The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-07-21
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
Why a Declaration on Bimetallism
Was Necessarily Winning
Ticket.


Ticket.
Special Correspondence Of the Advocate.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July lS.-When David
Bennett Hill gave an additional impetus to
the lusty enthusiasm of the recent most en-
thusiastic of Democratic conventions by the
announcement from the platform that Bryan
and Stevenson would have the support OF
united party. and would win, he gave expires
sion to a palpable truth; but he had not the
honor of being the first TO give pubic expires
sion to the same view Months before the
convention met the logic of events had been
clearly and firmly forecasting that great tact,
and leading Democrats, who have the ear OF
the people, and who, in 1896, we're claSsed as
among, or close to the dissenting ore'hIeh'
had predicted what Mr.. Hill announced as
fact.
William l., Wilson, Don Nj. Dickinson,
Hoke smith. Perry Belmont, Richard Croker,
Ex-senator German and others had each, IN
about the inverse order of that IN which their
names are mentioned, predicted reunion ana
probable victory, and given the reasons LOT
the faith that was IN them.
Mr.. German, as well as memory serves, was
first to foreshadow what is now well recog-
nized fact He was interviewed on the oeSa
sion of his first visit to the Capitol since ms
retirement, in January last, on the day aiter
The Republican financial bill became law,
and said that the passage of the gold standard
law removed the last obstacle to the thorough
reunion of the Democratic party, with Bryan
as its candidate. He said that the safe ne
publican majority in the Senate precluded inc
possibility of a change in the gold standard
law during the next ensuing administrator
and, therefore, regardless of what might DC
said in the platform, silver would necessarily
be relocated TO the rear in the coming cam
paign, and the great battle be fought on the
naturally paramount issues OF mlhtarlSih anu
imneriajism. mon which the united Democ-
racv ought to win. The other gentlemen
named have all expressed themselves to the
same effect. Mr. Dickinson saying that bimet,
allnm was a good Democratic doctrine, ana
Mr.. Wilson confidently predicting victory.
The reunion of the party and It's harmonious,
AGGRESSIVE action in the great campaign OF Tins
wear. regardless OF the silver plank IN the plat,
form. having been thus SO confidently anu
unhesitatiugly predicted months before tue
convention by the leading Democrats ABOVE
named, aud many others whose voices are
eonslly potent in the matter OF party reunion
and being itself such a seltevldent PROPOSE
lion. il viii be easily perceived how palpaosy
fr;voIous and valueless was the petty couteH-
bnn in the resolution committee as TO "hethet
the free coinage principle aud the 10 10
ratio should be reiterated or 'realnrmeu-
The difference between federation and
ssreafirmation" IS, IN Practical erect oh'y
the difference between dweedle dee anu d"ee-
dle-dam. Everybody knows that ~ every
Congress from the passage by the house y
the Bland free coinage law IN 1910 aoMh -
the nresent day, an overwhelming majority OF
the Democratic party IN congress anu - .u'
country has been in favor OF the remohe'IA'
tom III silver aud the establishment OF The
oId ratio- No one who has been affiliated
with The marty during the past two decades
copld have been ignorant OF the TACT thal NJ
mefalEsm and the free coinage OF silver IS a
cardinal doctrine of the American Demoe-
racv vet during the two Administrations
within that period in which the Democratic
party has been in power, 1t has been po"eFtess
to enact any such legislation, because OF an
adverse Senate as well as an untuendly fres-
;dent. Therefore everybody knows that with
Rrvan rs President and Democratic House
he Democratic party would be utterly power
less duriue the next administration to enact
any silver legislation and would, most likely,
not make the attempt
The Democratic party IS essentially tse u
metallic party in this country II 'hsiS = az
blessing In the maintenance OF the gold STAND
ard the Republican party IS uuqnesuohaoiy
entitled TO claim the paternity OF all the DC
pe6cenee it has impaired, for It was the ne
publican party that surrepiiiiousiy aenioae
tized silver in 1873 aud has SINCE, throagh hs
strength IN the Senate, iorestaiied All suu>.a"-
tial legislation in the line OF remonetlzAlloi,'
repeatedly thwariing the Democrats "a 'ae'f
efforts in that direction.
But there are many eminent statesmen asd
public economists including some who hold
honorable places in the Republican councils
who believe that the single gold standard rs a
monetary principle is not blessing nal
curse. and that the days of ITS continued main
tanance are surely numbered. II has not been
lone since the eminent Senator Hoar, OF
Massachusetts. stood up in the Senate aud. TO
the CONSERVATION Of his fellow Republicans
solemnly predicted the ultimate aud prooAbiy
early downfall Of the gold standard. lie an
nounced, as the result Of special Fisit :"
Europe 10 feel public sentiment on the money
ouestion. that the overwhelming sentiment
among the masses Of all the European nations
il clamoring for bimetalism. lie predicted,
with solemn emphasis, that the combinations
of financial magnates aud monarchS aud ans
toerats wonl2 not much longer withstand 81.
Senator William Z. Chandler, Of New lamp
shire. has recently gone on record ~ the same
forum 10 the same effect. IL Is questionable
il any public man Of the present day, "he
measures up to the standard OF a slaiesin ~
and an economist believes that the gold
standard can be permanently maintained, or
bimetal6sm finally defeated. Il Is only a
question Of how long it can be suspended
II Is as idle, therefore, to talk OF free silver
"a n dead issue as Il unreasonable TO
expect the Democratic party aud ITS gallant
leader, who made the great battle OF 1890, al
most solely on the silver question. 20 DO any
thing in the recent convention which could be
construed into penItent confession ihht theA
were all wrong IN 1896. IL was because those
that made the fight in the platform committee
AT the recent convention eontended that real
irmation of the Chicago platform without the
reiteration OF the financial plank would have
that effect that they were defeated.
But there was still another practical pohti-
cal reason why the Democratic party could
NOT do ANYTHING that could be construed into
an act of retrogresSion on the silver question:
and this ought to have the patient eonsidera-
ton of every man in Maryland who feels dis
appointment at that feature OF the platform
The Democratic party's only hope Of success
in the coming campaign lies III the iripartite
alliance Il has made with the PoPulists aud
Silver Republicans, and the free silver doc
trine is the only ligament that binds the three
together.
But. as already stated on the authority Of
the eminent men whose names have been
mentioned, the free silver question Is, on ae-
count of existing conditions, necessarily in
allowance during the coming administration,
and there is no valid reason why every man
who is opposed to the Republican party and
its dangerous policies should not cast has vote
for the Democratic ticket, regardless OF ms
opinions or his interests in the silver question
But the Kansas City platform makers dad
one eminently wise thing in declaring that
imperialism is the paramount issue IN the
campaign. 1t is indeed Of paramount impor,
lance, and, as the campaign progresses, 1t wall
grow, and grow, and grow, and grow, until II
will overshadow all others, aud IN the great
aud consuming enthusiasm OF loyalty TO 'he
Republic, which It's discussion VIII arouse, al
lesser contentious and differences will be for
gotten. Nk"ifAS'
Suppose Bryan Were Elected.