Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-09
TWELVE PAGES.
WEDNESDAY. MAY .. 1900.
ISSUES-LlVINC AND DEAD.

These are the days when much Is be-
ing said about living issues and
dead issues" The newspapers have
been taking n fling at the topic for
three years and half now, and as
the ,imc approaches for the National
Convention of the two parties, the dis
cussion wakes warmer. The question
came up in the Democratic State Con-
vcntion here on the second of May and
was discussed aud voted on, II not set
tied. That 1t was not really settled
might be inferred from the fact that
this matter of Democratic policy is
more talked OF now than before.
Issues be 1t observed are not very
unlike wires--they may be hive" to-
day and dead" tomorrow. and then
they may be alive again the day after.
a live issue is one along which the
current of popular interest and thought
sets. The tariff was very live issue in
1892; in 1896 It was as dead rs the classic
Hector. Yet this year. in II new form
TN two new forms-it will be one of the
livest Issues of the campaign. We shall
hear of 1t both as the foster mother of
trusts and as q. machine for squeezing
the Porto Ricans. The dead is alive
again.
Seine contemporaries are greatly
worried that the Democratic State
Convention did not declare that the
free coinage of silver is n dead issue.
worried. Yet If that issue Is dead what
Is the use of cororcrs verdict? The
free coinage OF silver, at the ratio of
16 to |, WI! not be so live this year as
1t was in 1896. And yet, in 1904, it may
again be the one paramount issue of
the campaign, and what is more, may
carry before the people. The more
than G,co0.00o Democrats. who believed
In 1895 that the free coinage of silver
was right, may still believe it is right,
ana may favor Keeping it in the party's
deciarat!onof principles. Yet they may
be cutie willing to admit that there are
more urgent issues at this time.
There lies II distinct purpose behind
the sold bug cry for leaving this is
sue out OF the platform this year. The
Palmer Buckncritc would see, in this,
his own rehabilitation and the recoeni-
ton OF that superlative wisdom and
foresight, of which his modesty has
prompted him to claim monopoly.
The plain, ordinary gold-bug knows that
T. the Democratic party can be induced
10 GroD fi.oa sil,.or 40 a., to-;
that when the gold standard has
brought about a panic Gas IT il, sure Il,
DO in the next few years. the chances
are That there will not be another
straight fight for bimetallism: the
party may be switched on false track
IT, however, the issue remains in the
PLATFORM 1t means that the special In
terests fostcrcd by the gold standard
are still in danger. When the integrity
Of the Republic has been assured bv
the elimination of Militarism and In
pcrialism. the party that has per-
formed that work may turn to the cs-
Establishment OF an honest and equitable
monetary standard of both silver and
gold as formerly, under the bimetaliic
mint law of Jefferson and Hamilton.
Nobody knows better than your
gold bug upon what an insecure foun-
dalton the present prosperity" OF the
country rests. The increase in the
worlds output OF gold, the Increase OF
circulation in this country through
enormous war expenditures. the inevi-
table business reaction from state of
-hnermal depression = these things