that the
Republican party is itself not to be trusted on
this or any other issue.
The main fact for Democrats to keep in
view is that neither Mr. Bryan nor Mr.. Me
Kinley any longer represents, as in 1896, the
single issue of money and its coinage. Wheth-
err they are pleased to have il 80 or not, that
issue has been closed for the time being, if