Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-09-24
They Nominated Candidates
Who Voted for Free Silver.
PEOPLE CAN FORGIVE ERROR
Which b Now Pfae tically Admitted
bst viii Not Trust the Party with
Pswer Because Of the
Rlusder.

crates startling statements which later
on are proved to be absolutely false,
his further utterances on any subject
whatsoever are liable not to be taken
seriously, and this is putting the case
mildly. Even though the statements
were uttered in honest belief as to their
accuracy. the fact that they were later
on proven to be wrong. furnished evil
dence Of mental capacity to make fur
ther gross blunders from time to time.
In this respect the record of the Dem
ocratic party on the silver issue has for
that party the same sinister significance
that falsi6cations from an individual.
who 10 found out, would have for that
individual.
We may all bs willing to charitably
admit that in its advocacy Of the great
free silver error in 1896 and 1900 the
Democratic party was honestly wrong.
There II no patriotic American who
would like to think, hint, or suggest,
that Bryan was not actuated by hon
est and sincere belief In his cause when
he uttered his famous Gross of Gold"
and Grown Of Thorns" speech IN 1885.
nor 10 there any American with opti-
mlstic faith In the honesty and patriot
ism Of the leading public men Of the
United States who would want to think
for q moment that Alton h. Parker, the
candidate of q great political party for
President OF the United States. voted
against his honest convictions ~ to what
was for the good Of his country when
he voted for free silver In 1890. and
then again voted for free silver in 1900.
Cannot he Tsssssd.
But while the American people will
never irnputs dishonorabls motives 70
the leaders OF the silver cause In 1895
and 1900. yet nevertheless II will hest
tate In the future to place implicit trust
In those who sought TO lead them Into
. disastrous error in those years. Had
the majority Of the voters OF the coun-
try In 1896 and 1900 not been Of bst-
ter Judgment than Judge Parker was
during those two years the United Statss
would have had The silver standard; all
the currency Of the country would have
been debased to the bullion value Of sl-
yer: just debts would have been scaled
on over 6fty per cent: the laborer.
whom the Bible says 10 worthy Of his
hire" would have been paid his wages
In cheap dollars Of not half the value Of
the honest dollars based on the gold
standard: the country would have suf-
fered unparalleled hard times; its credit
would have sunk as low a. that Of Tur-
key, Venezuela, and of other nations
which repudiats their just obligations.
1t was for such calamity as this that
the Democratic free silver error stood
in 1896 and again In 1900. and Parker
and Davis both times stood with this
error, contributed money to further IL
along. and voted for it.
Now the error Is practically admitted.
Both Parker and Davis. while refusing
to say that they now believe In the gold
standard. nevertheless say that 1t 10
''irrevocably established by iaw"-that
Is when on December 1s. 1899. the gold
standard was established BY . vote OF
1T9 Republican yeas and only II Dem
ocratic yeas. against 142 Democrats
nays and no Republican nays, In the
House Of Representatives. and by a vote
OF A Republican and 2 Gold Democratic
yeas against 23 Democratic and only one
Republican nay in the Senate, IT WAS
so WE'LL ESTABLISHED THAT
PARKER AND DAVIS NOW con-
SLIDER IT "IRREvOCABLY ESTAB-
LISHED."
"8iisnce 10 ConSessioa."
The American people will be willing
to forgive the Democratic record on the
silver question. They will not demand
humiliating verbal confessions from
Democratic leaders Of the fact that they
were terribly wrong in 1895 and 1900.
As Daniel Webster once said-"Silsncs
IL confession" the fact that tbs
Democrats now want silence on the
paramount" issue Of 1895 and the tan
tamount" issue Of 1900. is sufncient con-
fession of past error.
But while the American people in re-
eeiving Democracy's silent confession Of
past error. can forgive, yet il cannot for
get. 1t will not be in haste. to put int
the White House the representative OF q
party whose free silver principles
put in jeopardy the business stability Of
the country. IT WILL NOT VOTE TO
HONOR WITH THE HIGHEST
OFFICE IN THE LAND A CANDI-
DATE WHO IN 1896 AND AGAIN
IN 1900 VOTED FOR A POLICY
THAT WOULD HAVE FINANCIAL
LY DISHONORED THIS COUNTRY
AND MADE 1T LOWER THAN TUR-
KEY AND vENEZU Ella IN INTER-
NATIONAL OPINION AS TO IT1
CREDIT.