The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-09
GET TOGETHER, SAYS FLEMING
NO REASON FOR DEMOCRATS TO
REMAIN APART NOW.

stacIe TO Party UniOn-Has Been
Settled in "A Somewhat Unexpected
Manner-DemOcrats Demanded In
creased Circulation, Which Has
Been Met by the Large Increase in
Gold Output-Per Capita Circula-
ton in 1900 IS Per Cent. Greater
Than in 1890.
Augusta, April S.-Congressman Flem-
ing to-day gave out the following inter-
view on the political situation;
1t is too early to specify all the issues
for the Democratic party in the presiden-
tial campaign of 1904. But the time is
fully ripe for good Democrats, both of
the gold and the silver wings of the party,
to calmly analyze the situation, and as
certain whether there now exists between
them any such difference of principle on
living issues as would justify them in re-
manning longer apart. Indeed, it is highly
important that discussion looking to fu-
ture harmonious action should not be de-
layed. Some re-adjustments are inevita-
bic, and timely forethought win do much
to smooth the way for patriotic cooper
to formulate the platform on which to
fight our next battle at the polls.
The rock upon which Democracy split
in twain in the last two campaigns was
the free coinage of silver That obstacle
ought no longer to impede our progress
or DIVIDE our forces. The free silver DEM
ocrats have already obtained in large
~ cd
sources, the substance of what they con-
tended for The gold Democrats, as well
as gold Republicans, have seen prosper
ity come to us co-incident with an in
crease, from 1896, to 1900, of % per cent
in the circulating medium, despite their
predictions of the direful results Of in
haton" and despite their arguments TO
convince themselves and us that the
country needed no more money. Unless
present conditions undergo a radical
change, the question of the free coinage
of silver at Is to l will not be practical,
living issue in the next campaign
Some simple. but important facts TO
consider in this connection are;
First. The worlds production of gold and
silver in 1890 was $25O,785,7O0; while the
production of gold alone in 1899 was $685.
5S4 goo, IhuS the pTOUuCtlOb vi 6OiN 80
1899 was So, 7S9 200 more than the combln-
ed production of gold and silver in 1880,
when our party differences on the metallic
money question were first being empna-
sized.
One meaning of these figures is that
| there was no Unsuitable reason for aoand-
| oning silver in 1880.
The annual gold production OF the UNI
ted States alone increased from $Sz'S4oVVO
par
| in nine years.
This remarkable increase in gold pro-
duction in the world at large and in the
Trnited states was due not only to the
| opening of new mines, but to the aooptloh
| Of new scientific methods of working
mines and extracting gold from the ores
causes which in the natural course OF
events, ought to increase rather tnan oe-
| crease in efficiency in coming years.
| SECOND The per capita currency circula-
| tion of the United States in 1886 was vi.
as feured by the treasury, while in 1900 IL
| was s27M. Thus the per capita circula-
| tion was &C. 81 or rs per cent. more IN 1871
| than n was In 1886 when the Democratic
| convention at Chicago demanded an IN
crease and selected the free coinage OF sll-
| yer "a the medium through when 10 Sc
| cure it. ,.a..
| gold. silver anu paper hASAASSi 90
| tion in 1896 as figured by the treasury,
| was 81 5Os 6S1 OPS: and in 1900 it was ", 49,
| oq4 eS3 showing a difference of $6OS '06S,Sof
| or an increase of 40 per cent-due IN some
mart to larger issues of national oank
! notes. -
| In the light of these figures who can
| DENY that the substance of the Things
hoped for by us free SILVER adVo ,e !
| has been, in great measure, realizeu l.
| MI tc1n refusing
ing recognition to proven facts
The mission of the Democratic party is
to preserve the principles of our govern
ment as imbedded in the constitution.
and to apply them with wisdom 10 All
new issues that arise, holding in view the
nresent and future welfare of the great
body of the people.
Those principles have not failed us.
Through them our country has achieved
| the most marvellous successes in history.
| They are not out of date, nor will ever
they be till human nature changes II
we are faithful to them, the future holds
as much in keeping for US as the past
has already bestowed
The South was always loyal to the prin-
ciples of the constitution as framed by
the fathers. Our people were taught Ia
the spirit of Marshall, to reverence 1t sec
ond only to the Bible. Now that the rec
IGNITION of slavery has been expungeo
from its pages the more powerful North
ought to renew lbs vows of loyalty to the
| constitution and adhere to the profound
! wisdom 1t embodies.
The two chief dangers that threaten
our government are the tendencies tc
class-imperialism on the one hand and
to ultra socialism on the other. The con-
stitution is our bulwark against both
these dangers in their extreme NANTES
cations, though easily adjusting itself to
every wise demand for vigor in the gov
eminent or protection to the citizen. True
Democrats are not extremists; they are
conservative progressionists.
Now that the silver question is no long
er present to divide us we may look with
hope to Democratic victory; unless, per
chance, II shall be forestalled by Repub-
lican acceptance Of some of our cherish
ed doctrines-a contamination which is
in itself, a moral victory with substan
tial results. Already the chairman of the
Republican Congressional Campaign
Committee has declared in favor OF re-
moving the tariff protection from such
trust-controled products as steel, tin
plate, and window-g glass. some Of which
are being sold in foreign lands cheaper
than TO the home consumers by whose
taxes they have been nourshed into such
plethoric proportions.
Evidently the astute chairman is not de-
ceived by the prevalent boasting over the
so-called Republican landslide" in this