New-York tribune., 1901-10-29
THE END OF THE SILVER PARTY

Senator John +. JOnes's reyersion 10 Repub-
licanism leaves adrift between the lines of the
two political parties scarcely a single conspc-
uous figure in the silver secession Of 1896. One
by one the Western politicians who broke with
the Republican organization at St Louis five
years ago, and sought by a subsequent alliance
with the Democrats and Populists TO make the
free coinage issue A new basis of cleavage in
national politics. have confessed the total failure
of their plans and hopes. Some. intensified in
their hostility TO Republican leadership by the
defeats of 1896 and 1898. found the way
smOothed for them in 1900 TO accept the undi-
luted Democratic faith. Others, boiling at the
offensive attacks in the Kansas City platform
on the administrations policy in the Philip
pines resumed without appreciable tension
their places in the Republican ranks. The
senior Senator from Nevada was one OF the
few seceders of 1896 whose party status last
years national campaign left unaltered and
unaffected. His renewal now Of his old rela-
tiOns with the majority party in the Senate and
in the country leaves the middle ground be-
tween Republicanism and Democracy practi-
cally deserted. 1t marks. too, the final sub
sidence of agitation which while it lasted
threatened to obliterate all the known and
accepted landmarks of party politics.
Mr. Jones's abandonment of the cause OF
silver completes the process through which the
United States Senate has gradually rid Itself
OF the multiplicity OF factions so long repre-
sented on its rolls. The elections OF 1890 and
1892 had brought into the Senate a small but
argumentative group Of Populists. The ST.
Louis secession and the Democratic split at
Chicago established two more novel partisan
divisions, the bolting Western Republicans
chasing themselves as Silverites and the sup
pOrters OF Palmer and Buckner choosing the
designation OF Sound Money Democrats OF
this last faction there is now no survivor. Of
the POpulist division all have disappeared but
three. though two of these-Harris OF Kansas
and Turner, of WashingtOn-might be classified
as Democrats rather than as Populists Seven
Senators co-operatod with Mr.. Jones five years
ago 10 form the sc-called Silyerte grOup-his
colleague from Nevada. William NJ. Stewart
Teller, of Colorado; Dubois. Of Idaho: Cannon
OF Utah; Mantle. of Montana: Mitchell. of Ore
gon, and Peitigrew, of South Dakota. Messrs
Mantle, Cannon and Pettigrew are no longer in
the Senate The first named has returned 10
Republicanism, and was a Republican caucus
candidate for Senator last winter before the
Montana legislature. Mr.. Pettigrew was a de-
feated Democratic and fusion candidate before
the South Dakota legislature Mr. Dubois de-
feated as a Silyerite four years ago, has been
again elected from Idaho as Democrat Mr.
Mitchell, also defeated As a Silverte has been
again elected from Oregon as n Republican
Mr. Stewart, elected as a Silverlte, announced
HIS recOnversiOn 10 Republieanism about year
ago. and Mr.. Teller. elected as a Silverite. is
preparing, il is understood. TO make his next
canvass before the Colorado legislature as a
straightout Democrat With Mr. Jones adding
his vote 10 the Republican column and Mr.. Tel
Ter his 10 the Democratic, the Senate again be-
comes bipartisan, containing member who
cannot be fairly characterize3 either as a Re-
publican or as a Democrat
In explaining the resumption OF his old polit