Evening star., 1900-07-06
DIES A LIVING DEATH
Silver Issue Galvanized Into Life Only
to Be Buried.
PECULIAR TEMPER OF CONVENTION
Delegates at Kansas City Looking
for Victory First.
ATTITUDE OF D. B. HILL


Special From Star Correspondent.
KANSAS CITY. Mo, July 6.-No one who
witnessed the demonstration in the conven-
tion yesterday when that part of the plat
form was read which declared anti-impe-
rtalfsm to be the paramount issue of the
campaign could fail to realize that the
heart of the democrats is not with 16 to l
as an issue in this campaign This has
been apparent to the observing since the
democratic clans began to assemble at
Kansas City, but no one could help seeing
1T in the demonstration yesterday The
silver Bryan democrats do not love silver
less. but victory more, and to bring sue
CESS they want harmony-not agreement IN
faith, but harmony of action in contention
against the republican party. This sort of
harmony they now believe they have Sc
cured and they are overjoyed at 1t. The
thing upon which they have united Is a
sentiment which Perry Belmont expressed
on his arrival here. He does not like
either Bryan or silver and was not willing
TO say that he was eager for the success of
either. 50 what he said was that he wanted
TO defeat the republican party. This is
what the two elements have united on
their desire to defeat the republican party.
HilPs Flop to Bryan.
The complete come-over of Hill to Bryan
anu TIE pldtlOTlQ ana MS pledge OF LOYALTY
in the campaign may be regarded at first
glance as surprising. in view of the de-
termined character of his fight against the
will OF Bryan and his manifest intent to
make mischief when he came here and the
sincerity of his declaration may be doubted
by some. but careful consideration and
an understanding of the full import of the
declaration in the platform that anti-impe-
rialism is the paramount issue, viewed in
the light of the surrounding conditions
here will furnish a sufficient explanation
of HIS change of attitude He has really
got more than he asked for or had any
hope of securing from the party, welded
as 1t is to Bryan What he fought for was
a modification of the silver plank which
would in fact still leave silver al a ratio
OF 10 to i in the forefront as an issue in
the campaign. What has been granted him
Is not modification of the plank to which
he objected but in Its entirety that plank
is laid away upon the shelf. representing
a principle which is not to be applied at
this time and the future application of
which is matter for the future to take
care Of
The republicans may not consent to have
free silver as issue In the campaign thus
laid away by a mere platform declaration of
their opponents but this can make no Diff
ference 10 Hill. whose object now is to wean
the democratic mind from the strain TO
which II has for four years been attached.
Money Question to Be Subordinnted.
During this campaign the democrats will
treat the money question only a part of
the general ''imperiaiistic system which
they propose to attack as an independent
issue 1t may be expected to lose its hold
upon their minds. and being once diverted
from IL he may feel safe in counting on its
never again getting the hold upon the party
II has had 1t Is perhaps more the manner
In which the convention received the decla-
ration thar another issue may be greater
than that of silver than the declaration it
self thar affords satisfaction to the great
New York democrat. BY its reception the
declaration must be interpreted as disclos-
ing the real feeling of the party. This
probably determined Mr.. Hill that his VIC
tory was greater than even the words of
the platform could convey. 1t disclosed the
fact that the party as represented in this
convenJiOn-which knows no other candi-
dale but Mr. Bryan, and is a thorough
Bryan ggregatlon-rejOiCed with exceed
ing great joy at the promise of not having
to bear the banner OF silver with all its
weight of opposition at the head of It's
marching column during the campaign. 1t
also disclosed great eagerness the
part of those of different faith to unite the
party and bring back those who deserted
them in 'S6. and against whom they have
cherished deep resentment for four years.
With these conditions existing Hill may
properly feel confidence in his ability to
re-establish his influence in the party and
perhaps in time to dominate it.
His Experience "A Novel One.
His experience here has been a novel one
ard one in which he has probably found a
lesson readily comprehended by his astute
mind. He came with honeyed words prob
ably Disgusting unfriendly intent. and
he was received with open arms and much
rejoicing but when he disclosed purpose
hostile to Bryan there was a sudden reac-
tion IN which he lost caste conspicuously.
This gave him the measure of how far he
could go and probably reminded him of the
wise old saying that more flies be
caught with sugar than with vinegar.
1t showed him also that If ne wanted to
do so. he could without difficulty regain his
influence in the party by entering its coun-
ellis in good faith. II he may reclaim the
party according TO his way of thinking
the motive for destroying il Is removed
II IA plain not only to him. but to every
body, that. relieved Of their feeling of dis
trust, the old line democrats would place
him high IN their affection along next to
Mr.. Bryan. notwithstanding the incongrui-
ty Of the association The enthusiasm
shown at the idea Of his coming to the sun
port OF the party and the evident pIiability
OF the great majority OF the democrats he
found assembled here, and finally the OBJ
portun!ty offered when the convention burst
into q wild and uncomfortable demOnstra-
ti0n OF delight at having the silver issue
rolled TO one side of the road, out of the
pathway to party union. he quick to
avail himself Of. Today he stands fully re-
hab Hated in his party's favor with an in
fiuence which he may easily in time make
dominating. and he smile a. Mr.. Croker
who regarded his own position as impreg-
nabie IN having won Bryan's confidence nd
favor. H!ll and Croker We're in the same
boat IN opposition to Mr. Bryan's desire
for IL to l TO remain specifically in the
platform. but Mr.. Hill was first 10 climb
upon the new platform and standing there
amid waving flags and a wildly Cheering
throng OF admirtng democrats smiled down
upon his discounted rival. J. p M
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
PRINCIPLES IpOn which NJ nrx.,